NGU Students Share Gospel in Portland During Spring Break
Posted on: March 18, 2025
Portland, OR—Nine North Greenville University students are traveling to Portland, Oregon during spring break to partner with Sojourn Church PDX in sharing the gospel.
The group is led by Dr. Matthew Hirt, who serves as assistant professor of Intercultural Studies at NGU.
“Portland has some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the U.S. and is home to the world’s largest independent bookstore. It is also one of the most spiritually needy cities,” Hirt said.
“Portland is the most unreligious city in the United States,” he said. “Many people express an indifference or hostility to the gospel as they pursue the values of the world. Sixty-four percent of the population does not have any religious affiliation. Everyone is very excited about the opportunity to serve in Portland.”
The team will be serving the community around Sojourn Church PDX, which includes the Portland Rescue Mission and Portland State University.
“While we seek to grow as disciples of Jesus as we engage in the mission He has given His church, we primarily engage in missions because Christ commands His disciples to make disciples,” Hirt said. “My hope is that the students who go with me to Portland will see that they are called to proclaim the gospel and make disciples regardless of whether they are called to the mission field, vocational ministry, or a marketplace career. Business leaders, teachers, scientists, musicians, and media figures are equally called to make disciples.”
Hirt said he is encouraging his group to see the importance of being mission-focused in their walk with Christ.
“Being Mission-Focused is more about who we are than what we do as a university. Mission is not merely a category for everything we do as Christians,” Hirt said. “Being Mission-Focused means that we are committed to making disciples who make disciples. Being Mission-Focused is the way that our students can have long-term lasting impact as transformational leaders.
“Mission trips are one aspect of our mission focus, and they can serve as a reminder to the rest of the university about this core value,” he continued. “When the teams return to campus, I encourage and equip the team to tell their stories well to cast vision to the entire campus.”
