Merge exists to gather the CHURCH together and build the relationships to best serve and build the Kingdom. Join us for these events.
Events
held at 722 N Westwood on the second floor of Laurie's Place
Hope and a Future lunch discussion is from the Church Ambassador Network, a ministry of CCVs, to highlight the key findings in the Hope and Future (https://hope.ccv.org/hope/) report on marriage and family formation in Ohio and discuss the local church and state solutions currently being pursued to transform Ohio from #29 into one the top states in the nation according to the Family Structure Index (https://hope.ccv.org/family-structure-index/).
To accomplish this level of transformation, the Church Ambassador Network ministry will introduce an initiative that they have launched in partnership with Communio to grow and strengthen marriage and families through “Full-Circle Relationship Ministries” in local churches and reaching evangelistically into the communities they serve.
FIVE ROUNDTABLE OPTIONS TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS BELOW:
Building a deeper bench
Healthy churches don’t just grow attendance—they grow leaders. This session explores how to intentionally raise up leaders who are ready to lead with maturity, humility, and conviction. We’ll discuss creating pathways for development, empowering people before they feel “ready,” and embracing the reality that some leaders we invest in may eventually be sent out to lead elsewhere. How do we build a bench that strengthens the Kingdom, not just our own organization?
effectively, navigate conflict, and exercise patient leadership without becoming passive or combative. How do leaders remain faithful, resilient, and visionary while working within challenging board dynamics?
Evangelism & outward-facing churches
What does it look like to be the Church beyond the four walls? This conversation centers on moving from a posture of preservation to one of mission—prioritizing discipleship over decision-driven conversion models. We’ll wrestle with how to form people who live sent lives, cultivate outward-looking communities, and measure success by transformation rather than retention. How do we make disciples, not just converts?
Trevor Carr bio
Fundraising & Stewardship
Stewardship is ultimately about trust, vision, and faithfulness. This session addresses how churches can cultivate a culture of generosity without manipulation or pressure. We’ll explore healthy approaches to fundraising, teaching biblical stewardship, and aligning finances with mission—so resources serve the vision God has given rather than driving it.
Ashley Shaffer bio
Leading within board-run models
Many churches operate within board-run governance structures—and not always with unity or clarity. This session focuses on the realities of building healthy boards and leading faithfully even when there is resistance or misalignment with leadership vision. We’ll explore how to cultivate trust, communicate vision effectively, navigate conflict, and exercise patient leadership without becoming passive or combative. How do leaders remain faithful, resilient, and visionary while working within challenging board dynamics?
divide it.
Jonathan Davis and Savannah Marten bio
partnering with para-church organizations
No church is called to do everything. This session focuses on identifying your church’s unique passions and calling, then partnering wisely with para-church ministries that share the same heart. We’ll talk about collaboration over competition, celebrating the broader work of the Kingdom, and building relationships that multiply impact rather than divide it.
