East Hill Church

East Hill Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in Gresham, Oregon, situated in East Multnomah County, affiliated with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. The church was chartered in 1938 by Aimee Semple McPherson. Weekly church attendance averages around 4,000, currently making it the largest church in the city. Keith Jenkins is the church's current senior pastor.
History
Gresham Foursquare Church was first chartered in November 1938 by the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. It disbanded during World War II.
In 1955, Emery and Winnifred Brunet moved from Idaho where they had started several Foursquare churches, to Corbett, Oregon to serve as directors at Camp Crestview.
They rented the foyer of the old Moyer Theater, where Main City Park in Gresham is now. The Brunetts faithfully conducted three Sunday services - morning, afternoon and evening - and people began to trickle in. Gresham Foursquare Church eventually outgrew the theater. The church then moved to an old Assembly of God temple for one dollar per year.
They had enough members to reactivate the charter in 1956.
Jerry Cook, appointed as pastor in 1965, became known for his book, "Love Acceptance, and Forgiveness," which further defined the church's philosophy of ministry.
After Cook came, the church moved to an auditorium on Division Street and changed the name to East Hill Foursquare Church.
East Hill became known as a hospital, a place where people not only heard, but also experienced love acceptance and forgiveness.
In 1976, the church purchased the 50 acres of the old Multnomah County Fairgrounds with plans to develop a regional shopping center and housing development, as well as a new church building.
In 1979, the church moved into the new building at 701 N. Main Avenue.
In 1984, Ted Roberts came to East Hill—reportedly to "shut the doors"—as senior pastor. Instead, church membership continued to grow under his leadership. Dr. Ted Roberts has now moved on from East Hill to run Pure Desire Ministries on a full-time basis. He is succeeded by Jason Albelo.
 
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