Mosaic Church
Everything we read about church mergers looked grim, but our experience has been incredible. As of now, both LHVE and the old Mosaic church both seem happier, healthier, and more equipped to do ministry than ever before. I’d like to quickly share a few ways that God blessed this merger:
Both churches were in the same relative place regarding theology. Regarding the gospel and other core beliefs, we were a perfect match. Regarding other secondary issues, both churches were in the same stages of studying and writing (which we are now doing together).
Both churches had the same vision for the city, just on a different scale. LHVE was a neighborhood church originally, but was becoming more and more geographically spread out. Mosaic provided us the prospect of naming what we were becoming - a church for the city of Memphis. Mosaic’s vision for Memphis as a whole was a great match.
Each staff needed a compliment, and was willing to sacrifice for it. There’s not room here to explain, but we now have a staff that is a combination of the two churches’ best qualities and gifts.
We immediately had a third group of people that were from neither church. From the very first Sunday we began to have visitors that nearly outnumbered either church and this was a great guard against any territorialism that may have occurred after the merger. This group was made up of some strong believers that went quickly in to service and leadership. The result was that we never felt the need to talk about what “LHVE” or the “old Mosaic” used to do.
We both had church partners that stuck with us and were rooting for us. Living Hope became a newfound friend to the leadership of Mosaic (old and new).
Lastly, I just want to say thank you to LH for continuing to pray for us. We still have our challenges and covet your prayers as we wrestle with race and ethnicity, begin writing out beliefs about gender and the role of women in the church, and grow (something new for all of us!).
- Justin Burkhead, Directional Pastor - Mosaic Church