Letting the Spirit Breathe Again

In the early days of 2017, Pete Armstrong began his pastoral ministry at Park Lane Christian Reformed Church in Portland, Oregon. He stepped into a community that had been faithfully shepherded for nearly three decades—but something had shifted. The church wasn’t falling apart or in danger of closing, but, as Pete put it, things had become “a little stale and dusty.”

The people were still gathering. Ministries still functioned. But beneath the surface, there was a longing—maybe even a desperation—for something more.

“We weren’t a church on the brink,” Pete said, “but that doesn’t mean we weren’t in desperate need of gospel renewal.”

That fall, the church council decided to take a risk: they joined the Church Renewal Lab, a process offered by the Center for Church Renewal, designed to guide congregations through intentional spiritual renewal. For Park Lane, this wasn’t about chasing trends or reinventing themselves. It was about remembering who they were—and allowing the Holy Spirit to breathe through them again.

Every Church Needs Renewal

A colleague reminded Pete early on that every church, no matter its size or health, is always in need of gospel renewal.

That idea stuck.

What followed was a two-year journey from 2016 to 2018 that would shape the future of Park Lane CRC. Together, the church crafted a dream statement—something more than a vision document. It was a prayerful imagining of who they hoped to become by December 31, 2026.

That dream has lived on Pete’s desk ever since.

Some of those dreams are now becoming reality. The congregation has grown—not just in numbers, but in spiritual depth. They’ve become a younger church, more engaged in prayer, more aware of their place in a changing city. And for Pete personally, one of his hopes has come to life: his own children are now part of a vibrant, growing youth group that they love inviting friends to.

The Path Wasn’t Easy

There were challenges, of course. Setbacks, surprises, trials.

But Pete sees those hardships not as interruptions, but as part of the renewal.

“True spiritual growth rarely occurs without trials and suffering,” he reflected. “In every difficulty, the Holy Spirit was drawing us closer to Jesus.”

That process of renewal hasn’t just impacted long-time members or staff. It’s reached people like Aaron.

Aaron’s story isn’t uncommon in Portland—a city of both deep beauty and deep brokenness. After years of addiction, incarceration, and living on the streets, Aaron returned to faith. And when he came to Park Lane four years ago, he found something he hadn’t had in a long time: a home.

A Seat at the Table

“Not just the pastor or the youth minister,” Aaron said, “but families here—they’ve embraced me. They’ve welcomed me like Jesus welcomes us to His table.”

He described the church as more than a community. It felt like a family. For Aaron, Park Lane CRC has been a place of healing, direction, and belonging.

A Church Still Becoming

As Park Lane celebrates its 65th anniversary, Pete and the congregation know they haven’t “arrived.” The journey of renewal continues, and so does the openness to the Spirit’s leading.

“By God’s grace, the best is still to come,” Pete said.