Lloyd Center Mall had just opened five years before a kid visiting from Potatoville, Idaho bought a huge Beatles belt from a store there. The belt was so big there were no stores in Idaho that sold pants with loops big enough to accommodate this new fad from America’s largest mall! My fascination with Portland was reignited in 1978 when I first asked God if he wanted me to stay in business with my dad or do something else. In 1979, God placed Portland on my heart and now Laura (my sweetheart of 31+ years), and several other Living Hope friends are ready to see God do His magic in one of the darkest parts of our country. I’m so much more excited now than for the Beatles belt I no longer own.
Reading Acts 17, I’m so on fire to love people, using the context of their world and the truths of God’s word to see forever friendships cemented in thousands of people’s lives! Today I truly believe there isn’t a mall, a city, or a country big enough to hold God’s dream to bring the hope of the world to downtown Portland. From the Pearl to Goose Hollow, and the Northwest section of downtown Portland, we are preparing to launch a campus in early 2007 and you can join us! Soon a team of Christ-followers who love people will be working in Portland. We dream of seeing lives changed, and desire to use the arts, film, and many other tools to bring a “Living Hope DNA", an “Only God” atmosphere to Portland.
We have been meeting people, talking with business owners, and searching for homes to start Life Groups in before our soft launch in early 2007. If you would like to dream, pray, and play with us in Portland, please email or call me any time. You may know someone who’s willing to meet and hear our dream, perhaps even open their home for us to start a Life Group.
We are looking at a couple of retail locations where we could create a coffee shop/art exhibit kind of atmosphere and be present seven days a week to serve the people of downtown Portland. We need counselors to consider offering their services in this location and musicians interested in playing on Friday and Saturday nights. We hope to open on Sundays in the Crystal Ballroom, one of the coolest rock & roll venues (located above a McMennamin’s bar).
Come dream with us!
Phone contact: Bruce Avery – 360.944.3905, extension 125 Email – Brucea@livinghopechurch.com
