Soma really began as a vision and dream back in 2003 while Dwayne & Julie lived in Abilene, Texas. They had both grown up in the Northwest, but while in seminary at ACU, they began to experience a growing trend among college students and young adults as the "next generation" simply felt like the church was absent of spiritual meaning. People were interested in Jesus, but didn't trust church.
In September of 2004, they moved to Salem, Oregon to be part of one of the first two Kairos church plants – Cascade Hills: A Church of Christ – in preparation for leading a church plant in coming years. In early 2007, they felt God calling them to lead a church plant that would reach an emerging generation of people who were actively seeking spiritual meaning in their lives. They began a process of clarifying that calling, and in December of 2007 Cascade Hills sent them and another couple to begin a new community of Christ-Followers in the Edgewater Community of West Salem. In cooperation with the Southwest Church of Christ, Soma began meeting and gathering as a launch team in early February of 2008.
Before October 2008, we began developing everything we need to in order to "officially" begin Soma's weekly worship gatherings and ministry systems. Simply put, our story is being written right now and we want to be intentional about growing Soma in a way that keeps us deeply connected to our mission…”being Jesus to an emerging generation.”