Jesus in the Upper Left

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a neighborhood church opens a donation-based coffee shop and commits to long-haul presence in Portland’s South Tabor? Meet Brett Prior (lead/founding pastor) and Taylor Bolan (associate pastor) from The Genesis Project Portland and The Porch coffee shop. We dig into belonging vs. loneliness in PDX, why trust takes time, partnering with Kellogg Middle School, laun...

Send us Fan Mail "We want to work together to see new churches started in and around the greater Portland area." Join Gabe Kolstad as he sits down with his friend Virgil Brown, pastor of Redemption Church and the new SEND City Missionary for the Portland Metro. Virgil shares his journey as a pastor and church planter, highlighting the pivotal role of the SEND Network in providing a tribe...

Send us Fan Mail Is a "Quiet Revival" happening in the UK, and are similar spiritual shifts underway in Portland? Join Gabe Kolstad and Tim Osborn as they dive into the UK's "Quiet Revival Report," exploring its surprising findings about the normalization and cultural attractiveness of Christian faith. They discuss whether these trends—including the remarkable return of yo...

Send us Fan Mail "God told me, 'Not this one. He has a plan for you.'" Join Gabe Kolstad as he welcomes Lance Orton, a leader at City Team Portland, and Elise Galis, program director of Together PDX for an incredible conversation about making friends, engaging city leaders, and seeing God's redemptive work. Lance shares his raw, vulnerable testimony: from a privileged yout...

Send us Fan Mail Join Gabe Kolstad as he talks with his good friend Sean Thomé, a leader with Expand Network and Multiply PDX. Sean shares his incredible journey from growing up overseas and competitive surfing to a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Hear how his youth pastor's hands-on discipleship shaped his philosophy: pursue Jesus first, make reproducing disciples, and then trust Jesus t...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Jesus in the Upper Left we have a compilation of highlights from several of our top episodes! First, we hear from Jake and Madison Nagy about the unique opportunities for ministry they have found through their house church network Kainos Church! Then, Kirk Petersen shares about his work with Alpha and how to capitalize on the shifting culture of the Pacific Northwest...

Send us Fan Mail Join Tim Osborn and Pete Armstrong as they welcome Derrill Corbin, the senior pastor of Mannahouse, for an insightful conversation about leadership, multiplication, and loving the city of Portland. Derrill shares his personal journey, from a childhood connection to the church to unexpectedly stepping into senior leadership. He unpacks the core DNA of a multiplying church, emphasiz...

Send us Fan Mail Join Pete Armstrong and Gabe Kolstad as they welcome Pete and Christy, a new church planting couple in the Portland area. In this inspiring conversation, Pete and Christy share their journey of stepping back from past ministry, learning to listen to God's leading, and their intentional approach of coming to Portland as learners. Discover their experiences of finding community...

Send us Fan Mail Join Tim Osborn and Pete Armstrong as they explore the winding path that led guest Matt Boyd to plant Sojourn Church in Northeast Portland. From a youth spent in traditional church settings to a life-altering mission trip to Argentina, and then serving in India, Matt shares the formative experiences that shaped his understanding of ministry and prepared him for the unique challeng...

Send us Fan Mail Join Gabe Kolstad and Ryan O'Malley as they delve into the vital role of residencies in developing the next generation of church leaders. Ryan shares his experience in establishing a residency program, addressing the leadership gap in churches, and cultivating a gospel-centered culture. Discover practical insights on identifying potential leaders, structuring a residency prog...

Send us Fan Mail Join Gabe Kolstad in a dynamic conversation with Lisa Garin as they explore the crucial topic of multiplying disciples and churches. Lisa shares her personal journey into ministry, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and the transformative power of using our experiences to serve others. Dive into a discussion about the correlation between spiritual disciplines and outreach...

Send us Fan Mail Join Toney Salva, leader of the Evergreen Network, as he shares insights on church planting in the Pacific Northwest. With years of experience in both the Northeast and the Northwest, Toney discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of ministry in this region. He emphasizes the importance of context, humility, and empowering the next generation of church leaders. Discover h...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jason and Tara Hood from Hannah Grace Ministry and Faith Rock Community Church. Discover how their unique approach to ministry is making a profound impact on families in the Portland metro area. From fostering and family support to music programs and church community, Jason and Tara share their journey of faith, vulnerability, and practic...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a church closes its doors—but doesn’t see that as the end? Erin Taylor joins us to share the incredible story of a church in Hillsboro, Oregon, that made the courageous decision to close in order to be reborn. Through the innovative "Dying to Restart" model, a new church is emerging, fueled by faith, community support, and a vision for renewal. Hear how...

Send us Fan Mail Jake and Madison Nagy join Jesus in the Upper Left to share their journey of planting and leading Kainos Church, a house church network in Portland. They reflect on their early ministry experiences, their global travels that shaped their mission, and how an apartment ministry taught them invaluable lessons about community. They also dive into the realities of leading house churche...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Jesus on the Upper Left, we’re joined by Dan Kimball, author, church planter, and professor at Western Seminary. Dan shares his journey from punk rock drummer to church leader, the challenges of planting Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, and what it means to reach people in a post-Christian culture. We dive into the urgency of mission, the role of theological...

Send us Fan Mail Join us on this episode of the Jesus in the Upper Left podcast as we welcome Kirk Petersen from Alpha USA. Kirk shares his incredible journey of ministry in Portland and the transformative power of Alpha—a 10-week experience that helps people explore faith in a relational and non-threatening way.  Discover how Alpha addresses spiritual hunger, engages skeptics, and creates a space...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Jesus in the Upper Left , we sit down with Dr. Bill Mounce, founder of BiblicalTraining.org . Join us as Dr. Mounce shares his passion for equipping lay leaders, pastors, and everyday believers with accessible theological education. From his journey in academia to building an online platform offering free seminary-level classes, Dr. Mounce unpacks the challenges...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, Micah Dodson, Ahshuwah Hawthorne, and special guest Dominic Ibaria tackle the critical topic of thriving in ministry. Drawing from years of experience and research, Dominic shares practical insights into overcoming pastoral burnout, embracing limitations, and finding life-giving rhythms. From the role of spiritual direction to the import...

Send us Fan Mail In this festive and heartfelt year-end episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, Ahshuwah Hawthorne, Gabe Kolstad, and Pete Armstrong reflect on the highlights, challenges, and lessons of 2024. From powerful stories of evangelism and community impact to navigating personal growth and loss, this conversation offers inspiration and encouragement for believers everywhere. Highlights: Refle...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the inspiring journey of Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) in this heartwarming episode. Join us as we speak with Matt Farlow, the Executive Director of Love INC East Multnomah County, and other leaders about mobilizing churches to serve communities, fostering relationships, and addressing needs beyond material resources. Explore how Love INC empowers churches to live...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Pastor Michael Lawrence of Hinson Baptist Church as he shares his inspiring journey from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Oregon. Discover how he embraced cultural differences, led a historic church, and developed innovative ministries in a city known for its spiritual apathy and progressive culture. This week we discuss: Michael’s unexpecte...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a rock star surrenders to God’s call and finds a new purpose in Worship? Join Gabe Kolstad as he interviews Bart Hafeman, worship leader at Westside Community Church and former frontman of the hit band Hit Machine. In this powerful conversation, Bart shares his remarkable journey from the Portland music scene to leading others in worship. Discover how Bart’s deep...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of Jesus in the Upper Left ! This week, Gabe Kolstad and Ahshuwah Hawthorne are joined by Tim Smith , a worship consultant and former worship pastor with decades of experience in ministry. In this episode, we dive deep into: The true definition of worship Lessons learned from Mars Hill Church Theological insights into music, liturgy, and Church gathering...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, we sit down with Hannah Glavor , an indie artist and worship leader, to explore how faith, creativity, and hope come together in powerful ways. 🎶 Learn how Hannah’s journey—from worship leader to indie artist—has shaped her voice and mission. 📖 Topics include: •Facing challenges like a brain tumor and its impact on her creativity •Bala...