Investor Report

June 2024

A message from Justin Elam, Director of ICN

96 Irresistible Church Network

27 ICN Australasia

36 Further Faster Network

42 Iglesias Irresistibles

4 South Africa

1 France

1 Haiti

Partner Churches

Network Reach

690 Non-Partner App Subscribers

1.61k YouTube Subscribers

30 Days Videos Watched

1.7k Visits to everycommunity.church

New Advisory Board

We are excited to announce the establishment of a new advisory board designed to enhance our support for everyone in our network and impact the broader church community. Comprised of leaders well-known to many of you, the board began its work earlier this year and recently convened for an extended time at the DRIVE conference. Their insights and direction will be crucial as we continue to grow and serve our communities. Below is more information about those who have joined the board.

Heather Carl

Of the seventeen years Heather has been at Believers Church in Suffolk, Virginia, the last five have been spent as Executive Director. Heather and her husband, Nate, soak up God’s grace in their marriage and love finding new restaurants and hiking trails, spending time on the water, and hanging out with their adult kids.
Vernon Gordon

As the founder and Lead Pastor of The Life Church in Richmond and Alexandria, Virginia, Vernon’s life purpose is to be a “communicator of hope.” He is married to his high school sweetheart, Ashley, and they have two children, Madison and Jackson.
Chris High

Chris is the founder and Lead Pastor of Hoboken Grace, located in Hoboken, New Jersey. Chris, his wife, Ana, and their three boys live in Hoboken, where they enjoy the beauty and energy of urban life.
Matt Johnson

Matt is the founder and Lead Pastor of Journey Church in Murray, Kentucky. After being intentionally portable for 16 years, Journey opened its first non-portable facility, The FOR Center. Matt, his wife, Jen, and their two children, Ellie and James, enjoy time at the lake, exploring national parks, and conquering Disney World.
Jeff Jones

Jeff is the Senior Pastor of Chase Oaks Church in Dallas, Texas. Serving there for over 20 years, he loves making it easy for anyone to experience the profound love of Jesus and developing new ministry leaders. He and his wife, Christy, have two adult sons, Collin and Caleb.
Paul Smith

Paul has served as the Senior Pastor for Rivertown Community Church for more than 29 years. He and his wife Melody, the love of his life and his greatest ally, are enjoying being empty nesters and spending time with their kids and grandkids.
John Wagler

John and his wife, Lacy, co-lead Hill City Church in Richmond, Virginia. They are blessed with three children who all have the same birthday! John is an avid Red Sox, Celtics, and Bears fan, and he loves watching people take steps in their faith and make a difference in the community around them.
Tanya Whitaker

As the Executive Pastor of Ministries and member of the Management Team at River Pointe Church in Richmond, Texas, Tanya oversees pastors and directors in a number of the multi-site ministry areas. Tanya and her husband, Kent, also speak nationally on the subject of forgiveness.
Jenn Williams

As the Lead Pastor of Ashley Ridge Church in Summerville, South Carolina, Jenn shares her passion for helping the church live fully into its call as followers of Jesus and lovers of people. Jenn and her husband, Clark, have two boys that keep them very busy.

International Partner Church Beta Launch: Supporting Global Church Growth

Elkhorn, NE

Perth, Australia

In July of 2023, we were contacted by Julian Krevere of ICN about the idea of being a part of the International Partner Church beta to support the growth of irresistible churches in every community of the world. As a church, we have always wanted to support church planting because we believe that starting new churches in new communities is how new people are reached. So, when the opportunity to encourage, support, and coach a church planter on the other side of the world came up, we jumped at it.

In September, we were paired with Mark Joy, who pastors The Grove Church in Perth, Australia. We started meeting monthly via Zoom in October. We’ve focused our time on helping Mark take steps to be effective in reaching the unchurched. We have coached Mark on goal setting, vision, setting up great volunteer teams and small groups, and more.

In April 2024, the week before the ICN DRIVE Conference, we were able to bring Mark all the way from Australia to Elkhorn. Mark experienced environments like our Sunday morning gatherings, children's environments, Team Link, Double Dog Dare-a-Thon, small groups, and even a nonprofit partner banquet. He got to see behind the scenes and learn how and why we do what we do. After visiting us in Elkhorn, Mark went to Atlanta for the Orange Conference and ICN DRIVE.

When Mark was in Elkhorn, people kept asking him what he wanted to gain from his visit. He mentioned coaching and strategic input, but what he wanted most was to be relationally connected to others who are creating churches that unchurched people love to be part of. Mark shared, “Having a church like Relevant work alongside us has not only made us more effective as a church but has helped us feel part of something much bigger.” The importance of this connection can't be overstated. It is so encouraging to know others who are doing what we’re doing and to have someone to reach out to! Plus, it was such an encouragement to our church family to be part of what Mark is doing on the other side of the world.

By participating in the International Partner Church Beta, we have been able to invest in, encourage, and support a church planter that is reaching people we can’t reach. We believe our investment is helping Mark and The Grove Church. And partnering with Mark has also helped us takes steps toward our vision of multiplying churches. We are so grateful to be a part of the International Partner Church Beta.

Nick Petrick
Relevant Community Church
Elkhorn, Nebraska

1,421 ICN DRIVE Attendance

1,272 DRIVE Attendance

2024 DRIVE Conference: A Life-Changing Experience for Our Church Team

Wow, what an incredible experience we had at the 2024 DRIVE Conference! Our church recently became partners with the Irresistible Church Network, and our team of 12 attended the conference for the first time this year. Being isolated in a ski town in the mountains of Colorado obviously has its perks :), but we can also feel disconnected from other churches and leaders who are working hard to make Jesus famous. Our team immediately felt welcomed at the conference, and we recognized that this was an incredible opportunity to connect with other experts in their fields. We all dove in, had dozens and dozens of extremely helpful conversations, and milked everything we could from each and every breakout session. Hearing strategies on everything from kids’ environments, social media, and cultivating generosity to HR discussions and best practices, our eyes were opened, our vision was expanded, and our toolboxes were filled with an abundance of resources and life-giving ideas.

We feel honored to be a part of this group of people and churches. And we are grateful to have connections with new friends with whom we can share our ministry challenges. More than anything, we are deeply inspired to be a part of Andy Stanley’s vision and leadership in helping people in our churches and communities understand who Jesus truly was and why God sent him to our world. There are decades of ministry experience among our team, but we have never felt more invigorated to be a part of the church of Jesus and his purposes for his followers. Having so much clarity and focus on the NEW that Jesus brought the world, and having the language to communicate the OLD that Jesus fulfilled, is sincerely priceless. Not to be overdramatic, but it is such a privilege to be a part of this movement at this moment in history. Thank you, Andy, North Point, and ICN!

Julie Lewis
Steamboat Christian Center
Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Thank you to all who attended DRIVE and to those who invested in its success.

This year's ICN DRIVE was our largest by far, but attendance was only one measure of its success. Many of our churches brought nearly their entire staff and key volunteers. In addition, nearly 80% of our breakouts this year were presented by partners. In fact, one of our partners, Jamie Corcoran from Lighthouse Church in Dublin, Ireland, led a main session. We also had our largest in-person gathering of call groups ever. The energy was palpable, and an abundance of connections were made.

We are thrilled to share that 14 churches, having already been vetted as great additions to the network, were present with us and exploring partnership at ICN DRIVE. Several of these churches are now looking to join and are poised to become integral members of the network.

The success of DRIVE is a direct reflection of your generous investments in the network. DRIVE like this doesn’t happen overnight. This success is driven by the daily impact of the connection, support, innovation, and growth of this network. Your unwavering support has allowed us to foster an inspiring and connected community of churches worldwide. We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission and your commitment to making this journey possible.

Thank you for being an integral part of our success.

Highlights from Our Recent International Conferences

Brazil DRIVE Conference by RED Church

The Brazil DRIVE Conference, hosted by our dynamic partner, Igreja RED, was a transformative event. Under the leadership of Pastor Tiago Mattes, RED Church has grown remarkably from 300 attendees in 2015 to a weekly average of 4,000, despite operating without a permanent facility. This year’s conference saw 500 church leaders from 100 churches across Brazil come together in a space that was filled to capacity.

With inspiring main sessions led by Tiago Mattes and Roberto Bautista (VidaIn in Mexico), the conference was a catalytic event. This momentum is set to significantly impact the local church landscape in Brazil, fostering a new wave of churches that embody the purpose and personality of Jesus. Similar to what the first DRIVE Conferences provided for the local church in North America, they are helping lead the way for creating churches that reflect the purpose and personality of Jesus in every community in Brazil!

Further Faster Conference in the UK and Ireland

The Further Faster Conference in the UK also exceeded expectations, drawing over 400 church leaders (so many that we had to adjust for safety regulations). The conference began with a day open to all churches in the UK, followed by a day dedicated to partners. The same format was replicated in Ireland to ensure leaders across both nations are equipped and inspired. Andy and Sandra Stanley, along with 60 leaders, most of whom are not currently affiliated with our network, joined us on the third day of the conference in Dublin, Ireland.

These conferences underscore our commitment to creating irresistible churches in every community. They are not just events but pivotal moments of transformation that cast a vision for a future where churches thrive, and leaders are empowered to bring about meaningful change. Just as a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore, these conferences illuminate the path for churches to navigate their communities with purpose and hope, shining the light of Christ in every corner.