A church is only as real as the way it treats its neighbors the other six days of the week. Here is some of how Beaverton First tries to show up for this town — food, welcome, kids, ideas, and art.

Reviewed by the Beaverton First UMC editorial team · Fact-checked July 2026

When Jesus was asked what matters most, he gave two answers, not one: love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.³ The second one is where faith either becomes real or stays theoretical. So rather than tell you we care about Beaverton, here is some of what that actually looks like on an ordinary week.

Feeding neighbors: the Free Food Market

Hunger does not wait for anyone to sort out what they believe. Our Free Food Market is exactly what it sounds like — groceries for neighbors who need them, no membership and no questions about your faith required.¹ It is one of the plainest ways we know to say that everyone deserves to eat.

Love of neighbor is not a slogan. It is groceries, a language class, a chair at the table.

Welcoming new neighbors: Adult ESL

Beaverton is one of the most diverse cities in Oregon, and some of our neighbors are still finding their footing in a new language and a new country. Our Adult ESL classes offer free English learning — and, just as much, a warm and patient place to belong while you learn.¹

For kids, and for curious minds

Caring for a community means caring for its children and its questions. Alongside our children and youth ministries, we host the Beaverton Lecture Series — public conversations open to the whole community, in the conviction that loving God includes loving God with the mind.¹ Faith and good thinking belong together, and both belong to the neighborhood, not just the pews.

Where faith meets art: the Art Market

People are more than their problems, and a good community feeds the soul as well as the stomach. Our Art Market gathers local artists and neighbors around beautiful, handmade things — a reminder that delight and creativity are part of a whole life, and part of how we love this place.²

Beyond Beaverton, too

Loving your neighbor does not stop at the city limits. Through UMCOR, the United Methodist relief agency, and a long-standing partnership in Brazil, our neighborhood of care reaches well past Washington County — because someone in need across the world is a neighbor too.¹

Questions people ask

Do I have to be a member, or a Christian, to use the Free Food Market or ESL classes?

No. These are for our neighbors, full stop — no membership, no faith test.¹

How can I help or volunteer?

The Outreach page is the best place to start, and you are welcome to reach out to the church office to find a good fit.¹

Is the Art Market open to the public?

Yes — everyone is welcome to come, browse, and support local artists.²

If a church that shows up for its neighbors is one you would like to know, you would be welcome to visit us on a Sunday — or simply to lend a hand.