Just as a French Press will produce a good cup of coffee, Eric Wood hopes his strategic approach to building relational ministry and community engagement in Portland, Maine, will produce a strong group of gospel-driven and Spirit-led believers throughout the various neighborhoods, towns, and cities of Greater Portland.
No stranger to the Maine area, the Woods have been praying about launching a church in that region for over seven years. So when Rocky Rocholl, FEC president, invited Eric to consider a church plant in Portland, Maine, Eric knew the time was right. It’s bound to be a challenge, since Portland ranks as one of the top “post Christian” cities in the nation.
“We don’t assume that everything is going to be easy,” he says, “but we’re not going to force anything. We simply desire to live well in our homes, serve well in our cities, and go well around the world. We know that wherever Jesus calls us, he’s already working. It’s our job to see where he’s already turning up the soil in preparation for planting.”
Upon settling in Portland in May, Eric will begin building relationships with local leaders and a small group of Christians. It’s a philosophy of community engagement that has proven effective in spreading the Gospel in this region. While the Portland, Maine, initiative won’t look like a traditional church plant, Eric and Mandy are dedicated to a long-term commitment to serve Greater Portland’s 7 cities, 61 towns, and dozens of neighborhoods with the simple-yet-profound news of Jesus.
