In 2021, a donor presented College Park staff with the incredible opportunity to dream big about a capital project that would bless the ministry of College Park Church. The staff was excited about this opportunity—both to support and care for our College Park family and to reach out to our near neighbors for God’s glory and kingdom purposes.
That dream became reality in the spring of 2024 with the opening of The Portico, which includes a pavilion, playground, sand volleyball courts, and walking path.
When the vision of The Portico was shared with College Park members, we asked them to pray specifically about the intentional use of the space in these three ways:
- To build further connection within our College Park Church family
- To be a welcoming place to connect with our neighbors and community
- To be a place that draws people in which, in turn, results in gospel conversations
We have heard story after story of God’s tangible answers to these prayers, too many to capture in this article. As we celebrate God’s grace to us and The Portico being open for over a year, here are three of those stories:
To build further connection within our College Park Church family
Member Lauren Pourcho wanted to create a way for moms with young kids to connect in a meaningful way. Lauren invited moms from College Park to join her for an hour of reading and activities with their young children. This special time, called The Portico Story Hour, has been a hit with moms and kids alike as friendships have deepened and new friendships formed. Lauren continues to regularly organize this intentional gathering at The Portico.
To be a welcoming place to connect with our neighbors and community
Last fall, member Lindsey Mills was at the playground with her children when she met a dad who was there with his toddler son. She found out they had come to the playground through unusual circumstances: the family had a baby in a NICU close by, and they lived far enough away that they were staying in a hotel. This dad needed a place to let his toddler run around, and someone they knew suggested The Portico. He told Lindsey they had been to The Portico playground a few times, sharing that it was such a blessing to his family.
Lindsey prayed for him and his newborn child. While she doesn’t know what has happened since, this is one tangible way God has used The Portico to bless our community.
To be a place that draws people which, in turn, results in gospel conversations
After praying together during a recent pastors meeting, Pastors Bob, Jake, Mitch, Bjorn, and Greg went on a prayer walk together on The Portico path. Jake saw a woman walking her small dog. He prayed aloud for her as they approached and greeted her as they passed. The woman, who they soon learned was named Melody, stopped the pastors and proceeded to share how much she appreciates our church. Melody shared:
- How she’s so thankful for the path—and that the church provides dog poop bags on the path. (“I want to meet the operations director to give him $50 for all the bags I’ve used!”)
- How she has big church hurt and doesn’t go to church, but that using the path and interacting with people has allowed her to warm up to our church. Recently, she has started watching our services online.
- How she has trauma in her past and counsels women who have been abused. Melody knows the church at large doesn’t often do well with those healing from abuse, but she found our sessions on mental illness online and said how gracious and helpful they were.
- How she’s considering that if there is a church for her, that she is really thinking about College Park.
The pastors prayed for Melody, and they were mutually encouraged by this providential passing on the path. As they parted ways, the pastors recognized how stunning God is as he uses the path for his purposes for both our College Park family and our near neighbors for gospel opportunities.
The Portico has been such a gift. Let us rejoice over God’s blessing of this amazing resource to College Park Church! May we continue to build one another up in love for each other and our neighbors as we use this space for kingdom purposes.
