Imago Dei Community The History Of Imago Dei (Special Episode Pt. 2) - Taking Advantage Of Redemptive Windows
Oct 2, 2025
Join Jeff Marsh, founding pastor focused on core values, and Rick McKinley, known for his visionary leadership, as they discuss Imago Dei Church's evolution. They delve into 'redemptive windows,' where faith meets cultural opportunities, and how Imago's values resonate with Portland's vibrant community. They explore shifting from information-based faith to practice-based discipleship, emphasizing living out practices like hospitality beyond Sundays. With reflections on COVID-19's impact and a commitment to costly generosity, they envision a bold future for the church.
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Founding Values Fit Cultural Gaps
- Imago Dei identified cultural gaps in 2000: worship as performance, information-driven preaching, undervalued artists, and shallow community.
- The church shaped values—beauty, truth, mission, authentic community—to meet Portland's cultural openness to arts and social action.
Practice-Based Discipleship Emerged
- Rick reframed discipleship as communities of practice, not info-transfer, aligning with broader move to practice-based learning around 2010–2015.
- The five practices (hospitality, generosity, etc.) form people spiritually and serve as prophetic witness to culture.
From Third Way To Faithful Remnant
- After 2016 polarization, Imago shifted from being a third-way cultural model to embracing exile and remnant identity.
- That posture reframed mission: small faithful witness over large cultural dominance.