Andy & Anne Hermanns
- Our Local
- Our Reach
- Our Self
Andy and Anne Hermanns serve in Irrigon/Boardman area. It is a small farming community which is growing at a rapid pace. The rapid growth in the communities is due to the influx of Amazon data centers that are being built daily along with the motels, gas stations, convenience stores to accommodate all the new people moving to the area. With the growth in the communities, there has been a growing drug problem, alcohol abuse, theft, and vandalism. Along with the issue of drugs and alcohol, prostitution and gangs are well known in the area.
Because of nearby farming, Amazon data centers, and construction, the communities, and surrounding areas have a large flow of immigrants and seasonal workers, some with the lack of adequate housing and food. Most families are low-income and rely on government assistance. The elementary schools have a secret "backpack" program where they send home food for the weekends to students who are going without. There are a few churches in the community, but church attendance has been declining instead of increasing with the new flow of people. Many people in the community consider themselves Christian but do not fully understand the walk.
The kids in Irrigon/Boardman do not have a safe place to go. They crave healthy relationships with people who care about them. In recent years there have been several suicides, and even more, have been attempted. With the separation and isolation from the pandemic, it has made the suicide rate even higher. Most of the children are from broken homes, and because of this they turn to drugs, alcohol, and sexual relationships before they get into high school. Teen pregnancy is on the rise in the communities, as well. These communities desperately need connection and unity.
After seeing the need in their community of Irrigon, Andy and Anne began to facilitate Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at the local high school, volunteering at the school, started a community youth group, and most recently God opened the doors for ministry in the next community, Boardman. FCA really opened the door for many ministry opportunities. It has allowed Andy and Anne to volunteer more, use the facilities, pray with students and be available more often. The relationship with the school and The Hermanns has built a great bond with the teachers and the student body. The weekly prayer times with teachers at the local schools has also made an impact on the teachers and staff. Starting a community youth group in Irrigon has given students a place to attend that is away from the school, a place of their own, and a place to have fellowship and learn. With recent expansion to Boardman, God has answered prayers for the two communities, Irrigon/Boardman to have their own youth events, youth nights, youth groups, and be connected as one. With ministry on a weekly basis in Boardman, The Hermanns are taking the same simple ideas, dreams, and vision to the Boardman community. Soon the two will be one active body for Christ.
Several times a year Andy and Anne gather people from the community for prayer walks around the schools. They take youth to several camps a year, special events, pool parties, and spend time with the youth in their environment. They offer whatever they can: counsel, prayer, support, time, love, and more to the youth God lays on their hearts. The youth of Irrigon/Boardman will now have several opportunities to attend youth group and youth activities. FCA allows them to take church to the kids several times a week, at the local high school, who are unable or unwilling to attend a church or youth group. They believe God is leading them to expand outside of church and into the heart of the community in order to take Jesus to the four corners of the city.
Andy and Anne Hermanns have served as InFaith field staff since 2018.
Of the Hermanns, Andy has lived in the Irrigon/Boardman area for his entire life. Graduating from Riverside in Boardman, the connections to the communities have always been present. After almost 20 years of marriage, both Andy and Anne feel right at home in Eastern Oregon. Andy is the extrovert that is always on the go. Whether it is going to a comp, a game, taking youth to an event, Andy is present and active.
His best friend and wife of nineteen years, Anne, participates in the ministry alongside him when she is not homeschooling their three children and helping others in the community. There used to be four homeschoolers, but due to a recent graduate, Anne has less teaching to do now. Anne loves cooking and providing the extra attention that so many of the youth need. Anne is more of a one-on-one person and helps those individuals that need some special time and encouragement.
