History of Eastridge

A Brief History of Eastridge

In 1993 a small group of three couples met to talk about a vision they believed was from God--that a new church be planted on the eastside of Portland. It would a safe place where people seeking spiritual understanding could come and hear about Jesus Christ and the Bible in a style they could all understand. These couples invited several of their friends to join that vision.

In 1994 we started holding worship services at Oregon Trail Elementary School in Clackamas.

By the summer of 1999 we had outgrown Oregon Trail, and found a more suitable home a mile away at Sunrise Middle School. From 1999 to 2003 we saw an unusual surge of people coming to faith, averaging five decisions a week for quite some time! In one year we had 190 people decide to begin a relationship with Jesus! God's blessing was abundant.

We saw ahead to a need for our own space and began a building fund drive. We had the land purchased and the plans drawn up and we were on our way! Or so we thought. The building project seemed to be plagued by a bureaucratic desire to keep churches out of the community. It was one hardship after another.

Then, in the midst of our battle to build our own space we had to endure the sadness of one tragedy after another. We buried friends. We buried infants. We suffered miscarriages. A key staff member was diagnosed with cancer. The pain and sense of loss and disappointment was overwhelming, but it also deepened our experience of what it means to be a spiritual family. We grew closer to each other, lifting each other up through pain and sorrow.  And with praise to God, we have emerged with a more grounded and profound faith in Jesus Christ. 

So, we are no strangers to suffering, nor to blessing.  We know from experience that we don't need to fear tragedy, because we've tested our hope in the Lord and found him worthy.  We can genuinely empathize with those who struggle, just as we can joyfully celebrate God's blessings. And today, even as we again experience blessing, we have replaced optimism with a hard-earned trust and authenticity--and we hold out a persistent, grounded hope for any who find themselves in blessing or in struggle.

Today, the story of God's grace at Eastridge is still being written in the lives of believers and seekers alike, here in the greater Clackamas area. We continue to open our doors and our hearts to all, and pray that the opening of our new building in March 2008 will afford many more the same opportunity to experience the hope of Christ.