When Church Mergers Make Sense: Pursuing Partnership for Kingdom Impact

Every church wants to be faithful to where God has placed them. But sometimes, faithfulness looks like partnership. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Brian Coates and Aaron Bryant talk through when church mergers actually make sense, and when they don’t. This is not about growth for growth’s sake. It’s about discerning where God is at work and how churches can come alongside one another for greater kingdom impact. In this episode, you’ll learn: -Why “merger” isn’t the best starting point—and what posture matters more -How to discern if partnership is necessary or if support is enough -What healthy churches look for before stepping into a merger -Why humility is essential on both sides of the conversation -How to lead your congregation through uncertainty and change -The role of prayer and communication in building unity -The difference between vision and strategy—and why it matters Meet the Guests Brian Coates, Senior Executive Pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church Aaron Bryant, Campus and Teaching Pastor at The Church at Avenue South and North Region Lead Pastor Register for the Elevate Conference This episode is part of our March focus on worship ministry, leading up to Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22, 2026. Learn more and register at elevatechurchconference.com.