Oregon Legislator Calls Oregon Church to do a "180" with First Nations Tribal Communities

Teresa Neumann : Mar 7, 2011
John Fortmeyer - Christian News Northwest

"Without that original request from the tribes for this book of great spiritual power and wisdom [the Bible], our state might not exist." -Oregon State House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna

(Salem, OR)?Oregon State House Co-Speaker Bruce Hanna has called for the Church of Oregon and for Native American tribal communities to meet in Salem next month in a potentially historic gathering.

"Psalm 76:12 says, 'God is renowned in Judah; in Israel His name is great. His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion,'" wrote Hanna in an open letter to church leaders. "I hope to meet you in Salem on Saturday, April 16."

As reported in Christian News Northwest, in a companion letter to Northwest tribal leaders, Hanna noted that it was at the urging of Native tribes almost two centuries ago that missionaries first brought the Bible and its Gospel message to this region.

"Without that original request from the tribes for this book of great spiritual power and wisdom, our state might not exist," Hanna wrote. "All who live within our beautiful and bountiful state owe a debt of gratitude to those tribal leaders who sought the very best for their people."

Noted reporter John Fortmeyer: "What the House co-speaker is so openly endorsing is an effort by ROAR (Restoring Oregon's Amazing Roots) Ministries to encourage a regional '180' turnaround spiritually by returning to the focus on the Gospel that the tribes initiated in 1831? 180 years ago.

For more information on the gathering, follow the link provided.