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Celebrating Six Years of Gods’ Faithfulness!   by on Thu, January 19

We were sitting in a booth at Flying Pie Pizza in Northeast Portland. It was May 9th, 2000, and Ike and I had plenty to mull over as we waited for our pizza. PUMP’s first community worship service was a mere month away and the stress of trying to get “fully prepared” threatened to eat us alive. We had spent weeks debating, planning and reworking how best to connect with our diverse, impoverished community. How do you start a church? Should you put up a sign? How should you feel if no one shows up? What if only white suburbanites come? How can we possibly get everything ready in time?

As we contemplated pulling out last chunks of hair, the pizza finally arrived! The aroma of steaming, hot pepperoni distracted us momentarily from the anxieties of church planting and reminded us to pray. Ike’s prayer was unforgettable: “Lord, there’s no way we’ll have everything ready for that first service, so please work on our character so we’ll be the caliber of people you can use to do whatever you want.”

With that petition the peace of an entirely different perspective settled on us both. Between slices of pepperoni we realized God cares infinitely more about the character with which we respond to challenges than whether or not we check off every item on the “to-do list.”

With the advent of 2006 we celebrate six year’s of God’s faithfulness. Our “to-do list” is longer than ever, but as we face the demanding challenges of urban ministry, we will continue to focus on letting God transform our character. As we grow in Jesus’ character the reflection of His glory will become more brilliant through us!

Let’s take a brief tour of the last six years of ministry. On December 19, 1999—after gifts from generous donors—PUMP signs the rental agreement at 6326 NE 8th Avenue and begins with two full-time urban ministers and six other church planters. On January 2, 2000, Hebrews 11:8 takes new meaning as PUMP’s eight founders meet for the first time to worship in Northeast Portland: “By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home.” On June 11, 2000 PUMP’s first public worship service is accompanied by goosebumps, butterflies, joy and 22 people from the community! In June 2000 the inaugural PUMP Summer Program (PSP) blesses 80 children over five weeks. Joe Britt, long-time community resident, is the first to be baptized at PUMP in November 2001. PUMP adds two ministers to its staff: Kristi White on May 1, 2001, and Steve Maxwell on May 20, 2002. In June 2002 over 50 construction volunteers transform the 12,000 square foot Grigsby Paper Warehouse into a sprawling education center for 120 PSP children. On December 31, 2005 PUMP celebrates six years of debt-free ministry, a seven-week summer program now serving 150 K-8th grade children and a church family of 104 souls and counting!

Author Oswald Chambers asks: “Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you go out (where he sends you) in surrender to Him until you are not surprised an atom at anything He does?” I confess there remain many “atoms of surprise” within me as I continue to witness God work. We praise God for his indescribable faithfulness throughout these first six years. May He continue to transform our character and prepare our community for however He wants to surprise us next!