portland_inlineWhile it might not be possible to visit South Vietnam, Myanmar, and Mexico in one day, it is possible to connect with people from these nations at one site on any given Sunday in Portland, Oregon. International Baptist Church, overseen by Administrative Pastor Pete Steele, is where people from three nations gather to hold their own services in their distinctive styles and traditions. The uniting factor is their love for their Savior, Jesus Christ, and their hunger for His Word.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, Regular Baptist Ministries staff members John and Daria Greening (national representative and his wife), Clare and Donna Jewell (national church planting coordinator and his wife), and Darrell Goemaat (photographer) had the privilege of enjoying worship and the preaching of God’s Word in this unique setting.

Pastor Esteban Mendez challenged his Spanish congregation, “You must get out of your comfort zones to reach out to those in need, to your family, friends, and coworkers to show them Christ. The Lord is calling us to go to all.” Pastor Tin Nguyen of the Vietnamese church spoke on the importance of participating and studying the Word every day, emphasizing, “We need to know God’s will detailed in God’s Word.”

The opportunity for International Baptist Church to host three international congregations was made possible because Lifegate Baptist Church turned its facilities over to Northwest Baptist Home Mission after the church’s dissolution. NBHM is a ministry of the Baptist Network Northwest, of which Pete Steele serves as youth and ministry consultant. The stewardship of International Church is a great example of what can happen when one church opens its doors to ethnic groups in its community. Great Commission work is definitely taking place through these three ministries to spread the gospel to all nations.