Have you ever taken a leap of faith? It never seems to get easier, does it? It actually seems to get harder as the risks grow larger and the leaps cover greater distances.

Like when leaping from good ole Wisconsin to the enchanted land of Oregon.

In 2022, around Thanksgiving, I sent a random, cold-call email to Sean Thome, the Executive Director of Expand Network.

Kristy and I couldn’t have conceived of where that email would lead. But our hearts were overflowing with passion for Jesus and compassion for those who don’t know how much God loves them.

God is so good. He knows what we need more than we do. Our Father wants better for us than we want for ourselves. He even goes to greater distances for our good than we’re willing to go for ourselves.

Jesus said He came so we could have abundant life. His gifts defy quantifying. But we can still identify them.

One gift in our lives has been the Expand Network.

Don’t Travel Alone

It doesn’t take a social scientist to figure out that denominationalism is declining. But they have anyway.

It’s easy to understand why denominations are hemorrhaging.

Still, God created us for community. You can’t fully experience God’s heart apart from community. The principle holds true for people and churches.

If you’re considering a new church network or a network to plant a new church with – I highly commend Expand Network to you.

A Matching Gift is on the Table

Expand Network is the family of churches Restoration Church Portland is running with. Currently, a generous donor has offered to match any gift given to Expand, up to $20,000!

So I thought it would be good to let you know 20,000 reasons we’re grateful to be a part of the Expand family.

But I only made it to 25. Which seemed fitting given the year.

For real, though. Expand is awesome. It’s an honor to share a few of the many things we love about our church network.

25 Ways Expand Network Shows the Love of God

How do we love Expand? Let me count the ways…up to 25.

1. Prioritizing Relationship Over Productivity

In 2023, Sean Thome flew out of Portland to get some Wisconsin cheese curds. And to get to know us, I suppose. We weren’t even working in any kind of formal ministry.

I was trying to patch together a career in content writing, and Kristy was knocking it out of the park as an interior designer.

We had no contract with Expand. No informal agreements. But Sean, on behalf of Expand, wanted to get to know us. In our home. With our kids. For the sake of relationship.

We love that Expand’s culture prioritizes relationships over achievement. This is how Jesus treats us. The Father relates to us as sons and daughters, not laborers or servants.

2. Patiently Waiting for People to Hear from the Holy Spirit

As far as I’m aware, God tells His people to “hurry” only twice in the Bible. Before Sodom and Gomorrah get buried, and on the eve of the Exodus.

God’s not in a hurry. He’s got everything under control. Even when, especially when, we may feel anxious.

The leaders and key members of Expand have shown remarkable patience with us as we have waited on the Lord.

This hasn’t been a concession either. Patiently waiting on God’s perfect timing, kind provision, and wise leadership, is in Expand’s DNA.

3. Pursuing a Long-Term Perspective on the Health of the Church

Trying to make a big splash can be tempting. The dopamine rush of pulling off successful events, gaining a social media following, generating a buzz can be intoxicating, if not addicting.

Did you know that social scientists have found that achievement can be addictive?

Expand hasn’t once asked us to “launch” Restoration Church. Why? They are allocating their limited resources to the long-term health and sustainability of the church.

And our hearts.

Of course, a large launch service or impressive social media stats aren’t inherently bad. It’s just that the good Lord has only entrusted each of us with so many “talents.”

Expand commits those talents to the benefit of the long-haul. Jesus warned that some plants can shoot up quickly and look impressive. But because they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long.

We are so grateful to be a part of a network that is partnering with the Holy Spirit’s deep work in the world.

4. Desiring the Health of Leaders

Has your boss ever held you accountable to take time off? Expand is doing this for us! They aren’t squeezing as much out of us as they can.

They want Kristy and me—and our kids—to be healthy.

When we’ve hit some potholes we didn’t see coming, they encouraged us to get counseling. And not just that, they sacrificially committed financial resources to help us get the help we needed.

God’s heart consistently communicates that His priority for us is holistic flourishing. We are being transformed from one degree of glory to the next, conformed to the image of Christ, purified so that we can be presented as the blameless bride of Jesus.

Praise God that His ambition for health and wholeness is active in Expand Network.

5. Taking on a Servant’s Posture

How do you feel about networking? Even the word feels kind of yucky, doesn’t it? At least, that’s what it evokes for me.

Expand takes a different approach. I have watched the leaders and churches of this network give to so many without an agenda.

God has shown how much better it is to give than to receive. Jesus demonstrated that the greatest among us serve.

God, as a Triune Being, is eternally and inherently others-focused. We feel this heart in Expand.

6. Embracing Flexibility for the Flourishing of Many

Have you noticed that Jesus rarely performs the same miracle in the same way? Sometimes He heals crowds, and sometimes He bypasses the crowd to heal just one person.

He tells some people to keep their healing a secret, but he instructs others to share the news of God's work.

It’s almost like Jesus loves surprising us with new ways of being good to us.

That’s why we love Expand’s flexibility. They embrace and empower all kinds of models of churches and ministries in various contexts.

House churches, bi-vocational pastors, co-pastors, traditional churches, old, new, and more.

It’s awesome!

We absolutely love being able to invite people to go to OTHER churches when we believe it would be a better fit.

7. Holding Prayer as a Priority

In the summer of 2023, we attended the annual all-network gathering for Expand. It surprised and encouraged me in the best ways.

We spent the bulk of our time praying.

We worshipped and prayed and then prayed and worshipped. We embraced stillness, listening to God and praying for each other.

Jesus said that the Father’s House should be a house of prayer. It is so refreshing when we love and trust Him enough to enjoy that gift!

8. Releasing a Playful Atmosphere

Shouts of joy resound from the camp of the righteous. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

While joy is more than happiness, it’s not less.

Above, I communicated that we spent the bulk of our time at that conference in prayer. The rest of the time we spent playing!

Through some generous connections, Expand provided us the space to enjoy unhurried time at an amazing, playful venue.

Turns out that when you live like Jesus is on the Throne and that He is the One building the church and rescuing the world—you can take a minute to play. You can take the risk of enjoying the people that He created in His image to enjoy.

9. Generously Sharing Resources

We moved to Portland, not knowing anyone. The leaders of Expand generously opened their personal networks to us. They took the risk of commending us to people they had spent decades building trust with.

Not only that, some have even helped us raise financial support. The Bridge Church NW provided part-time employment through a church-planting fellowship to help us get our feet under us.

Further, one church even sent people from their established church to join our church plant!

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Everything we have comes from Him. And goes back to Him. Generosity produces joy, freedom, and hope.

10. Humbly Walking on the Paths Jesus is Leading

God is a good Father. He LOVES giving good gifts. Sometimes I wonder how badly we break His heart when we try to earn what He’s trying to give us freely.

Expand Network isn’t trying to be something they're not. They aren’t pretentiously prancing around to promote themselves.

Understanding themselves and their calling, they are enjoying their journey, following Jesus fully.

Sometimes, networks or denominations can feel pressure to be the end-all, be-all. There’s a reason that denominations run most seminaries.

When you’re confident in who God has created you to be, even as a network, you don’t need to try to be something you’re not or more than you are.

And this allows a culture of hearing from and following the Holy Spirit to flourish.

11. Courageously Trusting God

It’s easy for people to get turned. To wander. Sometimes people even just outright blow the whole thing up.

If Satan can’t sabotage you, he’ll try to seduce you.

We have watched the leadership of Expand, multiple times, walk away from situations where they were offered….a lot, but were asked to compromise core convictions.

They didn’t budge. And have been fully supportive when we’ve needed to do the same.

Who cares if you gain the entire world yet forfeit your soul? Someone else can have the world. Just give us Jesus.

12. Supporting the People the Holy Spirit has Set Apart to Lead

Before we began the work of planting Restoration Church, we first needed to discern what God was calling us to.

We were totally open to whatever God had for us.

Expand sent us to a church-planting assessment and even provided three assessors to help us in that process.

When it was clear God was inviting us to plant a new church in Portland, Expand provided us with a church-planting coach, a fundraising coach, and a church-planting bootcamp.

They crafted a plan that allowed us time to listen to God and discern what Jesus was doing and how He wanted us to partner with the church He was planting.

We devoted over a year to that process. It felt excruciatingly slow! And still can. But we don’t want to get ahead of where Jesus is. Expand has encouraged and empowered us to walk at Jesus’ pace and not our compulsions.

13. Surrendering Hopes and Ambitions to God’s Kind, Wise Leadership

Everyone has hopes, dreams, and desires. They should. It’s part of being made in God’s image. The challenge is placing those hopes in God’s hands and trusting that He knows what’s best. And when. And where.

Often, leaders are sent to a church-planting assessment as a final step to confirm God’s calling on their lives. Expand sent us, though, as part of a discernment process.

That’s a significant investment financially, relationally, spiritually, and more.

They gave us the space our entire family needed to process prayerfully what God was inviting us to step into. It’s an inspiring, empowering gift to be a part of a network that lives like Jesus is leading the charge.

14. Encouraging Leaders to Follow Jesus in Freedom

Jesus said that He will build His church – and – He’s gifted His church with leaders. That can be a tough tension to live in.

We’re grateful that Expand has consistently encouraged us not to get in front of what Jesus is doing. Churches and ministries in Expand don't have to meet arbitrary deadlines, and no one pressures us to superimpose predetermined models on our work.

Jesus is so creative. We love we get to ask Him what He’s doing and how we can partner with His work.

15. Personally Investing in People

Nothing can replace relationship. Building relationships takes time, requires intentionality, and is often inconvenient.

Sean Thome sacrificially invested a few days in our town, just getting to know us. Plus, countless hours on Zoom. Stephanie and Bob Johnson let us stay in their home and use their vehicles so we could get a taste of life in the PNW.

Expand invests noticeable energy in building relationships and honors people as humans who God dearly loves.

16. Focusing on Healthy Families

At a recent coaching meeting, Sean asked Kristy and me what our plans were to take time off and invest in our kids this holiday season.

He said he wanted our kids, when they grow up, to look back at this season of church planting as one of the most exciting, joyful, meaningful times of their lives.

Expand does not want pastors’ kids to grow up feeling neglected because their parents were consumed with ministry.

It’s like Samuel told Saul, and God tells all of us, “It’s better to obey than to sacrifice.” God the Father loves when the hearts of kids are tended to.

17. Creating Space to be Available

I don’t know when, but at some point, busy-ness became a status symbol in American culture.

Know what I mean?

I absolutely love that when I need something from a leader in Expand, I’m able to get in touch with them quickly…ish.

Aren’t you amazed by how available Jesus is? He was literally on a world-saving mission, but he still attended weddings, played with youths, and shared meals with others.

We thank God that He is allowing us to partner with an organization where people make space for each other.

18. Offering Oversight in Essential Ways

The Bible wisely instructs churches not to put people in leadership too quickly. You know the story's ending when people ignore that counsel.

But it’s hard. Pressure mounts up. Complicated decisions demand multiple perspectives. As a leader, you just don’t want to feel, or be, isolated.

Expand helps create an external leadership team for church plants until they can commission a biblical eldership. This allows church planters – and members(!!!) – to take their time getting to know each other, test the waters, and discern how the Holy Spirit is leading them in a season.

Further, Expand offers financial accountability and processing. From budgeting, to accounting, to giving, to paying taxes, our overseeing network ensures we are above reproach.

Jesus invites us to live in the light, right alongside Him. God the Father is not absent. He doesn’t expect us to “raise ourselves.” Expand demonstrates His heart for oversight and collaboration.

19. Empowering Women to Lead and Serve in Areas of Giftedness

I absolutely love when Spirit-filled women use their gifts in meaningful ways. God created humanity in His image, male and female He created us.

Empowering women to lead, serve, and thrive isn’t just a token, sideline deal for Expand. It’s a priority. And the Kingdom is better for it.

The Bridge Church Northwest ordained Kristy as a minister. To be clear – she’s the best pastor I’ve ever known. If Biblical shepherds are supposed to defend the weak and vulnerable, tend to the hearts of the broken, and nurture people’s faith, my oh my, she’s the BEST!

I am so thankful that Expand empowers and equips the entire church to contribute to the Kingdom as Jesus has designed.

20. Providing Pastoral Care for Pastors

Expand has a team designated for pastoral care. When our family has gone through hard and heartbreaking situations, we’ve received cards, care, and prayer.

We’ve even received Wisconsin cheese curds as a gift! (It’s good to be known 😉)

Annually, Expand hosts a women’s retreat led by the incredible team at Revive Ministries. Leaders check in on us and offer to take us out for lunch.

The Holy Spirit is loving the church into health and wholeness. Expand is partnering with His work in the hearts of God’s people.

21. Holding Churches and Leaders Accountable

Freedom and accountability are not at odds. Prayerfully setting surrendered goals, prompted by the Holy Spirit, is an act of faith.

Consider when Paul was trying to figure out where to plant churches. Sometimes the Spirit of Jesus told him “no” to certain places. At other times, he received dreams and visions to go or stay in certain regions.

Regardless, plans had to be made and adjusted. Further, Paul and his team often reported back to their mother church in Antioch “all that God had done.”

Expand empowers us to set goals, follow up on the goals set, and make adjustments as needed. Jesus leads us, but He doesn’t drive us. We’re able to follow Him while being accountable in real ways.

22. Welcoming Those Who are New

I don’t think I’ll ever forget our first couple of weeks in the PNW. Every couple of days, we would hear a knock on our door and find a stranger holding a meal, gifts, or gift cards on the other side.

We were so blown away.

The leaders knew how hard the timing was for our family. We arrived in Oregon just a few days before Christmas. So they got to our rental home before us and set up a massive Christmas tree and had a meal train ready to drop off goodness at our front door.

I think God loves throwing parties to welcome people. There’s rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents; the father spares no expense for the prodigal’s return; Jesus turns water into wine to keep the wedding rolling.

What a gift it is to experience some of heaven’s welcome on earth?!

23. Resourcing Churches with the Tools Needed to Thrive

Expand knows how to run in its lane. They offer discipleship training, prayer equipping, and more. They also know how to connect leaders with resources that are beyond their scope.

Expand has developed partnerships with wonderful ministries to offer the tools and equipping church plants and leaders need.

For church planters, they hire a project coach, fundraising coach, and connect us with a counselor.

The Holy Spirit loves giving different gifts to the entire Church. God loves when His kids get along. We love being part of a network that wants to be part of something bigger than itself!

24. Joyfully Anticipating a Future Filled with Mercy and Grace

When your goal is to grow in your first love for Jesus, you can’t lose. Without that, nothing else matters. With that, nothing else matters!

Expand keeps its eyes on Jesus. If that means a church builds a new building because it’s bursting at the seams, or closes because its season has concluded, regardless, our best days are always ahead.

So there’s no fear in or pressure to dream as big as the heavens! And there’s no shame in acknowledging that it’s time to turn off the lights.

There is glory in the mundane grind of ordinary, daily ministry while you wait for God to grow the fruit.

It is a gift to be led by people who sincerely believe that as long as Jesus is in it, it’s going to be good!

25. Authentically Loving Jesus

What else is there? This is not a perfect group of flawless people. But the love for Jesus, partnering with His Spirit, prioritizing the values of the Kingdom – man – it’s palpable.

If someone sincerely loves, follows, trusts, and desires Jesus, everything else comes into focus. Secondary issues return to where they belong.

Not that secondary issues are unimportant or unenjoyable, of course. But it is so refreshing to be with people who trust God enough to let people follow Jesus.

If we seek first His Kingdom, everything else will fall into place.

Giving Honor to Those Whom It’s Due

There’s a lot of bad news out there. Scandals, skepticism, and disillusionment fill the atmosphere. I think there may also be room for a bit of good news.

Expand isn’t perfect. If you could sit in on a board meeting, you’d hear plenty of things they have to work on.

But this is a really good, Jesus-loving, others-focused, surrendered group of people. Our network is following the Holy Spirit’s lead.

Restoration Church is proud to be a part of the Expand Network. But even more, I have full confidence that Jesus is proud to call Expand His beloved.

If you want to learn more about this network we love, you can right here.

25 Reasons Restoration Church is Grateful to be a Part of Expand Network in Portland