Big 'Portland Again' rally Nov. 8

to seek fresh revival

By JOHN FORTMEYER
CNNW publisher
    PORTLAND — A solid turnout appears likely at the citywide rally Tuesday, Nov. 8, at which up to 2,500 Christians will pray for a fresh revival in the Rose City.
    One big indicator comes from several of the city’s Christian colleges. Multnomah Bible College and Warner Pacific College plan to send hundreds of their students and faculty to the event, said Craig Smith, one of the key rally organizers. Portland Bible College and Western Seminary also might do the same.
    That is significant, Smith believes.
   “We’re realizing that a lot of what is happening with this event is for the young people,” he said. “The fight for our city is really for the next generation.”
    Announced last month and now bearing the title Portland Again, the 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., free-admission rally in the ballroom of the Oregon Convention Center is organized by local Christian business leaders with the strong endorsement of dozens of key churches and ministries throughout the city.
    Inspired, in part, by the famed 1905 revival that caused hundreds of Portland businesses to close at midday for prayer, the rally coordinators didn’t want 2005 to conclude without using that piece of city history as a springboard for seeking God’s present and future blessing on Portland and the Northwest.
    Smith said Frank Damazio, pastor of City Bible Church, will serve as master of ceremonies at the gathering. It will include a promotional video and various local Christian leaders praying on behalf of different segments of city life, including youth, churches, government and Christian ministries. A brief message will be given by a speaker yet to be announced.
    The event also will be a suitable place to bring people who need an encounter with Jesus Christ, said Smith. “Anyone who has a friend who may not want to darken a church door, but who would come to the convention center to a fantastic event that’s free, this would be a good opportunity to bring them,” he said

As preparations were being made for the rally, an interesting historical note about the 1905 revival was discovered, said Smith. He said R.J. Letourneau, the famed Christian industralist and philanthropist who founded Letourneau University in Texas, and who revolutionized the use of earth-moving equipment worldwide, became a Christian during that Portland revival. Smith said Steve Spinnett, a member of the Portland rally’s coordinating committee, spoke with Letourneau’s son to confirm that piece of local history.
   “Perhaps there is ‘another Letourneau’ who is going to come to this event, get touched by God, and have a phenomental impact on the world,” Smith said.
    Smith said the groundswell of interest and support in the event from”everyday Christians” throughout the city and area is significant. He said it is happening as a result of “networking” by interested people in all walks of life.
   “This really is a grassroots thing, even though the major pastors and community leaders have endorsed this,” he said. “That’s what’s exciting about this to me.”
    While it has been primarily businessmen who have gotten the rally going, the involvement of women and youth is strongly welcomed, he added.
    Information about the rally is available at a new website, www.portlandagain.org Those who plan to attend can register on the site. They also can indicate elsewhere on the site if they would like to be an “encourager” by committing to contact 10 people about the event, each of whom would, in turn, contact another 10 people.
    The web site also includes a partial list of key leaders and ministries who have come on board with their endorsements.