Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The new pastor at the Sweet Home Church of Christ at 18th and Long says his church won’t shy away from the tough questions about Christianity.
Alan Handman, 43, brought a sense of humor, without shying away from tough or painful truths, when he became pastor in September.
Handman was born and raised in New York City.
“I come from a family of, I’d guess I’d call them, lukewarm Catholics and Jewish socialists,” Handman said. “My baptism into Christ took place in my early 30s. I was living in Tokyo at the time. My wife is the daughter of the missionary who baptized me.”
Handman was teaching English just outside of Tokyo, he said. He was living in an apartment left by a previous English teacher. That teacher left behind only a Bible.
Handman had heard that memorizing Scriptures sharpened the mind, so he memorized the book of Mark for non-religious reasons, he said. He was invited to dinner with a missionary family in the area. He wasn’t too sure about going, but it had been some time since he’d had an American-cooked meal so he decided to go ahead.
The conversation turned to the Bible, Handman said.
“It took about a year, but eventually I converted to Christ. I was won over.”
Handman and his wife, Deborah Handman, “both got our masters of divinity at Emmanuel School of Religion in Tennessee,” Handman said. “I knew after about a year that sharing the Gospel and teaching about it was what I wanted to do with my life.”
Handman acknowledged that his experience was not the usual beginning for Christian ministers.
“I figure God did not call me because he wanted somebody preaching ‘same-old, same-old,'” he said. “There is already quite enough of that.
“I lament that churches have largely come to be identified as little more than ‘spiritual cheerleaders’ for family values and conservative causes. Of course, some family values and conservative causes are consistent with Christ’s teachings. So are some progressive values.
“And there is plenty in the Gospel to offend both sides. A teacher of mine once said, ‘You have not done your job unless your sermons occasionally offend someone.’ I try to be an equal-opportunity offender.”
Though he talks politics, Handman said, he doesn’t bring it to the pulpit most of the time. In small-group studies, participants may talk about current events and politics, which are among the many aspects of life.
“The Gospel is about transformation — becoming less like us and more like Jesus,” Handman said. “That is the bottom line. Our Bible studies are fun and lively, but we also confront a lot of painful truths. I encourage people to confess their doubts or the things they are struggling with in their walk. If there are things that make you skeptical of God’s love, share it so we can talk about it.
“Our small-group studies have people from age 85 to 15 sharing with one another. It is rarely less than lively.”
The church is doing a study now that answers 30 to 40 of the most common questions raised by skeptics, Handman said, questions like how God can allow evil things to happen in the world.
People will often take different positions in applying Scriptures to life, Handman said, but one of his favorite questions is “what would Jesus say about such-and such-position.”
The Scriptures are the basis for the answers, Handman said. “For the most part, we have a pretty open atmosphere.”
But the church will not offer platitudes, Handman said. If answers “are going to offend someone, you’re going to offend someone.”
The studies are open, and Handman is willing to talk about subjects most people want to dance around, he said.
“Stylistically, we are presently kind of a mix of the traditional and the newer,” Handman said. “We have pianos and traditional hymns. We also have folk guitars, bass and singer-songwriters. I feel we are on the edge of something — not entirely sure what it is — but I am excited to see how God is going to use us.
“Scripture teaches that the ruler of this world is Satan. I take that to mean that his influence is felt everywhere. To the liberal, he speaks the language of the liberal. To the conservative, he speaks the language of the conservative. Satan is bipartisan, and so is Christ.
“Winning the world for Christ involves a revival and transformation of the soul that cannot be locked in narrow political boxes. And anyway, most people are mixed bags.”
Deborah Handman is an English teacher at Sweet Home High School.
“She is a very talented musician in her own right,” Handman said.
The Handmans came to Oregon after a three-year ministry in Idaho to be closer to Deborah’s family in Oregon. School District 55 hired Deborah.
While helping her set up her classroom at the beginning of the school year, Handman saw that the Church of Christ had an interim pastor. He stopped in and asked the church to consider his resume.
The Handmans have a son, Seth, 2. They live in Lebanon.
“We love the beautiful green hills and the quieter, more laid-back pace of life,” Handman said. “I’ll be absolutely delighted if I never see another traffic jam.”
However, he said, Sweet Home could really use a Subway.
Sunday School at the Church of Christ starts at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays. Morning service begins at 10:45 a.m. The church has several small-group studies throughout the week, morning and evening. Call 367-2094 for more information.