Jesus in the Upper Left

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In this new-year episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, Gabe, Tim, and Ahshuwah unpack a pattern Brilliant Labs keeps seeing across Portland: the majority of ministries serving “downstream” needs are serving at-risk women and children.

So what’s upstream?

They talk honestly about the crisis of masculinity, fatherlessness, and what changes when men actually walk with Jesus—learning sacrifice, purpose, servant leadership, and healthy responsibility in marriage and fatherhood. The conversation also touches on Portland’s spiritual history, why “flourishing” is the goal, and how the church can respond with both conviction and compassion.

Resources mentioned:

• The Toxic War on Masculinity (Nancy Pearcey)
• Raising a Modern-Day Knight (Robert Lewis)
• Upstream (book illustration referenced)

If this encouraged or challenged you, share it with a friend—and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

Find bonus content + ways to connect: UpperLeftShow.com

#JesusInTheUpperLeft #PortlandChurch #BiblicalMasculinity #Fatherhood #GospelMultiplication

Welcome to Jesus in the Upper Left, where we're talking about gospel multiplication in the Pacific Northwest. This episode focuses on the importance of finding fulfilling work and maintaining a joyful family life, offering a new perspective on balancing these crucial aspects. Our discussion provides practical career advice for those seeking to integrate their faith into their daily vocations, ultimately encouraging making disciples in all areas of life.

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In this episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, Gabe and Tim sit down with Nicole Larson from Together PDX to talk about how churches in Portland can partner with the city in meaningful, practical ways.

Nicole shares what’s actually happening on the ground around homelessness, why collaboration matters more than ever, and how churches and individuals can step in without trying to solve everything at once. From simple entry points like prayer and supplies to deeper partnerships with city leaders and nonprofits, this conversation brings clarity, hope, and realistic next steps.

If you care about Portland and want to serve wisely, this episode is for you.

Want to get involved or learn more?

Email [email protected]

Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, and visit UpperLeftShow.com to connect with others pursuing gospel multiplication in the Pacific Northwest.

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It’s easy to feel discouraged leading a church or ministry in the Pacific Northwest. The season is long, the headlines are heavy, and the challenges are real.

But in this episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, we pause to do something intentional: name where God is clearly at work in Portland right now.

Hosts Gabe Kolstad and Tim Osborn share real, on-the-ground stories of gospel movement they are seeing across the Portland–Vancouver metro area. From student-led faith movements in public schools to patient church planters taking root for the long haul, this conversation is meant to bring perspective, courage, and hope.

In this episode, we cover:

• A surprising resurgence of Christian high school and middle school clubs and student-led evangelism
• How unconventional leadership training is emerging across churches and networks
• Why church mergers are becoming a healthy, kingdom-minded strategy instead of a failure story
• The rise of patient, long-term church planters who are learning the city before launching
• What these trends reveal about unity, trust, and collaboration among Portland pastors

This episode is especially for:

• Church planters and pastors in urban or post-Christian contexts
• Ministry leaders feeling weary or discouraged
• Anyone asking, “Is God still moving here?”

We’d love to hear what you are seeing.

Leave a comment on YouTube or email [email protected] and share your own God sightings in the Pacific Northwest.

Subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, and share this with someone who needs encouragement today.

Visit UpperLeftShow.com for bonus content, resources, and ways to connect with others pursuing gospel multiplication in our region.

#JesusInTheUpperLeft #ChurchLeadership #PortlandChurch #GospelMultiplication #ChurchPlanting #FaithInThePNW #MinistryEncouragement

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Money is one of the biggest realities every ministry leader faces, especially in the Portland metro and the Pacific Northwest. In this episode, Tim and Gabe welcome Ahshuwah back to the show, then jump into a practical conversation about fundraising, church planting models, generosity discipleship, and what it looks like to build sustainable ministry without letting money drive the mission.

You will hear the team talk through vocational vs. co-vocational approaches, right-sizing ministry expectations, how culture affects giving, and why some planters may actually raise too much money upfront. They also explore creative funding ideas, including nonprofit partnerships, business income streams, and even a brief (and spicy) Bitcoin conversation.

Subscribe so you do not miss a single episode, and share this with someone who is leading, planting, or praying about ministry in the PNW. For bonus content and resources, head to UpperLeftShow.com.

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Rising Back Up in Rockwood: The Story of As Is Church with Pastor Scott Bradley

In this powerful episode of Jesus in the Upper Left, Gabe and Tim sit down with Scott Bradley, pastor of As Is Church and founder of the Underground PDX youth program. Scott shares the raw, hopeful story of what God is doing in one of the most overlooked and challenged neighborhoods in Oregon — Rockwood, the most diverse and densely populated community in the state.

From planting a church in his living room…

To serving gang-impacted youth seven days a week…

To facing the sudden loss of nearly $50,000/month in grant funding…

To watching God transform lives like Mario’s…

Scott’s story is a testimony of grit, calling, restoration, and rising back up through the challenges.

Whether you’re a pastor, a church planter, or someone who cares deeply about the most vulnerable communities — this episode will stretch you, inspire you, and give you a real look at how the gospel is moving in East Portland.

Discover in This Episode:

• The hilarious story behind the name As Is Church
• What makes Rockwood one of the most strategic mission fields in Oregon
• Why 88+ languages within one mile creates both opportunity and challenge
• How Underground PDX reaches gang-impacted youth through fitness, mentorship, and relationship
• Mario’s emotional transformation after 10 years in the program
• What happens when all grant funding disappears overnight
• Why Scott is shifting from a Sunday-centric model to a 7-day-a-week ministry
• How churches and individuals can partner with As Is Church to bring hope to Rockwood

Support As Is Church & Underground PDX

If your heart is stirred by this conversation and you want to directly support the work happening in Rockwood, here’s how you can get involved:

Church Website: https://asis.church

Underground PDX (Youth Program): https://undergroundpdx.org

Ways to partner:

• Monthly giving ($25, $50, $100)
• One-time year-end or Christmas giving
• Church missions partnerships
• Hosting Scott to share the story with your congregation
• Purchasing Underground PDX gear to support the work
• Supporting the CrossFit membership model that sponsors youth

Email Scott directly:

📩 [email protected] (He shared “bart@westside…” in transcript context but the guest-specific info is Scott. If incorrect, replace with provided address.)

📩 Church general email: [email protected]

(If Scott provided alternative contact info in context, use that.)

Reflection & Engagement

This episode challenges all of us to consider:

Where is God calling you to stand — and who is He calling you to stand with?

👉 Comment below: What impacted you most from Scott’s story?

👉 Like the video if you believe the gospel belongs in the hardest places.

👉 Subscribe for more powerful conversations of faith + mission in the Pacific Northwest.

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What happens when two pastors from the Pacific Northwest take a trip to the UK and accidentally walk straight into worship at Westminster Abbey, visit thriving churches in Liverpool, Bristol, and London, and learn from global leaders working toward gospel collaboration and city transformation?

In this episode, Pastor Gabe Kolstad and Pastor Tim Osborn unpack the biggest lessons they brought home — and why they matter for the Portland Metro and the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, ministry volunteer, or someone passionate about seeing revival in secular places, this conversation will encourage, challenge, and inspire you.

🔎 In This Episode

• The surprising vitality of the church in the UK
• Worship in ancient buildings + modern ministry methods
• The quiet revival happening across England
• Why collaboration across theological tribes is essential
• Gospel saturation and the need for geographic ownership
• What the UK can teach us about leadership pipelines
• Discerning healthy theology in a confusing time
• Models of training leaders inside the local church
• The innovative WTC (Westminster Theological Centre) approach
• What Portland can learn from Bristol, Liverpool & London
• The future of pastoral and theological training for the Northwest

🌍 Mentioned in This Episode

• Multiply PDX — a collaborative network for gospel movement in the Portland Metro

• WTC Theology (Westminster Theological Centre) — a UK-based, church-embedded theological training model

• Various city-reaching networks, leaders, and ministries across the UK

💬 Join the Conversation

Drop a comment and share:

• What do you think is the biggest barrier to gospel saturation in your city?
• What’s ONE thing your church or ministry could take ownership of in your neighborhood?
• Have you seen collaboration work across tribes? What made it effective?

Your voice helps strengthen the movement happening here in the Pacific Northwest.

👍 Enjoying the Podcast?

If today’s conversation encouraged you, help us reach more people:

👉 Subscribe

👉 Like the video

👉 Share this with a pastor or leader in your network

Together, we can fuel gospel movement in the Northwest.

#JesusInTheUpperLeft #UKChurch #GospelSaturation #CityReaching #MultiplyPDX #PortlandChurch #ChurchLeadership

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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, launching student ministry, and how a black-painted house next to a white-steeple church became a bridge to real relationship.

In this episode:

• Why “belonging” beats branding—creating spaces where everyone can belong in Jesus’ name
• The Porch: donation-based coffee, volunteers, and everyday ministry (8am–1pm, Mon–Fri)
• Trust in Portland: slow, consistent presence is better than quick wins
• Partnering with public schools (yes, the vice principal knocked on their door)
• From porch to pulpit: calling, resistance, and faithfulness
• Building tribe, not transactions: discipleship beyond Sundays
• Launching student ministry + next steps for GP Portland

Connect with today’s guests:
🌐 GenesisPortland.com
☕ Visit The Porch (attached to GP Portland) — open Mon–Fri, 8am–1pm
📷 Instagram: linked from their site
👋 Best way to meet them? “Come by the Porch and say hi.”

Join the conversation (drop a comment):

• What’s ONE small, consistent way your church could show up for your neighborhood this month?
• If your church vanished tomorrow, would your neighbors miss you? Why or why not?
• Have you seen a coffee-shop-plus-church model work? What made it click?

If this encouraged you, like, subscribe, and share it with a pastor or volunteer who cares about their city.

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"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, resources, and a supportive brotherhood. He unveils an exciting new initiative: a Portland Coalition of like-minded pastors dedicated to collaborative church multiplication. This conversation explores why a unified approach is crucial for gospel growth in the city, the different ways churches can participate, and the vision for planting 5-10 new churches annually. Learn how this cross-denominational collaboration is ready to accelerate God's work in the Upper Left.

Want to learn more? Join the SEND One Day event on October 28th at Door of Hope Church! Registration is free and the link will be in the show description.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Virgil's ministry journey
• The role of SEND Network
• The Portland Coalition
• Different ways to participate
• Vision for multiplication
•  Cross-denominational unity
• The SEND One Day event
• The power of collaboration

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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 young adults to the church and a deeper hunger for spiritual practice—are paralleled in the Pacific Northwest's unique cultural landscape. Gain insights into how local churches are adapting, embracing humility, making room for new leaders, and navigating the complexities of a highly individualized society. This conversation offers a hopeful and realistic look at God's work in a challenging mission field.

Read the Quiet Revival Report at https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival

Share your thoughts and observations in the comments below!

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"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 youth to a decade-long battle with addiction and homelessness, culminating in a miraculous encounter that led him to City Team. Discover how his unique life experience and "gifting for making friends" are now invaluable in bridging divides between the church, the city, and people experiencing homelessness. Hear how Lance is collaborating with Mayor Keith Wilson to address Portland's most pressing issues and how City Team is making a tangible difference.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Lance's personal journey
• The "Crazy Cameron" story
• Transition to City Team
• Engaging city leaders
• Redefining success
• The power of collaboration
• Portland's challenges & opportunities
• The "make friends" mentality
• City Team's impact
• God's redemptive work

Want to get involved? Join City Team for Night Strike every Thursday under the Burnside Bridge! Learn more at cityteam.org/give-help/portland and togetherpdx.org.