4th Largest City on the West Coast with Fewer than 1 church for over 20,000 plus People

www.portlandchurchplanting.org

With an ethnically diverse population of about 2.2 million, Portland is the 28th largest metropolitan area in the country, the fourth largest city on the West Coast, and the largest city in the state. It includes six counties spread over 5000 square miles.

Partner with us in sowing the gospel, making disciples, transforming communities and seeing new churches started. #send #namb #churchplanting #pastor

Read more here: www.portlandchurchplanting.org and follow us @sendportlandor

What aids in the making of disicples and what hinders in making of disciples in planting new churches?

As you think about this question, how would you answer it with a theological and a missiological mindset?

How you answer may be shaped by your understanding of what it means to "make disciples" and what picture you have in mind for the "church"?

Paul did not start with a gathering or a building, etc.(Is this an aid or a hindrance as you think about it?) He actually began with evangelism, and often that was done in larger synagogues giving him a larger context for the preaching of the "Good News" (See Acts 13:5; 14:1; 17:1; 17; 18:4; 19:8). What hinders or aids the way we think about "doing" evangelism in places like Portland OR?

Finally, after "making a disciple" leaders like Paul formulated the believers into a gathering (Acts 2:46 tells us that the early believers gathered daily in Temples, House to House, etc. then taught them and established them in the faith, and then appointed Elders and Deacons (The plural implying some structure and potential size (See Acts 14:21-23). What aids and hindrances do you see in Paul's methods?

Ultimately, Paul was concerned with multiplication not just replication. What hinders us in the journey of multiplication of church plants? What aids us in the multiplication of new churches?

We would love to explore this question with you in Portland OR? Come sow the gospel and make disciples with us here! @sendportland #churchplanting #send #NAMB

The New America: Where are All the Young People Going?

"According to Brookings, the top cities young people headed to from 2008 to 2010 were Denver, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, Austin, Washington D.C., and Portland."

How will this new geography influence how we plant churches and where we plant churches? Join us in #plantingchurches in Portland! www.portlandchurchplanting.org #send #churchplanting #namb_sbc

Read the link to the article here:Epoch (epochcenter):
The geography of the Creative Class (and the resultant impact on church planting)... http://fb.me/1PXofFSoG

http://ping.fm/AGcTY

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It is NOT About You

@mcuban "Telling entrepreneurs to 'follow their passions' is wrong. It's not about YOU. It's about solving problems & creating value."

How does this relate to Portland Church Planting? We are looking to solve a problem and create value for the good of the community - the extension of the TANGIBLE Kingdom of God. JOIN US. urban churchplanting portlandchurchplanting send sendportlandOR

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Breakthrough

"To drive a breakthrough in any field takes extraordinary risk. We need to take risks." Qoute from SXSW

Grateful for the many churchplanters i work with who are taking risk for the Kingdom of God. We have to risk. New models and new methods in churchplanting will require this of us.

Read This Book Pastor

Pastors, says Rohrer, "don't primarily exist to build and maintain the institution of the church. We exist to do a particular work through the church. In short, we don't simply have an institution to create, refine or maintain; we have a gospel to preach

Rrad more here.....
Eugene Peterson says, "Pastors, read this book": http://t.co/RiXFHOm8 church churchplanting

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Using Google+ Brand Pages and Facebook Page for your Church Plant

Here are some tips you could use from these leading companies in developing a social media campaign for your church plant. How are you using social media?

Pete Cashmore (mashable):
Google+ Brand Pages vs. Facebook Fan Pages - http://t.co/7Pcb5NdH

#socialmedia churchplanting

When we reach out with all our energy to the margins of our society we will discover that the following disappear.....

Read this post to discover what can and should disappear....

JR Woodward (dreamawakener):
Those who are marginal in the world are central in the Church... - Henri Nouwen: http://t.co/GrLPykYA

#margins churchplanting themission

http://ping.fm/OzyYc

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Now that Halloween is Over.....My Relections and a Challenge

It is official Christmas is here. But before we bypass Thanksgiving, let's reflect on what happened on Halloween:

1. Kids, despite high unemployment, a lackluster economy, etc. etc., were full of smiles last night. When you are LOVED the world looks different.
2. Favorite costume of the night: two kids, one was dressed as a toilet which served as his "candy bucket" and his sidekick, "the magazine rack, toilet paper dispenser." Epic imaginations. I love watching how creative kids can be this time of year. Young people have great imaginations if given the opportunity.
3. Is it me or are more parents having "drinks" while the trudge the streets with their kids? Parents are socially engage with other parents in this "progressive party." Community matters.
4. More and more kids are "trick-or-treating" in large groups.
5. Opportunities abound to bless others. You and I must take responsibility to be SALT AND LIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
6. My kids are growing up as they hit the 'hood on their own. I have to rediscover my purpose on Halloween.

So.....what did you see, hear and do?

Here is what we did:

A. We didn't serve our whole neighborhood, but we did BLESS through an abundant supply of candy and smiles to give to our nightly visitors OUT OUR FRONT DOOR. God's mission for you and me begins on our front steps of our homes. This is where the Church serves the neighborhood through the ministry of presence.

B. I found ONE to serve and BLESS. I brought something hot to drink to my neighbor across the street and HOSTED him in conversation...twice. He was dressed as "the Devil" and I was going to be his NEIGHBOR, reflecting the person of Christ to him as he sat on the porch this cold Halloween night.

Halloween is behind us and Christmas cometh. How will you "bring good news of great joy" to those in your neighborhood this Holiday season? How can you join with your church plant or your church community to do something together to serve and bless a family(ies), a neighborhood block or a commnity? A bike, a blanket, a turkey,  a tree, a gift can all make a difference to one person or to one family.  What will you allow Christ to do through YOU (the individual and the church)?

Think about it and do something. Come back here and share your stories.
#mission #churchplanting #bless #gospel #neighborhood #namb

PORTLAND: This is Our City

Christianity Today is spotlighting Six cities in a series entitled, "This is our city." Read about Portland here:
http://ping.fm/42Etw

After reading, consider joining us in Portland in starting new churches by sowing the gospel and making disciples.

Follow our blog at:
www.portlandchurchplanting.org
sendNAMB send namb churchplanting sbc

Stop Building the Church

"So, in our efforts to start a new church, how do we stay focused on making disciples and make sure that Jesus is the one building the church?"

The post below answers this question. Let's stop focusing on building the institution called church (Jesus' responsibility ) and start making disciple (the disciples responsibility ) who form and are the church.


Stop Building the Church: These days it seems every network or denomination is either starting... http://t.co/fkNmB0T3

Follow us at www.portlandchurchplanting.org

#send churchplanting

http://ping.fm/1mv4e

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From "I" to "WE" in Church Planting

In reading the gospels, it is not long into the story we see the value JESUS placed on teams in sowing the gospel. JESUS valued pairs of disciples and teams of disciples to carry out the work of the KINGDOM.

If we are going to sow the gospel in neighborhoods/communities in our cities we need to shift our model from "I" (the Parachuted Planter) to "WE" (team of gifted disciples).

The Bible affirms strength in teams. Are there limitations? Is it messy? Probably. But limitations, messiness, "we've never done it this way before," are strongly outweighed by what we see in the life of JESUS and the momentum created in advancing the work of the Kingdom.

Teams provide strength, a variety of gifts and personalities, multiplication capacity, ownership, etc.

Why do you think JESUS used teams to advance the KINGDOM? What can we learn from JESUS as we think about sowing the gospel and seeing new churches started in our Urban centers?

#urban churchplanting missional NAMB send

Skint (British slang for having little money and few possessions) Guide to Portland OR

"Skint Portland: For the Frugal Vagabond" shows the reader a inexpensive way to see Portland. With humorous tone, the guidebook explains the layout of the city (five quadrants), and explains where to eat, sleep and have fun on the cheap. The guide is written by Mary Locke. The book is due out June 25.

For the full article read The Portland Tribune Thursday June 23, 2011 edition or read it online.

Schedule your trip to Portland through our Encounter experience at www.portlandchurchplanting.com. Which quadrant of Portland will you see and advocate for this year?
#namb sendnamb sbc2011 sbc churchplanting

Church Planting

Church Planting begins by followers of Jesus planting their life in a PLACE/neighborhood /community. HERE, followers of Jesus share the hope they have found in His Kingdom. Where do you need to be scattered from in order to proclaim this hope? Why not Portland OR?

WWW.portlandchurchplanting.org

Follow us @sendPortlandOR

"4 Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus."

http://ping.fm/9csSY

#sendPortlandOR sbcpc sbc2011 sbc11 sbcpastorsconf. churchplanting

Bike City USA - Portland Oregon

Portland is leading the way in the number of persons who commute to work via bike/bicycle. 5.6% of Oregonian's use two wheel power to get to and from work.

We at

Portland Church Planting

would invite you to come join us in pedaling throughout 20-minute communities in order to sow the Gospel and see new churches started.

Pray, send, advocate.....COME live for Christ here.

#sbc11 sbc2011 gcr send sendportland churchplanting

20-minute Community : Mississippi Ave

This trendy neighborhood in NE Portland is one of many 20-minute communities in Portland Oregon in need of a new church. How will you help advocate for this sendnamb community? Learn more about sowing the gospel in 20-minute communities here:  www.portlandchurchplanting.org   #sbc11 #sbc2011 #gcr # #churchplanting #sendportland

More of the Same....Irony of Numbers....Dreams

Ed Stetzer (edstetzer):

SBC is reporting baptisms, membership, attendance all decline in 2010-- baptisms lowest in 60 yrs.

http://is.gd/MpAJTS

Here is a striking qoute, "The report did, however, indicate one positive change. The number of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention rose to 45,727, an increase of 1.59 percent from the 45,010 reported in 2009."

More churches but less influence.  This is positive?  Positive only if OUR collective goal is to plant churches and not reach people.  Positive only if our goal is adding to our number of churches but not considering if our model of church planting should be a concern.  What are we to do? More of the same bigger, better, with more dollars (especially in church planting), expecting people to be attracted to our way of Church and continue to get the same results .... insanity!  Not in Portland.

OR, do we re-imagine how to reach those with the good news of Jesus as if they are not ATTRACTED to our forms of church?  Do we consider new ways of being the gathered and scattered people of God or continue with the status quo?

Come help dream dreams in Portland OR @ www.portlandchurchplanting.org.   Come plant your life with the gospel in 20-minute communities so curious God-seekers can be captured by the ONE who loves them!

We look forward hearing from you.

#sendportland #sbc2011 #namb #gcr #churchplanting

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Dealing with Stressors? Here is Some Advice.....

All of us have stressors. Before we get to the HELPS, here is some preliminary work you may need to do.

First, identify the stressors in your life. Here are the top areas for stressors in our life: Things we are trying to AVOID (bad habits), NUTRITION (what you are feeding yourself), INTERACTIONS (relationships at work, home, across the street, etc,), BODY (exercise, appearance, etc.) and MINDSET (positive, negative, etc.). Where is your stress coming from daily?

Once you've identified the area, you need to develop a plan to minimize the stressors. Here are FOUR helps in dealing with those stressors (two in each of the following categories): Change the situation or Change your reaction.

1. Change the situation by AVOIDING the stressor. Learn to say NO! Avoid people who stress you out.

2. Change the situation by ALTERING the stressor. Manage your time better. Find a healthy environment to express your feelings. And, be willing to compromise.

3. Change your reaction by ADAPTiNG to the stressor. Keep the stressor in perspective by looking at the BIG picture. Focus on the positive.

4. Change your reaction by ACCEPTING the stressor. Stop trying to CONTROL the UNCONTROLLABLE! Learn to forgive.

Stressors are a normal part of life. We all have them. So, learn to manage your stressors in more productive manner.

If you are a church planter, stressors will be plentiful. At portlandchurchplanting.org we want to help provide an environment to help you deal with the stressors. We believe the FIRST place to begin is developing and maintaining a SABBATH RHYTHM. Sabbath is God's initiative to help followers of his to keep LIFE in perspective. Jesus is our SABBATH rest and the proper framework for living out of a SABBATH RHYTHM.

Come to Portland and learn this SABBATH RHYTHM while you plant yourself in a 20-mintute community sowing and watering the gospel! sendportland namb sbc churchplanting gcr

Luke 10, Peace to This House

Ross P Rohde:
"Peace to this house, an enigmatic statement. What does it mean?"

http://goo.gl/JG26

churchplanting

http://ping.fm/RXjaW

Apostolic Practices and Our Parachute Team

Here is a great explanation on how we need to correct our behaviors when being the church and church planting. We used these principles with our Parachute team.

Ross P Rohde (rossrohde):
Why Simple Churches Don’t Work, Reason #7 http://goo.gl/7vpb What do you think apostolic training should entail? churchplanting,

http://ping.fm/R8AC6

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