Fremont Building Restoration Project

Introduction and How to Help

On Sunday, 8/3/2025 we announced that we have an agreement to purchase our beloved church building on 831 NE Fremont and with that comes the privilege and challenge of addressing roughly $635,000 of deferred maintenance and cash replenishment over the next few years. We sprinted to see if we could raise the first $473,000 last summer in order to tackle the urgent roof replacement and closely-related projects before the rainy season. Through the generosity of this community and others, we have now had $595,408 (93% of the total project) given. We could not be more encouraged at this incredible provision from God, our church family, and neighbors!

Here's how you can help us keep moving forward:

First, you can give as soon as you're ready via these options:

1. For larger amounts of $500, mail a check to 831 NE Fremont, Portland, OR 97212 made out to "Door of Hope NE" with "Building Restoration" on the memo line. You can also use the ACH giving option through Planning Center, which only incurs a $.30 fee.

2. For smaller amounts, feel free to use other giving options on Planning Center. Select "Building Restoration & Repairs" as the giving type. Since this extracts some fees this is not ideal for larger gift amounts.

   
   

Second, please continue to share this campaign with anyone you know who might be interested in helping to preserve a historic church building in inner Portland. We still have around $39,592 to raise for this project.

Updates related to our project timelines will be added below as we have them. Feel free to reach out to Pastor Cameron Heger (cameron@doorofhopepdx.org) with any questions at any time. Thank you so much for your interest and participation in this undertaking!

Status Update 6/21/2026

We have officially raised all of the money for all of the construction projects ($578,138)! Praise God! We are close enough in the mortgage pocess to begin construction this summer. We are now getting new bids for the roof project and are aiming to select a contractor by July 15. We are on target to begin the roof replacement in latse August, with the remaining 15 or so projects happening between then and end of summer 2027.

All that remains to be raised is the rest of the money designated to help rebuild our 3-month cash reserve after the building sale that was part of the initial goal ($39,000) plus the additional $18,000 (discussed during the 3/1 update) to bring that reserve cash up to our new 2026 budget numbers. The total cash reserve replenishment amount is now $57,000, which is what all building project donations will now be applied to. As for the end of May, there is only $39,592 left to raise!

The money given to this project will remain untouched (while accruing interest in a high-yield savings account) and designated only for the restoration project until work begins.

First Update 8/3/2025

This past Sunday we announced our intent to purchase the beloved Fremont church building we meet in and to make a significant investment in it. Our desire is to raise the money necessary to address long-deferred maintenance so that it would remain a thriving, beautiful, Jesus-proclaiming space in our city for years to come. Click here (audio/video) to hear the full announcement as it was given.

In short, this 111-year-old building that we love—with its perfectly familial size, beautiful simplicity, and deeply strategic location in Portland—needs significant restoration. After professional assessments, we've identified some urgent needs: a new roof, rafter repair, brickwork, window restoration, and more coming out to seventeen projects total over six years.

We're raising $617,000 to preserve this space for ours and the following generations of Christians.

Phase 1 is the urgent goal is $473,000 by fall (mainly for the roof), with the remaining $144,000 over the next few years for phase 2.

Here's the exciting news: You've already given over $37,000, and an anonymous donor has provided a $150,000 matching gift. We're already over 30% there!

This isn't just about maintaining a building—it's about ensuring this corner of Portland remains a place where the gospel is proclaimed for the next 100 years and beyond. Virtually any developer would love to buy this prime real estate and build something else. When church properties leave the kingdom, they almost never return. By giving, you're not just fixing a roof—you're saying yes to keeping this a sacred space.

It's our turn to care for what's been entrusted to us. Let's do this together. See above for how you can help.