Community Spotlight

Being the Church in a Season of Need

If you have been part of Hood River Alliance for long, you have likely heard us say many times that we are becoming a people of love and depth in a culture of individualism and superficiality through the practice of community. This is one of our Rule of Life statements, and we have an opportunity to step into this in a very tangible way this week. 

As of right now, those who receive SNAP food benefits, will not be receiving their November allotment, which will create real challenges for individuals and families both inside our church and our community at large. As followers of Jesus, we see this not as a crisis to observe, but as a sacred invitation and opportunity to live out our calling—to Practice the Way of Jesus.

In Acts 2 we are given a beautiful and compelling vision of the church: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” The early church didn’t just attend gatherings—they belonged to one another. Their resources were shared, their tables were open, and their hearts were knit together in love. This was not charity—it was family. It was the Kingdom of God breaking into the world through ordinary people who trusted Jesus with everything they had.

We don’t want this opportunity to love our family in a tangible way to pass us by, so this Sunday, we will receive a special offering for the Benevolence Fund. The offering will be dedicated to helping fill the gap created by the reduction of SNAP benefits. These funds will go directly toward providing groceries and essential support to individuals and families within our church and local community.

But this is not simply about financial giving—this is about living as the family of God. We encourage you to lean into the Lord and ask how He might creatively invite you to love your neighbor during this season:

• Invite someone you know over for dinner.
  

• Prepare an extra meal to share.
  

• Send friends home with an abundance of leftovers as a gesture of love and belonging.
  

This is not charity—it is the kingdom of God expressed through shared life. It is loving one another, belonging to one another, bearing burdens with one another. It is the church being a living picture of Jesus’ love in a world of isolation and scarcity.

If You or Someone You Know Is in Need

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a gap in food resources this month, we would be honored to share what we have. This is not charity—it is simply an opportunity for spiritual formation of a people who belong to one another in love. In the Kingdom of God, giving and receiving are equally sacred. One is not greater than the other. Both are acts of worship and expressions of our shared life in Christ.

Email: community@hralliance.org
Call: 541-386-2812
Stop by to talk with us in person — we would love to have a chat with you.

Youth Spotlight

Wonderful Church Family,

 This season we’re in feels magical- and I’m not talking about Halloween or even the incredible color show the Lord is painting up and down the Gorge right now. I’m talking about what He’s doing in our young people!

In Middle School Youth Group, students are having big, beautiful conversations about what it means to truly know Jesus and walk with the Holy Spirit. This week, we’ll dive into what it means to be filled with the Spirit. These students are smart, sincere, and they love Jesus deeply—it’s incredible to watch them worship with their whole hearts and take ownership of their faith.

Some of them also attended a retreat last weekend with other Alliance Northwest youth groups—and came home calling it “the best retreat ever!” They played epic games, built friendships, and learned what it means to truly taste and see that the Lord is good. Huge thanks to Kelsey and Garrison for leading that trip with so much love and energy, and shout out to Connie for showing up every week as the grandma we need in middle school! 

Meanwhile, our High School students spent the same weekend in Seattle at an apologetics conference—and wow! They soaked in so much truth about worldview and had some of the most incredible conversations along the way. One of my favorite moments was hearing a student lay out all her tough questions, while others responded with Scripture and thoughtful discussion. The car rides were full of laughter, honesty, and real faith exploration. I came home overflowing with joy and gratitude.

At Hood River Valley High School, the Bible Study Club is thriving! Shoutout to John Combs for hosting and to Everen (along with Josie and Charis) for leading students through the Sermon on the Mount each week. Every week, they share an invitation to follow Jesus. What began with a handful of youth group students has grown to include new faces—students who are coming because they want to know more about the Gospel! One student we met there even joined youth group this week. God is drawing hearts!

Beyond the big moments like retreats and clubs, the personal growth we’re seeing is incredible. Students are letting go of idols, leading others in worship with Neal, diving into Scripture for answers, talking about Jesus like He’s their friend, and learning to disagree with kindness and respect. Their faith is becoming their own—and it’s beautiful to witness.

Teenage years are uniquely anointed for spiritual growth—just like early childhood is for learning language. This “greenhouse season” is precious and fleeting. Research tells us that students who keep their faith strong after high school are those who have relationships with caring adults who show up, listen, and cheer them on. Thank you so much for the way you love and care for our students! Every prayer and encouragement makes a difference. 

If it’s not part of your regular rhythm, this week will you start a conversation with a teenager and ask them what God is up to in their lives and how you can pray for them? Or maybe shoot them a text or and little note to let them know you see them and you are for them? 

For the Kingdom,

Melissa Richardson

Operations Spotlight

thankyou to the teams serving our Church

Every week, much of what makes our church feel like home happens behind the scenes. From the moment you walk through the doors to the environment you're welcomed into, there are faithful people working with excellence and humility serving our community.

Today, I want to express my deep appreciation for some of teams whose impact may not always be seen, but is always felt.

Hospitality Team

This team sets the tone for our Sundays. From warm greetings and freshly brewed coffee, to serving donuts and preparing communion, they help create an atmosphere where people feel seen and valued. Their ministry of presence and preparation communicates care in simple yet powerful ways.

Counting Team

Our Counting Team handles a vital part of church life with precision and integrity. Each week they ensure that the financial gifts given are handled with integrity, care, and precision. Their diligence enables us to steward our resources responsibly and transparently. Thank you to this amazing team for your trustworthiness and consistency.

Prayer Team

The Prayer Team is often unseen, but always active. These faithful intercessors quietly lift up the needs of our congregation, our leaders, our city, and beyond. Many of us have felt the strength of their prayers during difficult seasons. Their quiet commitment reminds us that prayer is not just support, it is spiritual leadership, and we are deeply grateful.

Facilities Team

Our Facilities Team are the unsung heroes who care for our building and grounds with tireless dedication. From fixing broken toilets to mowing the lawn, painting, prepping spaces for ministry, and making sure everything is working and welcoming, their work is the foundation that supports all we do as a church. Because of them, our building isn’t just a structure, it’s a place of comfort, safety… a place we call home.

Safety Team

Last, but certainly not least, we want to recognize our Safety Team, those who serve as watchful guardians over our building, our people, and our children. Their presence helps ensure that everyone can worship in peace, knowing that someone is looking out for their well-being. They often go unnoticed, and that’s kind of the point, but their role is crucial. Thank you for being present, prepared, and committed to protecting our church family.

Each of these teams plays a unique role, yet they are all united by a shared heart to serve faithfully and love well.

Want to serve with these teams?

If you're reading this and thinking, "I’d love to serve on one of these teams", we’d love to have you join us! Whether you enjoy welcoming people, working behind the scenes, praying for others, fixing things, or helping keep people safe, I’m sure there’s a place for you.

Serving is a great way to grow in your faith while get connected with others in the church. You don’t need to have it all figured out, just a willing heart and a desire to serve.

To learn more or sign up, fill out this form, or stop by my office and we can find the right place for you.

I look forward to serving alongside you.

By Grace Alone,
Pastor Anders

Missions Spotlight

Church family, we are thrilled to celebrate all the ways we are engaging both locally and globally. God is at work. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening:

Journey House – Six Months of Impact
This October marks six months since Journey House opened its doors—and what a journey it’s been! These past months have been filled with growth, learning, and meaningful moments as we’ve walked alongside the men who’ve called Journey House home.

So far, we’ve had the privilege of serving five guests, with three currently residing in the house. Each story is unique, and we’ve celebrated milestones together—from honoring one guest’s 100-day stay to sharing in the joy of a birthday celebration. These moments remind us of the power of community and the beauty of transformation.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has served at Journey House—whether by fixing something around the home, preparing a community meal, joining house check-ins, or staying overnight. Your presence and care make this ministry possible.
- Steve and Tiffany

Celebrate Recovery – Growth in Healing and Support
Our Celebrate Recovery ministry is growing! We’re excited to announce the start of a new round of 12-step groups soon. If you or someone you know is interested in joining, reach out to Tina or John Combs to get connected. These groups are a safe space to find healing, accountability, and community.

Youth Serving this Weekend
This weekend, Pastor Melissa is leading a group of students to Washington Family Ranch to serve on the work crew for the women’s retreat that many ladies from our congregation will be attending. How inspiring to see God shaping hearts for service in our youth!

International Missions

• Guatemala: Mark Johnson and his team are planning the next missions trip to Guatemala. If you feel called to be part of this adventure, please email Mark for details.

• Ireland: Pastor Melissa is organizing a trip for students to serve with a ministry connected to the YWAM base in Ireland. Interested families should get in touch with Melissa!

• Kenya: In August, a team from our church will be hosting a spiritual formation camp for children in three Remember Nhu homes. There are still a few spots available for anyone who feels called to serve our brothers and sisters in Kenya. Let Tina know you’re interested!

Support Our Sister Church in The Dalles – BBQ Fundraiser for Indonesia
Our daughter church, One Life,  in The Dalles is sending a team to serve in Indonesia and is hosting a BBQ fundraiser to support this work. Trust us—Nick and Catie Herman likely have the corner on the market for BBQ! Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting our brothers and sisters in bringing the gospel to those without access in Indonesia. See the flyer below for details.

Wow, church—we truly have a lot happening both in our neighborhoods and across the globe! Missions really is in our DNA. Curious about the deep roots of mission in our denomination? Check out Alliance 101. Fun fact: 75% of “The Alliance” is outside of the USA. We have been “goers and senders” from the very beginning.Church, let’s celebrate the ways God is moving and using us to be a blessing and to take the gospel wherever we go. 

Worship Ministry Spotlight

Hey everyone!

Brett here :) I feel like I should always start these newsletters by saying how much I LOVE worshipping with our church. Every week I get a huge smile on my face when I hear us singing loud and strong, giving praise and honor to Jesus. It’s one of the best parts of my week.

A quick update on the worship team: I’m constantly blessed by the willingness and passion I see from our team. Even though we’re all volunteers, every single person shows up for midweek practice and comes early on Sundays to prepare. To me, that shows a beautiful level of commitment to leading worship well. I’m so thankful for each of them.

And I don’t know about you, but the series we just finished on Community has been so impactful for me and our team. During the week, as we practice and spend time together, I can see deep friendships forming. The Lord is truly uniting us as we worship and serve side by side.

I also want to extend an open invitation—if you’d like to be part of the worship community, come talk to me! I’m more than happy to walk alongside people of all skill levels. I really believe the Lord is raising up worshippers in our church, and my hope is that every ministry will have access to live worship teams. In fact, during our recent ministry fair, most of the people who signed up for worship were youth—which I think is so cool!

Please keep praying for our worship community, and of course—keep on singing.

This week we’re introducing a new(ish) song called “Waiting Here for You.” Take a listen ahead of time and sing along with us on Sunday.

With joy,
Brett

Ministry Spotlight - CM

In September, we launched a new year-long series in Children’s Ministry: EPIC Teachings of the Bible. Over the coming months we’ll be exploring big truths like the Fruit of the Spirit, the Lord’s Prayer, God’s Commandments, Spiritual Gifts, the Armor of God, Psalm 23, Psalm 119, and the Sermon on the Mount. We love walking through these lessons with the kids each week and helping them discover more of God’s love for each of us.

If your child comes every Sunday, that adds up to about 26 hours of learning in a year. That’s a great start! But we know the biggest influence on a child’s faith comes from home. Parents, grandparents, and guardians have the unique opportunity to weave faith into everyday life—whether it’s through small conversations, shared prayers, or pointing back to God in daily moments.

That’s why each week we provide the At Home handout (available online or at classroom checkout). They’re designed to make it simple for you to keep the conversation going—reviewing the lesson, practicing the memory verse, and doing a quick activity together. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can happen around the dinner table, in the car, or at bedtime.

Our prayer is that these tools will encourage and equip you to keep nurturing your child’s faith throughout the week. Together, we can help the next generation grow in their love for Jesus.

Community Ministry Spotlight

Living Into Community

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been walking through The Community Practice sermon series, and it has been such a joy to see how our church has engaged. From the teaching on the table, to sharing joys and sorrows, to engaging at the ministry fair, the energy and excitement around community has been contagious.

But we don’t want community to just be a topic for a sermon series. Our prayer is that as we practice community that we would experience God at work forming and shaping us into people of love. As we love others and allow ourselves to be loved.. warts and all.. the Holy Spirit does in us what we could never do for ourselves. If you’re looking for ways to take a next step into deeper community, there are several opportunities coming up:

Women’s Bible Study – This week, a new study is launching called Find Your People by Jennie Allen. It’s a great opportunity to grow together in the Word of God while building authentic friendships.

Women’s Retreat – A space designed for deeper connection and friendship, the retreat is a meaningful time to step away and invest in relationships.

Community Groups – We have new groups opening soon, and we’d love to help you find one. Or, you may feel called to gather a few people in your circle to intentionally form a group. The Community Building Team would love to walk with you in that.

Man Coffee – For the guys, there’s an open invitation to join Man Coffee on Tuesday mornings at 6:30 in the café. Come for the coffee (or whatever your morning drink of choice is) and stay for the honest, life-giving conversation.

Finally, we’d like to extend a special invitation to our Community Summit on October 5th, after service. This gathering is for everyone, but especially for those who are leading any kind of “community space” at Hood River Alliance. Together, we’ll share a meal, engage in conversation, and dream about how we can become a community of love and depth in a culture of individualism and superficiality.

We’re excited about what God is doing among us! Let’s not just talk about community—let’s practice it together.

Operations Corner

Church Center Training

This Sunday at the Fall Ministry Fair, Key Leaders from both our church and the community will have tables set up for you to connect with them and answer questions about how you could get involved their ministry. As the Operations Pastor, I will be setup in the middle of the Gym promoting our Church Center App.

Church Center is an App that helps to connect and equip our community throughout ALL the ministries you might be involved in. From scheduling you to play with the Worship Team, using Check-Ins for your child with Children’s Ministry, or looking at the Events Page to find out the next time your bible study meets, Church Center helps to bring all of these and more seperate tasks to a single space.

Check-ins Training (Children’s Ministry)

If your kiddos attend Sunday Morning Children’s Ministry, you may have noticed that Church Center is what we use for our new super spiffy electronic Check-in system. Did you know that you can skip the line and check your child in during your drive to church? (Please, only attempt this if another adult is driving :-P )

To find out more about how how to do this, and all the ways we are using for Check-ins in our Children’s Ministry, be sure to drop by their table on Sunday and talk to Paige.

Online Directory

&

Profesional Photographs

Church Center also works as an ONLINE DIRECTORY!!! Now before you start to get creeped out about just anyone being able to view your information, know that users can only gain access to our community directory if they have been INVITED by one of our Pastoral Staff.

As we look to grow as a community, stretching beyond our comfortable circles and reaching out to the new people we are meeting through donut socials, bible studies, and potlucks, you might not remember everyones name the first time you meet them. A directory can be a GREAT help with this, however only if profiles have a PICTURE connected to them.

This Sunday, we will have our very own profesional photographer Jesse Larvick taking photos of you and your family. These photos will afterwards be both available to you, and added to our Directory.

Hope to see you there!

Anders Sorestad

Operations Pastor