The annual Oregon Prayer Conference, held March 20–22, 2026, was shaping up to be extraordinary. However, a week before the conference, the coordinating team received a call that changed everything.
For 14 months, attendees eagerly anticipated the arrival of Pavel Goia, well-known prayer speaker. Interest was so strong that registration filled early and planners found themselves carefully piecing together details to make room for as many attendees as possible. Excitement ran high, plans were in place and everything seemed ready.
Early in March, Tawny Sportsman, Oregon Conference prayer ministries coordinator, attended meetings at Roseburg Church and met Dan Serns, North Pacific Union church planting, revitalization and lay training director.
As the final details were falling into place for this year's prayer conference, Sportsman thought about getting a jump on next year's event. She introduced herself to Serns and asked if he would consider being the keynote speaker for Oregon Prayer Conference 2027. They exchanged phone numbers, planning to connect on dates the following week.
When Tuesday, March 10, rolled around, Sportsman received a call from Goia, who shared news of a heartbreaking family emergency. Sportsman assured him, “Go be with your family. God’s got this.”
After she hung up, Sportsman went for a walk to pray. With only a few days before setup was to begin, she was struck by the absence of panic. Instead, there was peace. As she prayed, one clear impression came: Call Dan Serns!
She hesitated for just a moment, remembering that he was scheduled to be in Seattle, but called anyway and left a message explaining the situation and asking if there was any chance he could step in.
Almost immediately, the phone rang. It was Serns and he said yes.
In less than an hour and a half, the conference had lost a world‑renowned speaker and gained a world-renowned speaker that God handpicked!
Serns proved to be God’s “minute man.” Attendees arrived early for every session. People sat on the edge of their seats. The energy and enthusiasm were palpable.
The weekend culminated in four baptisms — moments when attendees were privileged to watch the very population of heaven grow. Despite the sudden speaker change, registration remained strong. Attendees shared a deeply moving anointing service, and prayer request boxes overflowed.
Even in Goia's absence, God did immeasurably more than they could ask or imagine. In fact, God answered their prayers before they even knew to ask.
