Annual Report 2023

From Our Elders & Leadership

Included in this annual report are just a few snapshots of ministry moments across our church. There are literally hundreds of examples of life change and transformation — in and through our church because of the work of Jesus. Each local campus is a church that seeks to serve its community well, to grow as disciples, and to respond to the call of God. Individually, each campus has a story all its own and together, by God’s grace, He is making a significant impact through us in our communities. We pray that you are encouraged and reminded of the incredible goodness of our God.

Thank you for your sacrifices of finances, time, and talents to be a part of this incredible church family. Thank you for being a blessing to your neighbors locally, nationally, and globally. Thank you for investing your time, talent, and treasure into the ministry of our church. We celebrate incredible stories of impact with you.

We are humbled and grateful to serve with you, and we want you to know we pray continuously for you. We anticipate even more of God’s goodness in the months and years to come.

Elder Board (as of January 1, 2024)

Mike Grubb, Kevin Marple, Rich Miller, Joe Villa, Sheri Philips, Ron Gullberg, and Cheri Davidson

Lead Executive

Chris Yarco

If you call our church your church home, you are part of a truly inspiring story. In October we announced that we would become one church in four locations as of January 1, 2024, with the addition of New Hope Church. Each of our locations has a vibrant history, and together, we have a thriving ministry that the Lord is using in truly incredible ways. For almost 70 years, the Lord has blessed Willamette Christian Church, located in West Linn. For over 95 years, He has blessed Beaverton Christian Church. Hope City Church was a 10-year-old church plant that merged with a 75-year-old church in Milwaukie to reach people in a new way. And we now add New Hope Church, founded in 1972, which merged with Mt. Scott Church of God, founded in 1960, to create a vibrant new church in the Lents area of Portland.

Our church has seen many changes over the combined 350+ years it has been in existence, and yet, we truly believe the best is still to come. We believe that our God is constantly calling us forward, consistently renewing us, and presenting us with opportunities each day to trust Him, place our faith in Him, and be courageous for Him. And because of that, we know He has significant ministry for us to participate in.

When New Hope Church began discussing a potential adoption of Mt. Scott Church of God in 2020, they contracted with the executive leadership team from Willamette Christian Church to guide them through the process. On that journey together, the connection between Willamette and New Hope deepened as both churches recognized that each felt compelled to meet the needs of churches in the Portland area that are struggling and in decline.

After a careful and lengthy discernment process, the Willamette and New Hope elder boards unanimously voted to merge as one church effective January 1, 2024. While the formal relationship begins in 2024, our partnership began much earlier. Team members from across our organization participated in the renovation process at New Hope, which culminated in a Renovation Celebration on December 3. New Hope has participated in events such as our Night of Remembrance in early December, and several faces familiar to the attendees of our other campuses have been seen at New Hope on Sundays, either on stage or in key ministry areas.

Radical Hospitality

Just as God made a place for us in His Kingdom, we’re to make a place for others in our lives. To be radically hospitable in a broken, sometimes painful, world is to purposefully find ways to make others feel seen, known, and wanted in a community that seeks to bring Heaven to Earth (Matthew 6:10).

117 Baptisms

Across All Four Campuses

More than 1000 People Circling Up in Community

Uncommon Humility

Uncommon humility flows from a deep faith that God will care for us as we surrender to Him. When we choose this kind of trust, we posture our hearts in the way of Jesus – where nothing and no one was ever beneath Him. This lets us draw closer to both Christ and each other, even when we encounter questions that don’t have easy answers.

“Our new resource center will reduce homelessness in this area by consolidating the various nonprofit resources our most vulnerable neighbors need to weather, avoid and escape this harrowing condition.” - HSCCC Board President Dan Fowler

The confluence of challenges posed by COVID-19 and the ongoing housing crisis have contributed to high rates of homelessness in the Portland Metro area. This issue has resonated deeply with our local community, prompting various initiatives across Metro-area counties to address the crisis. Multnomah County has faced challenges, having housed only 37 homeless households in 2023 through its Housing Multnomah Now initiative. In contrast, Clackamas County achieved notable success, assisting 128 households with temporary rent support, providing long-term rent assistance to 223 households, and preventing eviction for 591 households in the latter half of 2023.

Clackamas County has announced that, as of the end of 2023, homelessness in the county has been reduced by 65% since 2019. The county Human Services Department attributes this reduction to their Supportive Housing Services program, an alliance with a group of area nonprofits which have expertise in providing services needed by those who are experiencing homelessness. One of the primary nonprofits involved in this alliance is The Father's Heart, which receives financial support and volunteers from our 3 nearby campuses, and which recently announced a partnership with LoveOne. The staff of Father’s Heart and LoveOne partner in outreach and day center operations, collaboratively provide case management for program participants, and share resources.

In recognition of the success of the Supportive Housing Services program's government/nonprofit partnership, Clackamas County announced in November that they would fund $10M in costs for Homeless Solutions Coalition of Clackamas County’s plans to build a new Navigation Center in Oregon City. This navigation center will house The Father's Heart, LoveOne, and other nonprofits that provide various services such as health care, legal support, and job training.

Learn more about serving at The Father's Heart

Sacrificial Generosity

We believe that we are called to steward the resources God has entrusted to us. This means using our time, talent, and treasure in a way that demonstrates our lives belong to Him. Our faithfulness in generosity lets us meet real physical, emotional, and spiritual needs that our friends and neighbors have, both here and around the world.

More than $500,000

Given to Missions Partners

Local & Global Initiatives

Close to $125,000

Given to Benevolence Fund

OUR CAMPUSES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES:

Learn more about our philosophy of giving and how you can participate financially

Looking Forward

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14

In 2023 you decided to press into the freedom found in Jesus, regardless of the uncertainty in the world around you. As a result of it all, undeniable Kingdom impact was made in the communities we serve, and more importantly, in the lives of our brothers and sisters who may or may not yet know His love.

As we move forward into this new year:

May we continue to be a people who operate from a place of blessing to serve others.
May we follow the way of Jesus through the embodiment of radical hospitality, uncommon humility, and sacrificial generosity.
May we lock arms to know, love, and follow Jesus together, serving as part of His plan for the restoration of our world.

Church family, you are deeply loved by our God and by your elders and staff team. Let’s continue to walk forward in joy into 2024.