At the beginning of this year, we shared that our board and leadership team were actively exploring what it would look like to rejoin the Vineyard USA movement.

This journey actually began back in June of 2025 and took a much more intentional step forward at the start of this year. Since then, we’ve had incredible opportunities to learn, talk, and process what this partnership means for our church.
You all have been so engaged in this process:
– Leaning into Learning: Our YouTube playlist of over 45 educational videos has received well over 620 views!
– Sharing Your Heart: We have heard your thoughts, answered questions, and listened to your feedback every step of the way.

Following last week’s meeting, the board and I have officially decided to move forward. Our goal is to officially rejoin the Vineyard USA movement!
There is still some administrative work to do behind the scenes, and a formal process we are walking out with leaders across the Vineyard network. But we have a date in mind: As long as the process is far enough along, on Sunday, October 25th, Heartland will officially become Heartland Vineyard Church!

We want to be clear about what this partnership means for our community:

Sunday Mornings

Aside from the Lord’s leading, nothing about how we operate on a Sunday morning is going to change. We remain fully committed to being a space where we can flow with the Spirit and follow His guidance. Vineyard USA isn’t asking us to be anything other than who God has called us to be, in fact, they are incredibly excited about who we already are.

An Expanded Family

What does change is that we gain a massive new family. Joining this network means we are no longer running in isolation. We are gaining true partners in mission. This relationship brings invaluable dimensions of support, growth, and connection to Heartland:

– Deep Support & Accountability: We are gaining a safety net of wise counsel, stronger pastoral oversight and personal support for myself (Liam), and additional layers of healthy accountability for both our board and staff.
– Mentorship & Equipping: Our staff and ministry leaders, including our youth, worship, and discipleship teams will have direct access to hands on mentorship, specialized training, and wisdom from experienced leaders and evangelists.
– Kingdom Investment: This is a two way street. This partnership isn’t just about what Heartland receives. It opens up incredible new doors for us to give, invest our resources, and share our unique strengths to bless and build up a much wider body of believers.

Our Journey Ahead: Praying & Partnering Together

While we have a target date in October, this isn’t just about a calendar milestone, it’s about a living, breathing process. Over the next few months, we want to invite you to lean in even further with us:
– Keep Praying: Please continue to seek the Lord’s wisdom for Heartland. Pray for our leadership, our congregation, and the Vineyard leaders we are partnering with as we align ourselves for what is next.
– Keep Exploring: We want to keep the dialogue open. If you still have questions, want to talk through things, or want to explore what this movement is all about, please reach out. This is a shared journey.
– Deepening Our Relationships: Between now and October, we are going to actively focus on going deeper in our relationships. We’ll be connecting more closely with regional Vineyard leaders, building friendships, and continue getting to know the wider family we are joining.

We are genuinely so excited about this. It feels like a homecoming, and we are thrilled to step into this next chapter of ministry with all of you.

Pastor Liam

I want to share an important update regarding a season of exploration our church is entering together.

Before I share the details, I want to briefly reflect on the power of the community. Years ago, when I was fundraising in Cardiff, Wales to come to the United States, I would not have made it here without the support of my small group leader, Patrick Ennis, and the men at the Cardiff Vineyard. Their encouragement and generosity shaped my journey in profound ways. That experience reminded me of how deeply the people around us influence our growth and direction. Community matters, and who we walk with matters.

With that in mind, I want to share something that has been prayerfully and thoughtfully considered by our leadership over the past season. After significant reflection, conversation, and discernment, we believe it is time for Heartland to take an intentional step toward exploring what it might mean to join a new family. Specifically, we are beginning a process of discerning whether becoming part of the Vineyard USA movement could be the right step for our church. I want to be absolutely clear: we are not joining the Vineyard today. To say it again for emphasis: we are not members of the Vineyard at this time.

What we are doing is entering a season of exploration.  Heartland has long shared many similarities with Vineyard in our practices, values, and approach to ministry. Over the past six months, I have intentionally sent members of our staff and board to various Vineyard gatherings, conferences, and meetings. Throughout this process, our leadership team has sensed alignment, encouragement, and mutual affirmation regarding further exploration. Vineyard leadership has also been supportive of us taking this step.

A key part of this journey, and one that is deeply important to me, is ensuring that you, our church family, have the opportunity to explore this alongside us. Over the coming months, we will learn, pray, and discern together. We want to understand what belonging to the Vineyard family might look like for Heartland: in our worship, our mission, our values, and our life together as a community. To help us engage in this process collectively, we will be sharing various resources: books, music, podcasts, videos, guest speakers, and opportunities to connect with those who are already a part of the Vineyard movement. A starting point is available here: Vineyard Exploration Playlist

We recognize that many of you may have different experiences with the Vineyard.

Some will find this step easy and familiar, especially those who were part of Heartland before the year 2000, when we were previously connected to the Vineyard. Others may be encountering Vineyard for the first time. Both responses are welcome, and both are important. As we look ahead, I am genuinely excited about what this season may hold. I believe this exploration has the potential to deepen our accountability, strengthen our mission, and enrich our sense of family and partnership in the Kingdom of God.

In addition, we want to create a space for conversation, questions, and dialogue throughout this process. We will hold several opportunities to gather, beginning with an immediate time of discussion today after church in the Inkwell. Additional gatherings are scheduled for March 15th and April 19th, with more opportunities to be added if needed. These meetings are open to anyone who wishes to listen, ask questions, or simply learn more. I want to encourage us all to move forward together with open hearts, humble curiosity, and a shared desire to follow Jesus wherever He leads. Our board will continue to be praying intentionally over this next season, and I invite you to join us in seeking God’s guidance, wisdom, and peace.

Pastor Liam