God Calls Us through the Gospel to Be the Church in and for the World.

God Calls Us
1 Peter 2.9 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. The Triune God who reveals himself in the Scriptures is the one who gathers and builds his Church. He gives the Church her identity, purpose, and mission. The only reason we’re here, doing what we’re doing, is because God calls us into being and action as his people in Portland.

Through the Gospel
1 Timothy 3.16 He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. The Gospel changes everything. The focus of the Gospel message is the life, death, resurrection and ascension of the God-man, Jesus Christ. God forgives and transforms sinners by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the heart of our community.

To Be the Church
Acts 2.42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. The Gospel creates a new community. The Church is the place where lost and broken people find God’s acceptance and healing. All are welcome: individuals and families, poor and rich, conservative and liberal, young and old. We are here to help one another grow in grace and real holiness.

In and for the World
Matthew 5.13-14 You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…. The Gospel invades the world. We are called to minister to Portland, to the Pacific Northwest, and to the entire world. Everything we do matters to God—the Gospel shapes the way we work and live in relationships. By his grace God emboldens us to engage our culture, instead of running in fear. We desire to pour out our lives and our possessions for those in need. We long to see new churches planted, and for missions to expand the Kingdom of God to the remote parts of the earth. We are a Church not just for ourselves, but for those who don’t yet believe, that they might find eternal life. We love to be a part of God’s work of redeeming the world through his Son Jesus Christ.