History

The term "Foursquare Gospel" came about during an intense revival in the city of Oakland, Calif. in July 1922. As thousands had gathered to hear the gospel, the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson described a vision God had given her, taken from Ezekiel's vision in the book of Ezekiel, chapter one.

Ezekiel saw the revelation of a totally powerful God. He saw four faces--those of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. To Sister McPherson, those four faces were like the four phases of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the face of the man, she saw Jesus our Savior, the "man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3); in the face of the lion, she saw Jesus the mighty Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and fire. In the face of the ox, she saw Jesus the Great Burden-bearer, who Himself took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses. In the face of the eagle, she saw reflected the Coming King--Jesus the Bridegroom, who is returning in power for His bride, the church.

It was a perfect, complete gospel for the body, soul, spirit and eternity. It was a gospel that faces squarely in every direction: thus, the name Foursquare.

In 1918 an evangelist named Aimee Semple McPherson settled her traveling ministry in Los Angeles. Five years later, the 5,300-seat Angelus Temple was dedicated and became a center of healing, renewal and social outreach, as well as the birthplace of The Foursquare Church, which was founded in 1923.

The Foursquare Church continued to grow from that first church to over 36,000 worldwide today.

Local History

The Newport Foursquare Church was planted by Greg and Cindi Romine in the early seventies under the name New Life Center. After serving the church for twelve years the Romines went on to plant another church in San Francisco and then proceeded to the mission field serving in Hong Kong and in the Philippines. They eventually founded their own worldwide evangelistic mininstry called Romine Ministries and are now based in Vancouver, WA.

The Romines were succeeded in the ministry in Newport by Mark and Kathy Shaw. They served for close to four years and then transitioned to missions work in Frankfurt, Germany eventually serving as Regional Supervisor for Europe. The Shaws currently serve in the pastorate in Hillsboro, OR.

The Shaws were succeeded in Newport by Garris and Jan Elkins. They too served for close to four years and then tranistioned to mission work in first Jamaica and then Romania and Bulgaria. The Elkins currently pastor in Medford, OR.

The Elkins gave way to John and Kay Snyder. Under their care the church name was changed to Newport Foursquare Church. After pastoring the church for about four years they moved to central Washington and John continued in a career in education.

Frank and Wendy Parrish took up the pastoral baton in Newport serving for four years. In 1998 Frank was called away to assume the leadership of World MAP from his father-in-law so he became involved in worldwide mission endeavor. Does anyone notice a pattern emerging here?

The current pastors, Warren and Pat Willie, were called from the foreign field where they were pastoring in Canada to serve in Newport in 1999. They were very happy to return to Oregon as this is where they had pastored for seventeen years, had planted a church, and had raised their family. They are now in their eigth year of ministry in Newport.

Of additional note:

Pastor Larry and Karen Gratreak who served in an assistive capacity in Newport for sixteen years from the midseventies to the late eighties now pastor in Monmouth, OR.

At least five churches in the coastlands and inland would attribute their planting to the efforts of the Newport congregation to the glory of God.