Catalyst is forming as a safe place to explore your faith questions as we pursue the next steps in our journey with God.  We know that all of us come from different backgrounds and faith traditions, and that we bring lots of different perspectives and life experiences.  That’s great, no two people are meant to have the same story.  We are looking to understand the way of Jesus clearly and seeking to figure out what it means to be a follower of Jesus today.

Whatever your thoughts are about church, whatever your beliefs about God, we want you to know you are welcome here.  We hope you enjoy yourself and find yourself excited about seeking God a little more than before you came.  Be open.  You may be surprised by how God desires to connect with you on a profound and personal level.

Lutheran Disability Ministries (LDM) is a ministry that works specifically with adults with developmental disabilities, their families, & their friends. Through the innovative programs offered by LDM, the Church is discovering ways to effectively minister with people who have developmental disabilities. We’re always looking for more people who want to get involved with what God is doing through Catalyst; if you would like some more information on how to get involved with LDM, contact Dan on our staff teamby email.

We like to keep things simple and relaxed at Catalyst.  Here are 4 things you’re guaranteed to find.

1. People dressed comfortably for church.  We let you define what comfortably means.
2. Safe and fun Catalyst Kidz venues for children anywhere from infant to 4^th grade, staffed by volunteers who are passionate about kids and have been trained background-checked.
3. Teaching and music that’s relevant to your life.  We don’t waste God’s time or yours.  Our music may be a little louder than you’re used to for church, and you’ll probably hear at least one song you heard on the radio this week.
4. Plenty of great coffee and a team that’s happy to serve however we can.

Each worship experience is a sixty minute event designed to help you grow in your relationship with Christ, or maybe even begin a relationship with Him for the first time.  We believe that there is always something God wants to communicate to us through the teaching of His word.  Our worship experiences are designed for adults and students who are 5th grade and up.  We welcome your younger children to be part of our gathering in the auditorium, but we believe they will be more engaged by our high energy experiences in Catalyst Kidz.

In our Catalyst Kidz environments, your kids will learn the same Biblical truths that you’ll be hearing about in the main auditorium, in an age appropriate setting and teaching style. For more information on these environments click here, or you can always find a link at the top of the page under “Catalyst Kidz”.

We know that checking out a new church can be a little nerve-wracking, that’s why whenever you come to Catalyst you’ll find people ready to serve you in anyway we can.  Our volunteers and staff are here to help you feel welcomed, comfortable, and challenged.

All interesting and valid questions.

The easy answer would be to say “It’s hard to explain so come check us out.”  That’s not really a fair answer though.  Our theology is built around a belief that God revealed Himself through Jesus, made a way for our personal salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection, and wants us to follow Jesus in every facet of our lives empowered by the Spirit, God’s voice and presence which is active in the lives of every follower of Jesus.

Now, what does that look and sound like?  What’s our method?

There are 6 main values that shape what it means to be part of Catalyst.

We value formation.  We believe that God wants us to know Him in clear and tangible ways.  God sent Jesus, and then gave the Holy Spirit, so that humanity can understand the desires of God and be in relationship with Him.

We value transformation.  We believe that knowledge about and connection with God should lead to a life that is changed from our broken nature.  The life of a follower of Jesus (family, work, leisure, etc.) should increasingly look different than the life we lived before following Jesus.

We value life together.  We believe that life was meant to be lived best in close relationship with others.  Not everyone.  But a small group of “someones” who know us at the deepest levels and push us to be more like Jesus.  Catalyst Life Together Groups are the heart of Catalyst Church, and we encourage everyone who calls Catalyst their church to be part of one regularly.

We value generosity.  We believe that while generous is not the only word that describes God’s love for us, we certainly acknowledge humanity’s undeserved grace that God gave freely of Himself.  We want to be channels of generosity in every way, a church that gives away resources, service, and shares our talents and dollars with those in need  just because it’s what Jesus would do.

We value relevance.  God is not an ancient arcane idea.  God is active in the world today.  God’s self-revelation to the world, the Bible, speaks just as clearly into 21st century life as to 1st century life.  We believe that we should use whatever methods necessary to clearly layout the unchanging message of God toward humanity.  Our worship experiences utilize modern worship music (with volume a little louder than you might be used to in church) video that frames questions that our culture is asking about God, the Bible and how to live.  Our teaching will always be Bible based and will relate to 21^st century life in our community. We believe in  teaching that’s theologically sound and applicable to your life today. Our hope is that you’ll walk away feeling refreshed, encouraged and challenged.

We value reproduction.  We’re instructed by Jesus to make more and better disciples.  We’re committed to not just make “insiders” happy.  Rather, we’re committed to do making our highest priority helping people who are still seeking to connect with God personally.  And we’re committed to helping partner with new churches in fulfilling this focus.  Our desire is to always be focused on growth.  Healthy organisms grow and multiply.  Should be healthy organisms that grow and multiply as well.  So we’ll seek to grow and also commit resources toward multiplication.

Lots of info here that may have left you with more questions than answers.  Our Explore Catalyst gatherings might be a great place to go deeper with the conversation and get your questions answered.  Explore gatherings are typically held the first Sunday of each month following weekend worship services, and periodically on Sunday evenings at Pastor Chris and Carlotta Denney’s home.  To sign up for an Explore event, contact Catalyst’s office staff or indicate on a Connection Card during a weekend service.

We’re taking this time to refocus on the work that Christ will do in us if we would submit to his Lordship over our lives. Over the next couple weeks, we’re going to experience God move in great ways in our own lives through practicing spiritual disciplines and connecting with Him in ways like never before. It’s bound to be a great time of growth in your walk with Christ, or a great time to start your walk with Christ. Either way, you won’t regret digging a little deeper and connecting with God in new and exciting ways.

Recent Teachings
Week 1: Less Is More
Download audio file (Focus40_Wk1_Less-is-more.mp3)

Connect with us on Sunday at 9:30 in the morning at Maple Ridge Elementary to see what can happen.

*Miss a Sunday? No worries. Catch up or just listen to a message again on our Teachings page.*

If you would like to download any of our messages, you can find us on the iTunes store by searching for Catalyst Pendleton.

We have  groups currently located in Pendleton, Ingalls, and in Summerlake Subdivision near I-69 Exit 14.  If you’re looking to connect with a group, check out our group list to see what may fit you.

For more more information on LTGs please email ltg@iamcatalyst.org.

These three environments are high energy & will engage your children with the reality that we are part of God’s ongoing work in the world. We’ll look at what the Bible has to say to each of us, & there will be hands on activities that all kids will enjoy.

We also love music at Catalyst, & your kids will sing lots of the same songs that we sing in the main auditorium. In other words, your kids will be learning & singing the many of the same great songs you’ll hear too.

We also believe that safety for our children, & yours, is of the utmost importance. That is why all of the volunteers in all of our kids’ environments are trained & background-checked. We commit to providing a safe place where you & your kids can experience God in new ways.

So we’ve made it pretty simple for you. We’ve got the “Joy Box” in the auditorium on Sundays and the online “Joy Box” here. If you’ve stopped by to give, just click here and follow the instructions, it’s that easy.

Thanks for your generosity.

giving update