PORTLAND: I live in Portland, OR.
We moved our family here to plant a church in the city (that's another story, for another time). In the process of being here, I've worked in downtown, Southeast, Northeast, and now in Lake Oswego. We've experienced so much of this great city. We love the culture, the greenness, the arts, the intellectuality, the awareness, the community life, the natural flair for collaboration that oozes out of the city of Portland.
Living in Portland has fueled my desire to write, putting ideas to paper, making the details of life come alive. This city breathes the creative. When I walk the city of Portland I feel as if the sidewalks, buildings, and neighborhoods stretch a narrative of the city from one end to the other.
Living in Portland has fueled my desire to write, putting ideas to paper, making the details of life come alive. This city breathes the creative. When I walk the city of Portland I feel as if the sidewalks, buildings, and neighborhoods stretch a narrative of the city from one end to the other.
RIVER WEST CHURCH: I work at River West Church.
I am the pastor of mission. My role is to build teams of people to work in the city and overseas as we live out the mission of God. We build, collaborate, and partner with people locally and around the world. Here are some of the ministries we've stared or partner with:
CITY - H.O.T.E.L. Ministry, Bridgetown, INC., and Door to Grace.
MISSION IN LIFE: There was this defining moment in seminary. I was taking a class called the Gospel and Culture. For this class I was reading Lesslie Newbigin's book The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society. I realized in order to reach the world - which now knows very little about Jesus, the Bible, and God's story of redemption - I had to learn how to exegete culture. I needed to understand philosophy, art, and science right alongside my study of scripture. This event compelled me to study to understand the cultural framework undergirding our cultural moment.
After this "oh, now I get it!" moment, I rewrote my class schedule. I split my classes into two categories: Bible and Culture. First, I scheduled as many Bible classes as I could: Old and New Testament Interpretation, Exegesis, Hermeneutics, and Church History. Next, I took all the art, philosophy, film, novel, and writing classes I could get my hands on. My goal was to know the truth of who God is and speak that truth into the culture I live.
This blog is an experiment, a trial in words. My goal is to write about who God is and what he wants? My hope is that you will find these words helpful as you seek to find your place in the world.
Join me in this blog AbrahamBates.com (link to RSS feed) or (look for the feeds via facebook and twitter).
(part 3 of 3)
(part 3 of 3)
