Jonathan Herron

6 STEPS TO A WINNING RELAUNCH

If we want our churches to grow and to reach more people for Christ, we have to learn to speak the same language.

Ask your team: Why does your church exist?

Everyone has a vision for your church, but you need to know why.

Vision & Values are required for your church to grow.

A program won't grow your church, but a process will.

1. Engagement
   
   People are interested in spiritual things, but too often the church is answering questions that no one is asking.
   
   Discover what keeps your neighbors up at night (HINT: usually it’s something involving finances or relationships). Use their felt need to take them to their greatest need!
   
   In engagement comes explanation (see Nehemiah 8:1–10).
   
   Make it clear and give the meaning to the people.
   
   

2. Excellence

   
   It's not about achieving perfection, it's about giving the best effort with what you have. Jesus has never given us anything but His absolute best!
   
   Excellence doesn't always mean spending more money, but it does mean expending greater effort.
   
   

3. Excitement
   
   Listen, you need to become your church’s BIGGEST CHEERLEADER for EVERY Sunday!
   
   The devil is excited if you’re not excited about this coming Sunday!!
   
   

4. Patience
   
   What a lot of churches call discipleship is nothing more than a form of control and manipulation. We cannot ‘microwave’ leaders!
   
   Thank about it: What would happen if the church responded to spiritual babies the way we respond to our children?

   
   We have to be patient with people.
   
   Discipleship is not a program, it's a process.
   
   

5. Kindness
   
   What if the church was known because it was nice to people?
   
   Jesus was kind! People will come to Christ if we preach the biblical version instead of the denominational version of Jesus.
   
   

6. Remembrance
   
   Don't ever forget what he's saved you from (2 Corinthians 1:26–31).

 

Have You Considered a Church Merger?

We Are Better Together

Church mergers have become one of the most effective strategies for struggling churches to thrive again, for growing churches to amplify their reach, and for church facilities to be better utilized to advance the Gospel in a region.

What is a Church Merger?

When two or more churches become one through the combining, integrating, and unifying of people, structures, systems, and resources in order to better reach their community with the message of Jesus.

Three Types of Church Mergers

1. Rebirth
   Typically when a struggling church gets a second life by being restarted under a stronger, vibrant, usually larger church.
   
   
2. Adoption
   This occurs when a stable or stuck church is integrated under the leadership of a stronger, vibrant, usually larger church.
   
   
3. Marriage
   Typically when two growing churches realign with each other under a unified vision and new leadership configuration.

Questions to Consider

1. Could we accomplish more together than we could separately?  Would we find more ministry synergy, created by the two churches joining with common vision and purpose?
   
   2. Would my congregation benefit from this merger?  Would my individual congregation be better, healthier or stronger by joining with this church?
   
   3. Would our community be better served by us working together?  By joining forces, can we make a bigger impact in our surrounding community?
   
   4. Could the Kingdom of God be further extended by us joining together? Would uniting help us make more and better disciples of Jesus?

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?  Let Us Know!

5 Bad Reasons to Leave a Church

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the Comments below!

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5 BAD REASONS TO LEAVE A CHURCH

CRAZIEST + MOST CHAOTIC LIVE BIBLE STUDY EVER

While doing this morning’s Digital Daily Bible Study:

- My children let the Guinea Pigs loose

- Weiner Dog vs Piggie

- 3-yr-old demands I get him dressed live on camera...

- plus the hip-hop stylings of Levi and Alysia at the very end! 😂

#ThisIsRealLife

#ThereWasAnAttemptToTeachTheBible

A Father's Day Prayer

“Righteousness guards the man of integrity.” (Proverbs 13:6, NIV)

“Righteousness is like a shield of protection, guarding those who keep their integrity.” (Proverbs 13:6, TPT)

My greatest prayer for my children — beyond them discovering a saving knowledge and true faith in Jesus Christ — is that they would grow to become men and women brimming with honor and integrity.

The pathway to integrity begins at home and extends through the local church. This past year, the Lord has graciously allowed Amber Herron and I opportunities to suffer well in front of our children and model taking the high road (1 Peter 1:2).

What can feel like an extended season of burdens and curses to Amber and I is in reality a God-ordained blessing for the sanctification of our children, primarily our older three.

Jesus taught us to bless those who curse you and love your enemies.

Not *like* your enemies; *love* your enemies.

While turning the other cheek doesn’t feel good in my flesh, it honors God and inspires people to be walking in the Spirit.

That’s my heart for my children this Father’s Day: that God’s grace would continue to be poured out upon Team Herron, enabling us to continue taking the harder and nobler path of integrity and honor.

Jesus never fought back. Christ didn’t curse those who hurt Him or withdraw from those who misunderstood Him; Jesus literally *prayed for* His accusers.

Integrity teaches us that your greatest display of strength is in holding your tongue and not fighting back.

By God’s enduring grace, I pray I can be that kind of man for my family.

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BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SUCK AT SOMETHING NEW

‘Wisdom comes to the heart that is hungry for God.’ (A.W. Tozer)

Whenever I feel discouraged and want to quit something, I remember the words of my then 3-year-old after she puked carrots all over the living room floor: “I’m gonna need more carrots.”

‘As a leader, you will have to make decisions that those whom you lead and even spectators won’t understand for years.’ (Dr. Eric Mason)

Leaders are targets for the Enemy. If you’re leading out front, then of course you’re going to be on the receiving end of fiery darts. Expect it.

Misunderstandings and miscommunications will happen.

You cannot control other people’s perceptions. You can only control your own actions and reactions.

Be careful with what you hear about someone. You might be hearing it from the problem.

As soon as we step into condemnation instead of conversation, we can no longer see that person clearly.

 

/ / /

 

‘A perverse man sows strife and a whisperer separates the best of friends.’ (Proverbs 16:28)

People don’t own you when they hurt you. They own you when your entire life is defined by that hurt.

If you’ve been burned, heal. If someone has an issue with you and they’re telling everyone except you, they don’t have a real issue with you. They just enjoy the attention they get from talking about you.

 

/ / /

 

‘Love God and He will enable you to love others even when they disappoint you.’ (Francine Rivers)

The only way to handle ‘prodigals’ is to let them go, give them to God, and pray for their return with tears. And when you see them on the horizon with their head hung low, wrap your arms around them and welcome them home.

We are all rough drafts of the person we are becoming.

Don’t be afraid to start over. It’s a chance to build something better this time!

Sure, the winds feel strong and your team is small. Stand firm. If you set your anchor, you won’t drift.

WE SAW PEOPLE LEAVE OUR CHURCH

 

"This past year affected our church in a really significant way.

We saw people leave because they were frustrated that we weren’t meeting soon enough.

We saw people leave because they thought we were trying to meet again too soon.

We saw people leave as we taught the Bible in a way that didn’t align exactly with their political party of choice.

We saw people leave because they thought we didn’t take a strong enough stance on social issues.

We saw people leave because they thought we took too strong of a stance on social issues.

We saw people leave because they thought that the Enneagram was satanic.

We saw people leave because they thought we weren’t doing enough.

We saw people leave because they were relocating for a new job, they wanted to move to a more affordable area, or they were moving to be closer to family and countless other reasons.

But the bottom line is this: We saw a lot of people leave."

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This video was heartbreaking when Amber and I came across it last week.

We could relate.

We've experienced all these things + more in the past 12 months too.

This pandemic took a tremendous toll on our family and ministry.

Nearly every day I felt like a pinata full of bees.

But you know what?

I've discovered there is something beautiful that emerges in the pain.

We can choose to run to the church instead of away from the church.

We are all rough drafts of the person we are becoming.

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If you found yourself in a place far from your church home, may I gently encourage you to go back to your church home and try again?

Perhaps confession and forgiveness is your next step.

Be the bigger person. Apologize. Reach out.

See what God can do through you.

If you found yourself nodding throughout the video as a fellow church leader, may I encourage you?

Don't give up.

Not now.

You have too much potential and too many lives to change.

Every loss is a lesson.

Get better and get moving.

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Don't Give Up!

In Christ, your best days are NOT behind you.

There is another chapter God wants to write through you.

In Christ, the BEST is YET to come!