For years, much of the national conversation surrounding Portland, Oregon, has centered around protests, division and unrest.
But Pastor Mike Tatlock says there is another story unfolding in the city, one he believes many people never hear.
“There’s the headlines on the news,” Tatlock told K-LOVE’s Crystal Thornton. “And then there’s the headlines from heaven.”
Tatlock serves as lead pastor of Grace Chapel in Portland and chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers. While many outside the city may view Portland as spiritually lost, he says God is moving powerfully in churches, on campuses and even inside NBA arenas.
Listen to the entire conversation between Crystal Thornton and Mike Tatlock in the podcast below
‘We Are Seeing the Light Shine in the Darkness’
Tatlock says churches across Portland that remain grounded in the Gospel are seeing renewed spiritual hunger and growth.
“We’re seeing an explosion of people coming to Christ,” he said.
According to Tatlock, ministries like Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Young Life are drawing large crowds of students hungry for truth and hope.
“We are seeing the light shine in the darkness,” he said.
Tatlock believes much of what people hear about Portland misses the deeper spiritual reality taking place beneath the surface.
“When I travel around the country, people say, ‘Man, we’ve got to pray for Portland,’” he said. “And I tell them, ‘God is moving out here.’”
Ministry Inside the NBA Arena
As chaplain for the Portland Trail Blazers, Tatlock ministers not only to players, but to the entire arena community.
Before every home game, both the Trail Blazers and the opposing NBA team gather together for chapel.
“Most people don’t know this,” Tatlock said. “The opposing team meets with the home team and we do chapel together before the game.”
But the ministry extends far beyond professional athletes.
“As chaplains, we have a statement: ‘Win the arena,’” Tatlock explained. “It’s not just about the athletes. It’s about ushers, parking attendants, security, staff.”
Tatlock said he has never given away more Bibles or chapel notes than he has in recent years.
“The word is spreading,” he said. “People all throughout the arena are asking for Bibles and chapel notes.”
‘Christ in Us Is Greater Than the Chaos Around Us’
Tatlock believes the deepest battle facing the culture today is spiritual, not political.
“Behind the culture wars, there’s a spiritual battle,” he said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tatlock said a Portland sports broadcaster invited him onto a postgame show, not to discuss basketball, but to talk about Jesus and hope.
“They said, ‘Don’t come on and talk about sports. We want you to come talk about Jesus,’” Tatlock recalled.
The message he shared that night still guides him today:
“Christ in us is greater than the chaos around us.”
Tatlock says people are exhausted by empty promises and are searching for something real.
“I think people are getting tired of the promises of the world,” he said. “The only way we’ll ever solve a sin problem is with a kingdom solution.”
A Fall on Mount Hood That Changed Everything
One of the most powerful moments in the interview came as Tatlock described a terrifying accident while climbing Mount Hood.
After reaching the summit, Tatlock began descending the icy mountain when his ice ax slipped.
He suddenly began falling hundreds of feet down the mountain toward a massive crevasse.
“I should have kept sliding,” he said. “There’s no reason I should have stopped.”
Tatlock said he was moving at full speed and could not stop himself.
Then suddenly, something did.
Only a short distance from the edge, Tatlock said he was stopped instantly in the middle of the slide.
“It goes against all the laws of physics,” he said. “Something stopped me.”
As climbers passed him afterward, each one repeated the same words:
“You’re a walking miracle.”
Tatlock believes it was nothing less than the hand of God that saved his life.
Originally, he said climbing Mount Hood had been about personal accomplishment, a milestone he wanted to conquer before turning 40.
But after the fall, God completely changed his perspective.
“The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘Every time you look at Mount Hood, you can say, “Look what I accomplished,”’” Tatlock recalled. “The mountain stopped becoming my trophy. God became the testimony.”
‘The Spirit of God Is Moving’
Despite the fear and division many people feel today, Tatlock says he believes these may actually be some of the most spiritually significant days of this generation.
“Heavens are open,” he said. “The Spirit of God is moving.”
And for those overwhelmed by the storms of life, Tatlock pointed to the biblical story of Peter walking on water.
“It’s easy to focus more on the storm than the One who brings peace in the storm,” he said. “But even when Peter began to sink, Jesus was faithful to grab hold of him.”
Tatlock says that same promise remains true today.
“Christ in us is always greater than the chaos around us.”
I’m Crystal Thornton and this is God Stories — where every story points back to the One who changes everything.