A New Church In Portland
Why start another church in Portland? Aren’t there enough churches in Portland already?
While Portland is home to many churches, the vast majority of its people remain unreached. A staggering 62% of Portlanders say they never or rarely attend church—a number far above the national average. Even more telling, 42% of the population identifies with no faith at all, making Portland one of the most spiritually disconnected cities in America.
We hope to make a difference in these statistics by sharing the good news of the gospel with as many Portlanders as possible. To learn more about the gospel, our beliefs, and what makes our church unique, we invite you to explore our Beliefs and Distinctives pages.
The History of Portland Gospel Church
In 2023, Oakland Heights Baptist Church in Cartersville, GA entered a focused season of prayer and fasting, seeking God’s direction on how to be part of advancing the gospel across the United States. Out of that time of faithful dependence on the Lord came a burden to plant new churches in spiritually needy areas. Everything we’re doing today is the direct result of those prayers.
As part of that vision, Thomas Harding and David Allred began surveying the spiritual landscape of the Pacific Northwest. What they found was both sobering and compelling—an urgent need for gospel-preaching churches in cities like Portland. Through a series of evangelism trips, personal connections, and stories of salvation, God began to make it clear: He was calling a church to be planted in Portland.
In 2024, Oakland Heights Baptist Church commissioned Thomas and a faithful team of members to move to Portland and begin the work. Today, that team is growing into a new local church—Portland Gospel Church—where people are being reached, discipled, and sent out with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Connect with Us
We’d love to hear from you! Follow us online or send us a message to get in touch. We’re here to help you grow in your faith and take the next step on your spiritual journey.