“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Jesus (Matthew 28v19-20)
We are at a defining moment in the history of our church. After 5 years of walking together, seeking God, and watching God move in powerful ways, we believe we are ready to take the next step in our journey. The Way (our college ministry on Friday nights) is exploding. It is bigger than anything we ever dreamed or imagined. Starting with a handful of guys in an apartment downtown, it has grown into a powerful nucleus of critical mass. In the same vein, our church as a whole continues to passionately seek God and look for His guidance as we strive to transform our city with the gospel. Through movements like SEVEN, we have seen God expand our vision and move our myopic focus beyond ourselves. If our goal as a church is to alter the very social fabric, spiritual nature, and cultural typography of Portland … if we want to live out the reality of the kingdom … to allow the power of Jesus to come crashing into our everyday lives, we must be willing to jump past the rhetoric and put flesh and bones on it all. We as a body believe we are at that point. So what now? After much prayer, fasting and seeking the Lord, we believe God is leading us to step out of our comfort zone, take this critical mass known as The Way, combine it with Solid Rock’s passion for the city, and use it to reach people who don’t know Jesus with the gospel.
As a result, we have taken a huge step of faith and planted a church in the heart of downtown Portland. In essence, we are becoming one church with two locations. It will be the same leadership, same theology, same DNA, same vision, same culture, but gathering in two different locations – Solid Rock Downtown and Solid Rock Westside. This is for everyone and it will take all of us to see it succeed. We are calling on anybody and everybody to join us. We are going to the hardest place in America to plant a church. There are more dogs than Christians in Portland proper (documented fact). With 9 out of 10 church plants dying in the first 2 years, our city is known as the “church planter’s graveyard”. But it is also where youth from around the city gather on a regular basis. Every Saturday night, thousands of young people are pouring out of the bars, clubs and theaters of downtown Portland. They are lost. They are hurting. They need Jesus. Starting in January, we will be right there alongside them, sharing the gospel, opening the scriptures, and doing life. Our only hope for survival in a context like downtown Portland – much less build a thriving community of believers – is a massive move of God in His people. That is exactly our prayer. This is not about us. This is about Portland. This is about those who don’t know Jesus. Are you ready?
Is Solid Rock Downtown a different church? No. The leadership is the same. The worship is the same. The theology, DNA, vision, culture, and passion are all the same. This is one church – two locations.
Is The Way ending? No! It’s not ending. It’s changing, moving, growing, and adapting to God’s leading. Starting in January, The Way is breaking into three new ministries. It will include the new Saturday night church in downtown Portland, a new college ministry built around community and mentoring and regular, intentional weekend-long conferences for young people.
Where are we meeting downtown? We are meeting at First Baptist Church on the corner of 12th and Taylor, right in the West End. First Baptist church is the oldest church in Oregon and the amazing community there has been gracious enough to rent us their buildings on Saturday nights.
Is Solid Rock Downtown only for young people? No. For this to succeed – to honor God – it must have the support of our entire church. We encourage anyone and everyone to take part in this venture.
Is Solid Rock Downtown only for people who live downtown? No. Solid Rock Downtown is a gathering place for people from all over the greater Portland area. Everyone is welcome.
What happens to Sundays at Solid Rock? Starting January, we will be moving from 4 gatherings to 3 (9am, 11am, and 6pm). Aside from that, nothing changes. Same leadership. Same worship. Same heart. Same passion. Same shepherding.
Will Saturday night be different from Sunday? No. Same teacher. Same worship band. Same theme, but in two different contexts, one urban and one suburban. It will be contextualized to a different part of the city, but that’s it.
Will there be childcare at all the gatherings? Yes. Solid Rock Westside and Solid Rock Downtown will both have childcare.
Why are we doing this? We have a passion for our city and we have a calling from the Lord to reach out. Our prayer through this new vision is quite simply to reach people who don’t know Jesus and to transform our city.
How can I pray? Pray that people would buy into the vision and join in the downtown plant. Pray for boldness for people to share their faith and invite others to the new church. Pray for a campus pastor to shepherd and care for the downtown church. Pray for a healthy relationship with First Baptist Church and ongoing/long term use of the building. Pray for strength and protection for the pastors and leaders. Pray for God to raise up hundreds of volunteers to serve this church plant. Pray for financial provision for this new plant. Pray for office/ministry space downtown. Pray for people who don’t know Jesus and who are far from God to hear the gospel and respond. If you have any questions, email downtown@ajesuschurch.org.
