Portland Is More Open to Jesus Than Anyone Expected | Ed Stetzer

Send us Fan MailNew research on Portland reveals something most church leaders wouldn't guess — the city is far more spiritually open than its reputation suggests. Missiologist Ed Stetzer joins Tim Osborne and Gabe Colstatt to unpack major findings from a mixed-method study of the Portland-Vancouver metro area conducted in partnership with Come Near and 7 Cents. The data shows striking curiosity about meaning, the supernatural, and even Jesus himself — alongside deep distrust of institutions and an uncertain civic mood after 2020.For those interested in pursuing the Portland Talbot cohort visit this site: https://go.biola.edu/register/?id=1dbf4894-ba85-4c21-8f09-f9ed47c1cd5e&_gl=1*oof8le*_gcl_au*MjAzMTM3MzkxNC4xNzY3NjMxNjIxLjEzMjc3NjIzNjIuMTc3MDc1NDg0Ni4xNzcwNzU0ODg5*_ga*MTc4Njg5ODA0MC4xNzExNTU1ODIz*_ga_YFBWBXLQJ7*czE3NzM4NDU4NzQkbzc2NyRnMSR0MTc3Mzg0NjA3NyRqNjAkbDAkaDAEd breaks down what he calls a "chastened city," why neighborhoods and proximity matter more than ever for gospel work here, and why church planters need sober expectations — not conference hype — to stay faithful for the long haul. The conversation also covers Talbot School of Theology's upcoming Portland extension site launching in fall, with 50% scholarships for the inaugural cohort.Whether you're a pastor, church planter, or someone trying to understand what God is doing in the Pacific Northwest, this episode will reframe how you see Portland.The full 200+ page Portland research report is available here: https://willamette.cc/un-fracturedSubscribe, share this episode with a friend, and visit https://www.upperleftshow.com for bonus content, resources, and ways to connect.