3 men, 2 cities: June tour to draw a 'line in the sand' in Oregon

   This summer, Oregonians in every corner of the state will be freshly reminded about the state’s Christian roots and why they are as important today as they were 150 or more years ago.
   Three Christian organizations —Prepare the Way ministries of Bend, Newberg-based ROAR (Reviving Oregon’s Amazing Roots) Ministries and Salem-based Concerned Oregonians are joining forces to conduct a ROAR Line-in-the-Sand Oregon Sesquicentennial Tour of 42 “patriotic celebrations” in 21 cities in 20 counties June 3 through July 4.
   The tour title indicates the ministry leaders’ joint desire to figuratively draw “a line in the sand” by “reviving Oregonians’ commitment to their sacred heritage and the constitutional principles of Oregon and our nation.”
   The tour will be conducted jointly by:
  •Stephen Williams of Prepare the Way, which aims to empower Christians with the knowledge and support they need to uphold a biblical worldview in an increasingly secular society. Williams made national headlines in 2004-05 when, as a Cuperinto, Calif., public school teacher, he was censored by the administration from using primary source documents with Christian references, including even the Declaration of Independence. Williams filed a federal court case, which was settled out of court and a written policy was put in place that allowed primary source documents with Christian references in Cupertino schools.
  • Rev. Aaron Auer of ROAR Ministries, an Oregon native and pastor now living in Newberg. ROAR seeks to educate Oregonians about their heritage. A founding document has been written to re-awaken the spirit of those Christian roots. Oregon preachers are invited to sign the ROAR Declaration as a reaffirmation of those beliefs.
  •Craig Myers, executive diector of Concerned Oregonians, which, according to its web site, “promotes morality, marriage family and children so the people of Oregon will reclaim their vanishing freedom and equal justice, and renew their dedication to God, family, and country.” Concerned Oregonians coordinated a petition effort in 2008 that sought to overturn gay rights laws passed by the Legislature earlier in the year.
   Because of their shared concern over the state’s and nation’s directions spiritually and politically, and in light of Oregon’s 150th anniversary this year, the three have teamed up. At each tour city, they will hold evening presentations lasting close to two hours, followed the next day by 90-minute noontime events.
   At each event, the trio will recount the history of Oregon’s pioneer founders, missionaries and circuit riders, and include additional historic accounts significant to the 20 counties. They say the events will be colorful and might include such historic figures as Jason Lee, Jedidiah Smith and others in pioneer attire; a color guard of Native American veterans representing their region of Oregon; and a fife and drum corps where available. Some might include contingents of uniformed veterans and possibly National Guard, fire and police units and youth groups. Speakers will include pastors, historians and civic leaders.
   For more information, go to www.roaroregon.org or phone Myers at 1-888-303-1304.
   Times and specific venues have yet to be announced. Here is a tour overview:
The tour will start in the eastern Oregon border city of Ontario on June 3 and 4, and follow the Oregon Trail to The Dalles by way of Interstate 84 with stops in Baker City (June 4 and 5) La Grande (June 7 and 8) and Pendleton (June 8 and 9). It will then head south on state Highway 97 with visits to Madras (June 10 and 11), Prineville (June 11 and 12), Bend (June 14 and 15), and Klamath Falls (June 15 and 16). It will then follow the Applegate Trail to the Portland area, by way of Medford (June 16 and 17), Grants Pass (June 17 and 18), Roseburg (June 18 and 19), Eugene (June 21 and 22), Albany (June 22 and 23), Corvallis (June 23 and 24), McMinnville (June 24 and 25), Hillsboro (June 25 and 26), Oregon City (June 23 and 29), Portland (June 29 and 30) and Salem (June 30 and July 1). On Friday, July 3, there also will be an evening service in St. Paul and then on the Fourth of July, a special program from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Newell House at nearby historic Champoeg State Park. Later in the summer ROAR will sponsor a four-day campmeeting at the historic Tabernacle on the grounds of the Oregon Christian Convention in Turner, July 30 through Aug. 2.