Our History
In the Spring of 1996, several families meeting together in the homes of David & Donna Brown and Randy & Karla Smith came together for the purpose of planting a church in the city of Troutdale. We started ministering to our kids with the Chapel Kids Club on Sunday evenings with an adult meeting parallel to the Kids Club activities. With those humble beginnings, The Chapel was conceived and was born in January of 1997.
For the first 6 years of the life of The Chapel, we were closely connected to our mother church, East Hill Church of Gresham Oregon taking on the role of an extension church. Through the first years, we partnered in many ministry adventures and began to grow both from those who chose to transfer from East Hill and others within our community. During our sixth year, we chartered as our own church and formed our own structure as a separate church. With the blessing of East Hill's Pastor Ted, the leadership of our denomination (The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel) and our faith in God, we have been developing, growing and loving others in our community.
Our Mission
As a faith family, we have come to the conclusion that at the very center of God’s heart is His desire to have a personal ongoing relationship with every one of us. God demonstrated this fact in sharing with us His love through Jesus Christ. In Jesus, God modeled a life of love and a servant’s heart concluding with the greatest act of love anyone could do for another. In response to this gift from God, we believe that the Chapel is called specifically to a mission…
Sharing Christ by Showing His love and Serving others
We know that there are many ways to accomplish this mission, however we also believe that the Chapel has been directed to a unique way — THE CHAPEL WAY — to accomplish this.
So to be true to our calling, we set apart our mission and the "Chapel Way" to be our compass as we walk out through life together.
Our mission is much more than words and phrases, but the very life of the Chapel. We will share and show His way to all generations by first training and equipping, all those in our family, from the youngest to the oldest so that all may experience God’s love.
Connecting - We are convinced that relationships are at the core of who God is. Following this example, we purpose to place relationships at the center of all we do.
Healing - We believe God provides health and healing for all aspects of our lives. As a result, we embrace Biblical principles and practices that will lead people to physical and spiritual health.
Authenticity - We recognize that we are all ongoing works of God’s grace. Therefore, we realize we are not perfect but in the restoration process.
Praying - We are confident that God’s highest priority is to be in continual communication with us. Therefore, we are passionate about making the power of prayer a reality in every aspect of our personal and public lives.
Equipping - We believe that a growing church is full of life and energy. We are committed to equipping each person to be all that God has for them by developing their God given gifts.
Leadership - We are convinced that the greatest leader of all is Jesus Christ. In light of this, we will endeavor to follow His example by training and developing leaders to guide with a servants love.
Worshiping - We believe we were created to worship God. In recognition of this, we choose a lifestyle of love and adoration toward Christ.
Accountability - We are convinced God desires for us to match our words and actions. Therefore, we submit ourselves to one another for the purpose of living a life of integrity.
Yielding - Together we realize that God's deepest desire is to bring everyone into a relationship with Him. With that in mind, we embrace God’s commission to share His truth as declared in the scriptures allowing the way for all to say yes to His love.
Our Affiliation
The Chapel is a church. The name "Foursquare" is unique when compared to those usually given to churches. That's because it was born out of an unusual move of God during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Those years were significant in human history because of revolutionary changes in the world. At the same time, they marked a spiritual revolution in the hearts of men and women. Great revivals 
shook the western world as the 1900's began. The full impact was felt when a number of Christians in different locations were "filled with the Spirit." The experience was similar to the event that took place in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost. It was the start of what we now call the "Pentecostal Movement."
By the 1920's, some felt that the pentecostals were extreme in their beliefs. A separation seemed to be taking place between the older denominations and the groups that were forming from revival meetings. It was into this strained setting that a woman evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, began preaching the "Foursquare Gospel." Her message and her manner seemed to appeal to many Christians who had questioned the experience of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Thousands from every denomination joined many more without church backgrounds to attend her meetings. Those whose lives were changed felt to be a part of the Foursquare family — the closeness was illustrated by the endearing name of "Sister" by which they referred to Aimee Semple McPherson.
But in truth, it was the message that drew people to Christ. The relationship that they found with each other made them a church that became known as "Foursquare." Today, the message and the impact it has on people's relationship keeps the Foursquare movement growing with thousands of churches in over 60 nations around the world.
Our Core Beliefts
Jesus Christ - The Only Hope of Mankind "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ... But now in Christ Jesus you who sometime where far off are made close by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:8,13; see also Romans 10:9)
Jesus Christ - The Soon-Coming King "Which also said, You men of Galilee, why are you standing gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11; see also 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)
Jesus Christ - The Baptizer with the Holy Spirit "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16; see also Luke 24:49)
Jesus Christ - The Healer "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should life unto righteouseness: by whose strips you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24; see also Isaiah 53:5)
people can come and find healing. If you are looking for a safe haven with a small-community feel, new to the church or looking for lasting friendships that will enable you to enjoy a happy, fulfilling life in Christ, the Chapel is the place for you.
