By Jason Calvert and Jana Lee, Oregon Conference Church Ministries directors

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Choosing the Known vs. Embracing Change

Isn’t it true? When forced to choose between the known and the unknown, we usually choose the known. Known feels comfortable. Known is predictable. But in 2025, the Oregon Conference faced an unexpected choice—one that would lead to significant change. While anticipated change often feels exciting and progressive, unexpected change can feel like loss.

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Olive Garden & Church: A Shared Truth

Think about Olive Garden: breadsticks, salad, minestrone—it looks effortless. But behind the scenes, bussers, hosts, servers, and cooks collaborate so guests feel like family. Church is no different. Greeters, musicians, pastors, and ministry leaders all partner for one mission: making disciples of Jesus.

That’s why, in 2025, the Oregon Conference launched the Church Ministries Department—a single team dedicated to resourcing and partnering with every church. From youth and women’s ministries to prayer and community services, we’re here to help local leaders thrive. Think of us as the prep cooks—working behind the scenes so ministry happens with excellence. While the previous model afforded “ministry experts” to focus efforts to one single lane of ministry, this new model intrinsically and intentionally allows for a macro, cross-pollination for church support, vision, and resourcing.

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EAT: A Lens for 2025

To reflect on this year, let’s use the acronym EAT:

E – Excited

• Thriving Pathfinder and Adventurer clubs under Jackee Duvall’s leadership
• Jr. High and High School Bible Camps with 80+ baptism decisions and 300+ commitments to follow Jesus
• More church leaders connecting, being supported and resourced under the new model than ever before

A – Awkwardly Aware
Change isn’t easy. Some amazing ministries from the old model aren’t possible now. Hard conversations and recalibrating expectations have been part of the journey as we ask, “What is needed now?” While the church ministries department was able to connect with 35% of our pastors and churches 8 or more times, 40% of our pastors and churches were contacted and supported 1-3 times. Honestly, we must be better.

T – Transition to 2026
If one growth point stands out, it’s this: conversations with church leaders, teachers, and pastors were the most impactful part of Church Ministries. We’re passionate about “Engagement Culture.” In short, we aim to partner with and support every church, pastor, and leader to more authentically engage with God, each other, and their community, through social, service oriented, and spiritual ministries, connecting with the home, the church, and the schools. Everything—trainings, calendars, plans—is leaning toward better contact with you, the people of the Oregon Conference. You see the needs in your churches and communities. You’re doing the work of Jesus. Our commitment for 2026? To know you better and serve your needs more effectively.

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As we close this year and look back, a few moments stand out—moments that will shape our ministry moving forward.

One such moment happened while sitting with pastors on a Friday night after an incredible time of praise and worship with more than 600 high schoolers at Bible Camp. We were reading through the questions they wrote—the biggest questions on their hearts right now. Questions like:
“If God wants to teach us stuff, why does it have to hurt so much?”
“Am I good enough for love? Do I have a good heart? Why am I so hard to love? Why is it so hard to trust? Why am I hurt?” (Yes, all of that was on one card.)

Listening to our pastors hurt alongside these kids, praying together, and planning how to show them Jesus—even in the middle of their pain—was powerful. These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.

Another moment came after walking alongside a church in a difficult season—working through struggles, healing deep wounds, and having hard conversations with long-time members. In the midst of that journey, a leader said, “You know, if there was an opportunity to train as a pastor, I think I would like that.” There is—and we can’t wait to see that story unfold. (And here’s the beautiful part: as the church has healed, it’s been growing—moving from 20–30 regular attendees to 59 just last week.)

As we move forward into 2026, we are looking forward to knowing you better. Just like prep cooks need to know the rest of the kitchen, we need to know you—the ones connecting and making a difference in your community. That’s our mission moving forward.