|
Mountainview Elders
These are the men who currently serve as the Elders of our church. They can be contacted via email by clicking on their name. They would love to hear your prayer concerns and questions.
|
|
|
|
|
Vic is a native of Portland having graduated from Beaverton High School. While serving in
the Army and the Oregon National Guard he met Sue, his wife of 35 years who was also serving in our military. Together they have two children and four grandchildren. Currently, Vic works for the Portland Police Bureau and Sue works for US Bank.
Vic has served in a number of roles here at Mountainview in his 25+ years to include: Sunday School Teacher, Usher, singer in the choir and on the worship team and in our security team.
Vic loves his wife's cooking as well as chicken fried steak, scrambled eggs, hash browns all smothered in sausage gravy.
When asked about movies and music he has a hard time deciding between "The Lion King" and "Princess Bride". He loves to listen to the music of the 60's.
In Vic's role as a police officer he often gets to deal with people who are hurting. These people have offered Vic a great platform from which to share his faith and the hope of Jesus.
Here in Oregon college football is decided between the Beavers and the Ducks. Vic fully admits he isn't a hometown supporter as he roots for the Boise State Broncos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 John and Linda grew up 2 blocks from each other in Portland and have been married for 36 years. They have three adult children, one daughter and two sons as well as seven grandchildren. John is now semi-retired from the police force after serving for 22 years while Linda is a hairdresser working from home.
Over the 21 years that John has served here he has been on the security team, has ushered, as a Bible study host and has started the Support Our Soldiers (SOS) ministry.
John loves a good hamburger with potato salad and bacon wrapped filets from White's Meat Market.
He loves James Bond movies, Die Hard movies and laughed a lot at "Planes, Trains and Automobiles".
John lists contemporary Christian, old rock & roll and good dance music as his favorite music styles.
When asked about the most impactful experience in his life, John recounts the time when his son David deployed to Iraq three times while serving in the Marine Corps. These three events brought John to a deeper understanding of the power of prayer and showed him how to release control.
John doesn't want people to know that he is a good dancer although he says he can't hold a candle to Mike Thienes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As a native of Gresham, Mike has a deep history here. His family has owned businesses on the corner of Division & Cleveland since 1950. Mike is married to Terrie and together they share a daughter Kellie. Mike also had the privilege of leading his father to the Lord a couple of days before he slipped into a coma.
In the six years that Mike has been here he has been an active part of our men's ministry since day one. He and Terrie also mentor young couples as a part of their ministry. Mike is credited with our sports banquets as well as keeping our golf tournament going. This past year Mike helped out at our Father/Son campout especially in the area of bow shooting. Mike has a few "favorite" things in his life. He lists Thai food and seafood amongst his favorite things to eat. "Rudy" and "Secretariat" are his two favorite movies and he loves classic rock as well as contemporary christian music.
Mike has a life changing moment in 1985 at Seaside Oregon. He was in a treatment facility and was asked to change his view of God from one that is condemning to a God who is his best friend. That very night, on his knees Mike asked the Lord to help him to never let his family down again. His life has never been the same since he asked for and received that forgiveness. He states that, "I could feel forgiveness from my head to my toes and still feel it today."
Most people don't know this, but Mike lived on a houseboat on the Columbia River for 17 years and loved every second of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 As natives of the Portland area Steve and his wife Dar have a great history here at Mountainview. They have three adult children who live in the area and have all graduated from Reynolds High School. Steve has served on the worship team, our frontline ministry, grounds keeping ministry and has led a Home Group for the eleven years he has been here.
Steve has a diverse interest range in food. He loves pot-roast, carrots, lemon meringue pie, mac & cheese, and cheesy chicken nachos.
Favorite movies include "The good, The bad, The ugly" and the new mini series "Band of Brothers".
Steve also enjoys a wide variety of music including: classic rock, Hawaiian music, praise music, smooth jazz and Christian hard rock.
Steve loves to tell the story of the time when he was in his late 20's when he and his friend Dave took a Christmas tree to a poor single mom who had a daughter with special needs. They were going to leave the tree there, but stayed and setup the tree and decorated it. This brought an overwhelming joy to him that he has yet to forget.
A little known fact about Steve and his whole family is that they were all born at Emanuel Hospital.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John and Connie married in 1989 and have two children between them. Their son Brian is a student at Oregon State University and Robert has a business here in Gresham. Since coming to the church in 1999 John has taken the opportunity to serve in a number of capacities. He has been a regular in the men's ministry as a leader and participant. He has been on the ushering team and helped out with the youth group. He is also a regular on our Mexico missions trips.
John is an eclectic person who enjoys many different types of music and movies. As long as there is a good action scene it's the movie for him. He also enjoys many types of food, but Mexican and Italian take top honors. Thanksgiving is also one of John's favorite times of the year. Ask him about his mashed potatoes if you want a good story.
There have been many experiences in his life that has brought him to this point. He especially remembers the process of becoming an elder though. Through that experience John was able to truly deal with some difficult issues. He was also able to solidify for himself his core beliefs and own them. He recounts that it was one of the most difficult things he has ever gone through, but also one of the most beneficial.
One little known thing about John is that he has competed at the church for the fastest eater award. We aren't really sure who won, but he was in the running.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Wally is originally from Springfield, Oregon, but has called the Gresham area home for over thirty years. Along with his wife Pat, Wally is a lifelong educator in the greater Gresham area. Although they are both now retired they have a deep love for teaching and are active in that role within our church. Wally teaches several classes a year for the ABF Bible studies as well he has led several different Home Groups. Pat and Wally are the proud parents of two children who have a total of four grandchildren. They all live locally which means they get plenty of grandparent time.
During his over thirty years at Mountainview, Wally has been involved with the missions team on several levels. Both he and Pat have traveled to visit with many of the church's missionaries in places like Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Kenya. They also serve on a team of teachers that conduct a two week teacher training event in Nairobi Kenya which partners with Missions of Hope.
Wally admits that he has a weakness for a good chocolate milkshake. He loves movies about John Grisham books, most noteably "The Client". On his playlist you will find a number of artists including: Johnny Cash, Clint Black, Carole King, Frank Sinatra, Warren Hill the jazz saxophonist and Rick Mullins.
When asked about an impactful experience in his life Wally is quick to mention the men of his first church. These are men whom Wally doesn't regularly see anymore, but their impact is still felt. He describes them as mostly blue collar workers who worked in the local saw mill or were loggers. The environment they worked in was rough. Understanding that Wally was most impressed that there was never any profane language, no off color jokes and there were never any racial comments made. He loved spending time with them because they made him feel safe and included. They laughed easily and often. Even today they have an impact on the standards that Wally sets for himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Mike, a native Oregonian is married to Kathy who is from Washington. They have three children, 2 sons and 1 daughter. In Mike's eleven years at Mountainview he has served in many areas here in the church including ushering, men's ministry leader, accountability groups for men as well as teaching men's Bible studies.
Mike admits he has a weakness for Italian food, properly prepared Northwest Fish and anything Judy Schmid cooks up.
Mike loves all kinds of music especially if there is a saxophone in it. He lists his favorite movie as "The Mission".
When asked about an impactful time in his life Mike fondly remembers the birth of his children. He states that it taught him about the preciousness of life in a new and close up way. Being a parent to three grown children hasn't changed his feeling that parenting is the most awesome responsibility there is in life.
A little known fact about Mike and Kathy is that they love to ballroom dance. They have been taking lessons for over 6 years and love the way that dance has given them new friends as well as kept them in shape. |
|
|
|
|
|
