Crossroads Church Portland

  • Home
  • about
    • welcome
    • staff & elders
    • vision & values
    • beliefs
  • family life
    • kids
    • middle school
    • high school
    • women
    • men
    • community groups
    • answering the call
  • local outreach
    • food bank
    • hoopsters
    • first responder rest stop
    • portland rescue mission
  • global outreach
    • India
    • Uganda
  • calendar
  • times & directions
  • Home
    • welcome
    • staff & elders
    • vision & values
    • beliefs
    • kids
    • middle school
    • high school
    • women
    • men
    • community groups
    • answering the call
    • food bank
    • hoopsters
    • first responder rest stop
    • portland rescue mission
    • India
    • Uganda
  • calendar
  • times & directions

Answering the Call

image1 (2).jpeg

Volunteer Celebration: Erik and Laura Walthinsen

Lawrence Repsold April 5, 2018

From time to time, I will be sharing the stories of current Crossroads volunteers, people who have already answered the call. Join me today as we show our appreciation to Erik and Laura Walthinsen and get to know them.

This young couple made their first visit just 3 years ago on Palm Sunday. It didn't take long for them to call Crossroads home, placing membership a few months later. While it was quickly evident this was to be their church family, it wasn't so clear they would become a family when they met each other. For several years they attended church events together, pictures even exist to prove it. They both remembered the events but they didn't remember each other. After returning from Biola, Laura started attending the same church Erik was at, their paths crossed again AND they noticed each other this time! They married in 2009 and their son Aidan came along in 2015.

They both grew up attending church and have a long history of volunteering so it's no surprise they jumped in quickly here. Erik has mostly served as a sound technician, IT (that's computer stuff), VBS tech and a whole host of other handy and technical jobs. Currently he is a vital member of the sound team, working on updating and maintaining our entire tech infrastructure including phones. We have kept him busy and yet he always maintains a smile, even when some of the staff wants to revert back to pen and paper.

Laura has been a vocalist as part of the Sunday morning musical worship team, VBS volunteer and now serves during the week alongside Hannah Keo helping her with a variety of support for the Children's Ministry. They used to be a monthly volunteer picking up the donuts for Guest Experiences but have now found other ways to serve - I can't imagine giving up donuts!!

We are in the midst of a HUGE infrastructure update project, keeping Erik extremely busy and the staff wants to thank both Erik and Laura for giving so much additional time during this project. Sometimes it feels like we should be feeding Erik dinner here and then we might have to reintroduce them to each other again later.

They are indeed unique people. They are the ONLY "Erik, Laura and Aidan Walthinsen" on the planet and it's likely that Aidan is the only Walthinsen in history with that first name. One of them was president of their college archery team and one of them created GStreamer (Linux based media framework) now used by Comcast X1 and other really cool people/places/devices. I'm going to let you guess which one did what.

When Laura has some time to relax, you will likely find her knitting and dreaming of expanding her Etsy shop. Erik enjoys reading and his outdoor hobbies of biking and camping. They would love to move out of the city and build a house someday but the good news is they plan to stay close enough to stay at Crossroads.

Join me in thanking them for serving so diligently and willingly and please pray for this family as they continue to serve.

  • Answering the Call
  • Older
  • Newer
  • November 2018
    • Nov 8, 2018 Great Greetings! Nov 8, 2018
  • October 2018
    • Oct 25, 2018 Volunteering Outside The Box Oct 25, 2018
    • Oct 11, 2018 Season to Serve? Oct 11, 2018
  • September 2018
    • Sep 27, 2018 Take and Give Sep 27, 2018
    • Sep 6, 2018 Review The Plan Sep 6, 2018
  • August 2018
    • Aug 16, 2018 Let Me Hear From You Aug 16, 2018
    • Aug 2, 2018 New Ministry Launch Provides New Volunteer Opportunities Aug 2, 2018
  • July 2018
    • Jul 19, 2018 He Answered the Call Jul 19, 2018
    • Jul 5, 2018 Independence Day Jul 5, 2018
  • June 2018
    • Jun 21, 2018 Coffee and Caring Jun 21, 2018
    • Jun 7, 2018 Volunteers in Action Jun 7, 2018
  • May 2018
    • May 24, 2018 Packing It In May 24, 2018
    • May 10, 2018 Sharing Discoveries May 10, 2018
  • April 2018
    • Apr 26, 2018 Your Turn...First Responder Rest Stop Apr 26, 2018
    • Apr 19, 2018 2018 National Volunteer Week Apr 19, 2018
    • Apr 5, 2018 Volunteer Celebration: Erik and Laura Walthinsen Apr 5, 2018
  • March 2018
    • Mar 29, 2018 Gratitude Mar 29, 2018
    • Mar 17, 2018 Find Your Fit Mar 17, 2018
    • Mar 4, 2018 March Madness Mar 4, 2018
  • February 2018
    • Feb 18, 2018 Excuses - Fact or Fiction? Feb 18, 2018
    • Feb 4, 2018 Diving In Feb 4, 2018
  • January 2018
    • Jan 21, 2018 Called To Serve Jan 21, 2018
    • Jan 7, 2018 New Year, New Hat Jan 7, 2018
facebook twitter instagram
  • give
  • listen online

© copyright 2019 Crossroads Church

Crossroads Church Portland

Crossroads Church | 2505 NE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR, 97220, United States

facebook twitter instagram