Our
Plan
As expressed in our values, we are “moving at the speed of generosity.” We commit to not getting ahead of ourselves in projects we cannot afford with joyful giving. Nevertheless, we see the following projects as priorities to expand our missional impact in our city.
KITCHEN,
COURTYARD ROOM,
OUTSIDE COURTYARD
Phase 1
2026
$1.5-million: $225,000 to Advent Conspiracy
These spaces are truly the hub of activity for not only our ministry work at Imago Dei, but also our key friends and partners who cook and serve food to everyone from our youth group, to families + kids in foster care, to our houseless neighbors, and all our friends who share space with us as long term tenants like BibleProject and Charis Counseling.
These projects are key to expanding our hospitality to our neighborhood through meals and community space, along with space for potential new social enterprises and tenants.
The kitchen and courtyard space will bring us to a highly functional and beautiful space to offer our city and our church.
Courtyard Room
Renderings
Kitchen
Renderings
Sanctuary Roof,
Gym Bathrooms
Phase 2
2026-27
$1-million: $150,000 to Advent Conspiracy
Our remarkable worship space draws us as a congregation and our guests a vision of the good, the true, and the beautiful. It is an easy space to worship in as our eyes are brought upward to God.
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For a number of years, our sanctuary roof has been leaking. This has created other problems on our carpet and infrastructure. We want to be great stewards of our space so that those who are worshipping here in years to come will be able to continue to encounter God through worship, baptism, communion, special events, along with significant moments like weddings and baptisms.
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Our gym bathrooms are outdated and unfit for those with special needs. Considering our shower ministry on Mondays and our Buddies program that reaches those with physical disabilities, we see it as essential to provide safe, clean, and updated bathroom facilities in our gym for our friends who need an ADA accessible environment.
Boilers,
Windows in
Wagner Building
Phase 3
2027
$500,000: $75,000 to Advent Conspiracy
The need for better windows and an updated HVAC option will allow us to be good stewards of the earth and our space at the same time.
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Our aging building requires updated HVAC that can heat and cool our spaces while remaining as energy efficient as possible.
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The windows in the Wagner building have not been replaced since the 70s. In addition to being energy inefficient, they are a safety risk, as some of them can only be closed from the outside.
Phase 0
2025
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Our largest and most versatile meeting space (outside of the sanctuary) is Room 101, near the corner of 13th and Ankeny. To improve the usability for our ministry uses, sharing with our partners and tenants, and the ability to host community events, we made some small but significant changes in February of 2025. New paint, carpet, lighting, and blinds significantly freshened up the space, while a new A/V system ensures that the sound system is usable and effective. One exciting partnership highlight is that we will be gifting the use of this space weekly to an Ethiopian church plant to use for their Sunday afternoon worship gatherings.
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The room lighting in our sanctuary has faced serious deferred maintenance since the 1990s. Recently, our ability to dim was lost as our dimmer pack caught on fire. The system was so outdated that we were told we could be “worshipping in the dark any day.” With this high need, we prioritized our general fund to put in new sanctuary lighting for the room, completed September 2025. These updates include only overhead lighting so we can see one another in worship.
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Throughout the week, the grounds of our property acts almost like a park for the neighborhood. People picnic, walk their dogs, gather, and socialize, especially in our courtyard. As we considered ways to intentionally pursue ways that people may encounter Jesus as they visit our grounds, the idea emerged to turn the corner of 15th and Ankeny into an interactive prayer garden for the entire community. In June of 2025, led by Sustainability Deacon Sara Buxton and Pastor of Prayer Michelle Jones, we broke ground in this garden. It is a work in progress, but we are excited for the ways this tangibly represents progress on becoming “A Sanctuary for the City.”
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Our Prayer Chapel behind the sanctuary is a beautiful and unique space where we hold special prayer and worship events. Through our general fund, this year we’ll be investing in the space by purchasing some new furniture and other small upgrades.
Long before this vision initiative was launched, we have shared the vision for our space to serve our community and our city. We have leveraged our General Fund budget for not only the upkeep of our properties, but some key investments into the usability of our space. We are referring to these projects as “Phase 0,” because they began before the Sanctuary for the City initiative launched but tie directly into the vision.
Ready to Join Us?
If you have already filled out your Commitment Card and are ready to start your recurring gift or make a one-time donation, you can do so here.
What is “A Sanctuary for the City?”
Sanctuary for the City is a two-year, Spirit-led invitation to increase our own participation in God’s mission by strengthening our physical presence in Portland to multiply our ability to serve the city and share Jesus.