Nathan E. Lewis

During Passion Week 2008 I met Jeremy, National Director of Good Samaritan Ministries in Burundi. I dropped by the international headquarters of Good Samaritan Ministries in Beaverton, within walking distance of my office at Evergreen Presbyterian Church, to visit with founder/director, Bettie Mitchell. She introduced me to Jeremy. He told me his story, the loss of his four sisters murdered during the genocide of 1993. The night before I watched “Beyond the Gates,” a BBC movie about the genocide in Rwanda. Last year I had watched “Hotel Rwanda,” and then read as much news archives as I could to remind me of what I and so many others in the safe and peaceful west had forgotten - over one million people brutally hacked to death by machete. Most of Jeremy’s counseling ministry is a ministry of reconciliation and the caring/healing of people in long-term shock as survivors of genocide. Continue reading »

NPR has reminded us of the deep influence of Hawthorne’s story on American sociology in the article, “Hester Prynne: Sinner, Victim, Object, Winner.” For any of us who are members of the Church we must go beyond sociology to ask the question, “Would Hester be welcome in our community of faith? Have we learned from Hawthorne’s scathing presentation of hypocrisy?” Several months ago a single woman confided in me, “The Church is not a safe place for me and for many others who are broken and complicated.” Continue reading »

My son, Everett James has completed 15 pen and ink drawings of women and his art teacher, Kathy DeArmond Mier has arranged for them to show at Kettlemen’s Bagels in Southeast Portland through April 30. Everett is fourteen years old, a talented musician and budding artist. I am proud of his work and give glory to God for his skills and love of art. Kathy Mier, along with her husband, Gary, own and operate Gallery 7126 in the Pearl District. Visit their gallery sometime soon and several times a year to appreciate their rotation of local artists. Encourage Everett by dropping by Kettleman’s on Friday, March 7, between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Pastor Nathan Lewis has been preaching through Paul’s First Epistle to the Church at Corinth. In celebration of Resurrection Sunday 2008, he has preached the following sermons from I Corinthians 15 at Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Beaverton and Chehalem Valley Presbyterian Church in Newberg. Continue reading »