History Page

 

     The following pages will try to provide you with an in-depth look into the History of Temple Baptist Church, from it's beginning to the present day.

     The Church congregation has met in different buildings within the City of Portland since 1884, have used different names in the past and started with a Swedish Baptist affiliation with direct descendants from the country of Sweden.  The name of the church when first organized was Scandinavian Baptist Church.  Even today as Temple Baptist Church, the Swedish roots are still very evident.  Underneath the large sign above the steps to the front doors that says Temple Baptist Church, is inscribed in the surface of the building, as well as on the cornerstone, "Swedish Baptist Temple."

    Located near the Lloyd Center with easy access due to the freeway system, and The Max Light Rail, Temple is able to minister to people in the greater Portland area.  

     Many of the family's that take an active roll in the church have grand parents that attended Temple.  From it's very beginning, the purpose of the church was to bring the good news of Christ to the people of the area and from there to the ends of the earth.  The church has always placed missions on the fore front of its direction.  We as Christians are commissioned to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."  Mark 16:15


    This History Page is made up of two main parts; a chronological page of the exclusive history of Temple Baptist Church and another part which is a chronological page of events down through time including the history of Temple.

Hints on navigating the History Page: 
    1-usually a colored text with a line under it is a link to another page, website, or different part of the same page.  Place your mouse curser on the link and you will see the arrow change to a hand symbol.  Click the left button on your mouse to activate. 
    2-most of the pictures or images in this page have alternative text or a description of the picture or image.  To activate this feature place your mouse curser over the image or picture and the text will appear.

The links to the main sections of Temple's history are below.


     Please click on the links below to open the subject named.

Temple History Exclusive ] Temple History Inclusive ] Former Pastors ] Current Pastor ] People of Interest ]

Click the link The Baptist General Conference to view their Web Site and find their history pages.

    "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full"
                                                                                         
1 John 1:3,4

Last updated March 31, 2014
    The material in this Web Page was compiled and entered by Frank Peterson.  
   
I want to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for giving the blessed assurance of eternal life and being able to learn the skills required to make this page.  I also want to thank Bethel Seminary for providing the majority of the Pastors involved in shepherding the members and friends of Temple Baptist Church.   Thanks to the First Baptist Church of Portland, The American Baptist Churches of Oregon.  To the late Harley Hallgren for his incredible record keeping down through the years.   The Columbia Baptist Conference, the Archive Department of Bethel College and Seminary and the Alumni Department of Multnomah School of the Bible.
    Material was taken from  articles and photo's from my mother's scrapbook and from various members of Temple, Harley Hallgern's personal notes, the following publications but not limited to;  The First Century of Temple Baptist Church, The Fourth Quarter
by John Bergeson, Seventy Five Year History by Gordon Carlson, Seventy-five Years of Bethel Theological Seminary,  also to the many people who helped translate documents written in Swedish (the language of Heaven) and our past Historian, John B. Pearson.
   
For any additions,  corrections, comments,  please contact the office of Temple Baptist Church. (503-233-5953) 
   
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