Episode 7: Bigger than a Brand - Paper Mill Road Baptist Church & Sojourn Church
Welcome back to another insightful episode of The Last Service Podcast! Matt sits down with Pastor Ernie Wagoner from Sojourn Church in Marietta, GA. Pastor Ernie shares the story of planting Sojourn Church and is incredibly vulnerable about their early struggles. We learn the story of their unique merger with Paper Mill Road Baptist Church, a true merger of two congregations - one struggling to find their future, the other in need of a new home. Throughout the conversation, we hear the story that God wrote for these two churches, a story bigger than one pastor, bigger than one church, bigger than their brand, and bigger than our ideas of success.
3 Takeaways for Dying Churches:
Humility on the part of both congregations is crucial for making a merger work.
Balance leading the business aspects of merger with pastoral care.
Merging with an older church can help both congregations see the bigger picture of the eternal church. Don't write off the decades of successful ministry in the declining church and pretend they don't matter. Listen to their stories and honor them.
Resources:
Sojourn Church history - https://sojournonline.org/ourstory
Better Together: Making Church Mergers Work - https://www.amazon.com/Better-Together-Making-Church-Mergers/dp/1118131304
