PORTLAND, OR (February 7, 2012) – St. Johns Covenant Church had provided the Roosevelt High School girl’s basketball team with to-go meals for all of their away games, but they all sat together for a taco dinner to celebrate a season in which the Lady Riders have had to overcome major obstacles.
Roosevelt is the poorest high school in the north Portland area, says Pastor Andy Goebel. Declining enrollment also meant the school had to drop from competing at the 5A level to 4A.
There were no 4A schools in the area, however, so teams from the cash-strapped school had to travel three to four hours for all their away games. The school didn’t even have money at the beginning of the season to provide uniforms or sweats.
When the church asked how they could help, the coach asked if the church could provide simple meals the students could take with them. “The meals weren’t anything fancy,” Goebel says. “We put in sandwiches, Gatorade, and other food we thought was healthy.”
The school is within walking distance of the church. Helping the basketball team was an easy decision, says Goebel.
“We want to be involved in the community. We want to do what we can to serve,” Goebel says.
St. Johns is a new church plant that had its second preview service recently. It has a core team of 29 adults and 13 kids, says Goebel.
The church is worshiping in the building that was home to Community Covenant Church, which closed last year. The 80-year-old congregation had declined to 15 members, but wanted to help launch the new work.
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