RED SEA UNIVERSITY NIGHT

Last Friday night was a great time to meet some of the new University students of Red Sea. We started out the evening with a "North Portland Pop Quiz". Did you know these little factoids?

Where do the Portland Trailblazers play their home games? North Portland
Name a current player from the Trailblazers that grew up in North Portland? Ime Udoka
What is the most famous "micro-brewed" beer from North Portland? Widmer
What sportswear company was started in North Portland? Columbia Sportswear
What high ranking politician lives in North Portland? Mayor Sam Adams
Name the most famous movie filmed in North Portland? Mr. Holland's Opus
What popular music band have often been seen and said to live in North Portland? The Shins

You get the gist! We had a great time talking through what it means to be a University student (University of Portland, Concordia, Multnomah, Western, Corban or Portland State) and call Red Sea your church community. The students are very committed and are ready to live out the vision/mission of Red Sea. The idea of being taught something greater than their "major" during this 4 year window was presented and understood. The students were given a time to pray, imagine and respond to how the gospel intersects with their lives now.

We look forward to watching these students grow in Christ, community and in their desire to transform the culture they find themselves among here in North Portland. Red Sea leadership is so excited to have such talented group of students with us this year. We look forward to serving the King together!

RED SEA MINISTRY UPPER ROOM (Part 2)

I arrived at about 6:30pm. The room was filled and Russell was teaching from
Scripture. The amalgam of sweet scents that fumigated the kitchen made me
salivate. I took a plate of food and sat at a table-- hoping to make
conversation. I engaged in some small talk with some people and finished my
plate.

Near the back of the room was a man named Garrett. I sat down next to him and
introduced myself. We had a long conversation. He confessed his heart to me.
He told me a lot of things; things that I didn't know how to respond to. His
life was hard.

After cleanup, I processed through what had happened. A part of me thought
that I could understand the depths of Garrett's pain, but the truth is, I
can't. I can't relate fully with Garrett's hurt. I can't take his hurt away
and I can't make him better. But I delight in this, I delight in knowing that
our Savior can relate to Garrett in ways which no other being can. Our Savior
can melt the heart of stone and can change people for His glory. This is my
hope and this is my prayer for Upper Room.

Red Sea ministry Upper Room

Here are some observations of a new Red Sea/Upper Room participant:
Last Thursday was my first night serving at Upper Room. I got there just as Josh was starting to set up the room so was able to help with all the details that go into that. Once the doors opened I was able to start meeting our guests. Throughout the night there was around 40 guests who came in and had a meal. For the first 30 minutes I was able to introduce myself to several of the guests and start to learn their names and stories. Then it was time to eat and before I knew it we were cleaning up and it was time to go home. There were several of us volunteers there which made things run rather smoothly...from what I have been told this isn't always the case but it was a great first night for the new year.

Having never served at a ministry like Upper Room there were several doubts I had to what it would be like serving those who were down and out. Before I came that night though I had decided that I would love these people. Once I met them I found that wasn't going to be a hard choice. Whether it was talking to the couple who loved sharing their wedding story and talking about all the beautiful scenery in Oregon, or to the guy who came to Portland with his ex-husband and now all he has is his dog, or to the guy who loved to draw attention to the fact that he was bringing all his friends to Upper Room; all of them have intriguing stories and it is a joy to sit with them and to hear about what is going on in their lives. The fact that I have a job, a house, a shower and most of them don't really doesn't mean anything. We are all created in the image of God and there is dignity and worth in the face of each one who dines in that room on Thursday nights.

I am really excited about serving at this ministry. I look forward to making friends with the volunteers I will be serving alongside. Most of all I look forward to spending time with our guests. I am excited to learn their names and their stories. I am looking forward to being able to spend Thanksgiving with them. I am very interested to see the long term effects of the little amount of grace that we are able to extend to them. I am excited to see the Gospel of Jesus worked out in all of our lives as we live out the Gospel of grace towards those whom society shuns.

Garman Update

Well, it has been a few months since we announced that we would be going to the Westside of Portland to do ministry. As much as we still believe that the Lord is moving us to do mission in that area of Portland we do not see Him moving us to minister there yet. So, what does that mean? We are committed to being here with Red Sea for as long as God sees fit. We are very excited to still be here and serving North Portland. The last thing in the world I want to do is go out ahead of God's plan. Since, we have not moved right away this time has also given way to just humbly staying in a stand still and trying to listen further to what God has to say. I have sought outside counsel to speak into any blind spots. We are in prayer.

In the meantime; here are some things I am working on within Red Sea.

1. Adopting a Trailer Park to serve
2. Compassion Connect - bringing free health care to St. Johns
3. Building city wide unity between churches.
4. Exploring idea of working with other St. Johns churches for mentoring.
5. Praying about how we can serve high school and university students for greater impact.
6. Seeking additional leadership.

Please join us in our current state of "pause, peace and prayer"! If you have any questions please do contact me
on facebook or via email.

WEST SIDE STORY

INTRO:

10 years ago God moved the Garman's to St. Johns to learn how to receive, serve, and proclaim the love of Christ. 7 years ago I planted a church called Red Sea out of my living room on Syracuse St. While I knew not one person when I moved here with my wife and 3 children... I now have 7 children, a large family at our church, many friends in the community of North Portland and continue to learn how to receive, serve and proclaim the love of Christ.This week I announced to my 7 children and my brothers and sisters in Christ that the Lord was leading me to bring those gospel lessons to the people of West Portland. I wanted to put into writing some of the "basics of my vision" to inform those who did not hear the news first hand and to ask for prayer as we all wait for the remainder of things to be revealed.

MY CALL & VISION:

Daisy and I moved to the westside of Portland from Orange County, California in 1996. Now 13 years later we will be returning to that area of our beloved city to bring the gospel. About 3 years ago the Lord began setting the stage for our next season of ministry by having me preach in a church in that area of town. After preaching there again, building relationships and having God lay a burden for the westside on my heart I began to pray about God's timing for this move. The call and vision have been kept between Daisy and I for 2 years. I believe that waiting for God to pronounce further His plan for my family and ministry has proven to be wise. It is without quick, jerky movement that we bring this news to you. This is not an irrational or careless human desire of ours; it is quite the opposite... this I believe, after the confirmation of my wife, elders, dear pastors and personal friends has become God's timing for the Garman family to reach through Red Sea into west Portland.

Where in the west are you talking about? Cornell Road, Barnes Road, Leahy Road and the like... this area is known as the Sunset Corridor. We will someday move into a neighborhood over in that area to begin building gospel centered relationships, community and gatherings. We could move as soon as the summer of 09 but are praying about this and is a key area we would love to have you join us in prayer!

WHAT'S NEXT FOR RED SEA?

I 100% believe with all my heart that strength, development and growth are the season that is next for the community of Christ followers at Red Sea! While I am excited about working within my gifting in greater Portland I am equally excited about the opportunities that will come to the priesthood at Red Sea. I am very confident that Red Sea was in danger, just slightly lol, of becoming personality driven. The people of Red Sea have a clear vision and have responded in life to the gospel that I have proclaimed as a preacher and leader. Now is the time for Red Sea to concentrate on shared leadership and an empowerment of many others beyond what we knew as "Lead Pastor". Through the current eldership and our alliances with like minded Christ community's we will be poised to develop our body of believers further for mission. Red Sea is a beautiful, sustainable community of inspiration among our neighbors and will continue, in a new way, to proclaim Jesus!

AN IMPORTANT SUMMARY:

OVER SIMPLIFICATIONS & CORRECTIONS:

Pastor Shaun is LEAVING Red Sea! No.....
When the time is right Pastor Shaun will be SENT by the Red Sea community.

Pastor Shaun and Daisy are moving right away! No....
We are not looking to escape. We love it here and want to continue our relationships and ministry until we are called to concentrate on the work in the west. Our relationships will change due to geographics but should not end! We love Red Sea people. We could move our household for the sake of our children, school schedules and real estate but remain in Red Sea until it is clear how we will connect, in ministry, to the westside.

Red Sea Eldership know who the replacement is for Pastor Shaun! No.....
We are stressing "shared leadership" in the pulpit... teaching.. preaching... rather than a short sighted "replacement" strategy and do not yet know where some of the high level leaders will come from to complete the Red Sea picture. We are very excited and know that the Lord will provide. Be praying for a Godly man and his family.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

1. Ask Leadership Directly / info@redseachurch.org
2. Request the original "Family Dinner" meeting CD. Pastor Shaun's message is available to hear first hand.
(Reserved for Red Sea)

Please don't allow any gossip or negative tone to infiltrate what God is doing at Red Sea and with the Garmans. God is very good at shaping our future. It is for us to walk into His will.

Most of all... love.

Love you so very much,

Pastor Shaun