In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with John Elmer about the privilege of traveling around the country connecting with different churches and investing in leaders. They discuss the benefits of connectivity and some of the positive and negative things John has encountered across Vineyard churches. Finally, John shares some of the parts of his role as Super Regional Leader that he wasn’t expecting when he started.
John Elmer is a Super Regional Leader for Vineyard USA.
John grew up in Syracuse, New York. Right before his senior year in high school, he had a supernatural encounter with Jesus and was radically saved. He began a Bible study within a couple of months and never stopped. John went to Messiah College, where he majored in Biblical Studies, and it was there that he met his wife, Gwen.
Gwen and John planted the Syracuse Vineyard over 30 years ago and have grown it into a multi-site church that has planted 13 other churches. John has also participated in translocal leadership, serving the Vineyard as an Area Leader, National Church Planting team member, Mission Partnership Leader, and as a Regional Leader for the last 10 years.
John and Gwen have lived together in NYC, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, the squatter slums in Bangkok, as well as Syracuse. They have three children and five grandchildren that they love to be with. John is a big Syracuse University sports fan, as well as a lifelong Yankees fan.
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