A Message from Our Senior Pastors

We want to share an important update with you as a member of Vineyard Columbus.

Over the past year, we’ve seen God at work in powerful ways—through the launch of our New Albany campus, through people coming to faith in Jesus, through the ongoing impact of our mission, mercy, and justice ministries... and through so much more. We’re filled with gratitude for how the Lord continues to move in and through our church. We are also grateful for your continuing generosity and partnership in the mission of Vineyard Columbus.

At the same time, it has become clear that some important changes are needed to help us live within the limits of God's provision. To ensure we can sustain our mission, invest in the next generation, and remain faithful stewards of our resources, we are making some necessary but difficult structural and staffing adjustments.

We would appreciate it if you would take about six minutes to watch this message.

Friends, we take our responsibility as leaders and pastors seriously. Pastoral leadership is both a gift and a sacred trust, and Scripture reminds us that those who shepherd God’s people must do so as ones who will give an account.

We are committed to the leadership values we often discuss with our staff: integrity, humility, accountability, professionalism, and being above reproach. In a moment like this, where staff members are going to experience difficult impacts, those values remain our reference points.

We are walking transparently with our Leadership Team and Church Council. In addition to reducing our own salaries, we are doing all we can to honor, support, and resource impacted staff, and communicating with our church members as clearly as possible—with faith, hope, and love.

We want to say clearly to each of you what we’ve already shared with our staff. As senior pastors, we hold the ultimate responsibility for impacts to our staff and church, and we are truly sorry that we were not able to prevent this moment of staffing reduction. At the same time, we know that good stewardship means that we must live within our actual means.

As you heard in the video (if you haven't watched it yet, please do!), we’re grateful that ministry will continue to move forward, that campuses will be well equipped for discipleship and mission, and that we’ll be operating out of a sustainable and healthy model.

If a ministry area is affected by these changes, a ministry leader will be reaching out to connect with volunteers and leaders to hear about the changes to the ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your Campus Pastor or reply here.  

Finally, we will be offering impacted individuals supportive resources including vocational coaching from a licensed career coach. If you have expertise in related fields and would like to volunteer by being available for impacted staff over the summer, are an employer looking for great employees, or have other capacities to serve and support--please reach out to mailin.young@vineyardcolumbus.org.

The Apostle Peter reminds us to cast all our anxiety on the Lord, for He is most careful with us. Please join us in praying in this moment that our church—and especially our staff—would experience the care of Christ.  

Now, may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.

God keep, Eric and Julia

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