The people of the Pacific Northwest are as unique and diverse as the beautiful landscape in which we call home.  The geography stretches from our ocean shore fishing communities to the desert plateaus hosting our farmers and ranchers.  Time slows down in our rural college towns where football is life. Polar opposite is the hustle and bustle of our large-little cities trying to outrun the likes of New York, LA and Chicago.  Our high mountain peaks rival those of the Rockies and boast of the ability to provide year-round skiing for Olympians to train. 

This vast and varied landscape is reflective of the diverse lives of those who call the Northwest home. The climate of values, mindsets, priorities and purpose not only impact the spiritual climate, but, unfortunately, often become the replacement for spirituality itself. Although community is highly valued, it is very difficult to find and church is not the first choice on where it is sought out. In reality, we are worlds away from Nascar and the Bible Belt. The challenges put before us can only be attained by reliance on God and unity with each other.  

Pastors and churches called to tame this new version of what the west has become, are partnering to make significant and lasting community impact.  TogetherPDX exists to see our community flourish by uniting, connecting, strengthening, and serving local churches, pastors and leaders of the Portland/Vancouver metro area.  Our relevance is only sustained by our ability to uphold the principles of the Word. We value the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in word and deed, as the center of who we are and why we exist. We know that Biblical truth and principle provide the greatest pathway to ultimately bring light to this spiritually dark region. 

Jesus said it best, “By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:35. Reputation truly does precede perception. We value deep, healthy relationships within the Greater Church and across the community. To be a light to our communities, we must shine brightly one to another. The New Testament makes it clear that the church, His Bride, will be the avenue to carry out His plan. We value the local Church as God’s divine instrument in fulfilling His purposes. 

We recognize the collective church to be much more than buildings, but rather the people who identify as His followers. The purpose of the church rests on the shoulders of each individual follower of Christ. Each needing to seek out His purpose and plan for them to fulfill. We value the mobilization of all believers! Collectively seeking this purpose together, in unity with the prompting of the Holy Spirit through prayer and wisdom. We value the listening to the Holy Spirit to inspire faith-filled prayer and action. We aren’t blown by the wind, rather we seek solid footing, clear paths, direction and wisdom as established by the Lord, through the Word and the Holy Spirit. 

The issues of our region are unique and complex. We know the Lord’s desire is to calm the storm through unity and bring the blessing of peace to surpass all understanding. We value the privilege to partner together in “seeking the shalom” of our metroplex. We believe the connection, collaboration and unity of all area denominations, races and economic spectrums will better enable the Gospel to do its amazing work in our cities. 

Statistically, Portland/Vancouver has been deemed the most religiously-unaffiliated metro area in the United States. As of 2015 about 42 percent of residents and the surrounding areas identified as religiously-unaffiliated. Seattle and San Francisco are tied for a distant second place with 33 percent. Nashville, in the Bible Belt, was the least religiously-unaffiliated city at only 15 percent. The Pacific Northwest is so polar opposite, it has actually been deemed “The Un-Bible Belt”. 

Fortunately, about the same time these statistics were revealed, a movement began to emerge. Organically and through the relationship of a few pastors finding themselves on common ground, with the same heart to see our towns and cities transformed, TogetherPDX was born.