Our Story

In the gospel of John, Jesus compares himself and his people to seeds that are planted in the ground. Like Christ, when we lay our lives down in service to others, new life grows. For us at Brilliance Labs, this isn’t just a nice saying— it’s what drives us in all that we do.

In early 2020, Central Bible Church and its people made the decision to close its doors after 90 years of serving the Portland area with strong teaching and a commitment to people from all corners of the world. 

A congregation that once filled a 1,200 seat auditorium had become a church of 100. The remaining members believed the best way to honor the church's legacy was to pass on the baton of leadership to the next generation. To keep with the long history of multi-ethnic and global ministry, the members had a vision for their church closure: planting their resources into new ground. 

They invested their resources into what is now Brilliance Labs, a non-profit that serves, supports, and empowers leaders so they can grow vibrant and flourishing communities in and around the city of Portland.