Vinegrowers gives you the strategies and resources to build a healthy disciple-making culture in your church

Guiding and resourcing church leaders in developing a healthy community of disciple-making disciples

Tens of thousands of church leaders have read The Trellis and the Vine and come away thinking “Yes, that’s what church ministry is about—growing a healthy community of disciple-making disciples”.

But agreeing with the goal is far easier than making it happen. Changing a long-established church culture presents many challenges—not just in knowing where to start, but in knowing how to continue.

The Vinegrowers team have years of experience in thinking about these issues and talking to church leaders about them.

We understand there’s no ‘quick-fix program’ for culture change. We know church cultures don't work like that. We know it’s God and his gospel that transforms people and churches. Yet we also know there are resources, strategies and initiatives which, under God, have helped many churches undergo that transformation and become far more effective in making disciples. (See 'Why choose Vinegrowers?' below to find out more about our distinctive approach.)

So get in touch to arrange a free consultation, or dip your toe in the water first by reading our blog (‘The Vinegrower’s Trellis’) or free emails, download some free resources in our Vine Project Digital Library, or find the Matthias Media resources you need through our Resource Finder.

Free consultation

We offer a FREE consultation call in which we'll review aspects of your ministry and make some recommendations to help you grow your effectiveness in disciple making.

The Vinegrower's Trellis

Browse through a growing collection of articles that will stimulate your vinegrower thinking and give you lots of helpful input and ideas related to disciple making.

Vinegrower's regular email

Sign up to keep receiving regular material from the Vinegrowers team encouraging the building of disciple-making cultures.(Generally one or two emails each month.)

The Vine Project Library

Whether you are going through the Vine Project process or not, we have a whole bunch of helpful videos and downloads in our digital library.

Workshops

We run workshops on a variety of topics related to building a disciple-making culture in churches. Find out about future workshops or about hosting.

Find the resource you need

Answer a few questions and quickly find the right Matthias Media resource that can help you meet your disciple-making need.
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Why choose Vinegrowers?

We understand that there are multiple organisations and people these days who provide consulting services to churches, many with impressive expertise. So why would you choose to work with our Vinegrowers team?

The answer is short and simple: because our goal is to help you with a very specific implementation, that is, applying the principles you found yourself heartily agreeing with in The Trellis and the Vine.

Other consulting or coaching services will have their own ecclesiological goals and assumptions—whether conscious or unconscious (all too often the latter). We very intentionally work from the principles of The Trellis and the Vine.

Furthermore, because we work from the Matthias Media platform—a publishing ministry laser-focused on providing ministry resources purposely designed for implementing The Trellis and the Vine vision—we know the helpful resources that are available and how to make best use of them. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask using the form below.

Our Vinegrowers team

Marty Sweeney

Executive Director
Matthias Media US

Marty started Matthias Media USA in 2006 and continues to lead its operations. He also plays an important role in the global work of MM as the overseer of all content. Since 2011, Marty has been a pastor at Old North Church in Canfield, Ohio, where he has played a key role in developing a culture of disciple-making and training.

Ian Carmichael

Publishing Consultant
Matthias Media AU

Ian has spent over three decades as a key leader in Matthias Media's publishing ministry. Along with leadership roles in various churches and on the Board of the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS), he now has many years of thinking strategically and practically about disciple-making within a church context.

Lindsey Yeagley

Marketing Director
Matthias Media US

Lindsey's main focus is to convey a clear message about the mission of Matthias Media and Vinegrowers. She enjoys leading Bible study in her home and discipling others one-to-one. Lindsey has been on the Matthias Media team since 2017.

"I would wholeheartedly encourage people to join in the free consultation! I found the pre-questions thought-provoking and useful. And I found the interaction and recommendations to be very significant and helpful." - John B (Michigan)

What people say...

"Ian understands the needs of churches and pastors and how change needs to happen. He listens carefully and asks insightful questions. I found the consultation process deeply thought provoking and helpful. I now understand why having a shared ministry vocabulary is so crucial for reinforcing the move from convictions to culture. Without Ian's help I would not have paid any attention to it. Thank you, my dear brother!" - Steve, NSW

"The opportunity to have the Vinegrowers group take a look at our ministry objectives and progress was incredibly valuable. The dialog with Marty was a welcomed give and take that allowed him to provide a follow-up summary detailing suggestions for how I can move forward in my leadership with men, small groups and culture change. What a terrific resource this has been, providing practical next steps!" - Jack N, Idaho

"Ian has provided valuable 'fresh eyes' on my church context. He's shown me opportunities that I wasn't seeing, he's shown me processes I have not been utilising, and he's even prodded me in areas I just didn't want to think about. I've found this consultation really valuable and a wonderful benefit to me and my church." - Cameron, Vic

"I would wholeheartedly encourage people to join in the free consultation! I found the pre-questions thought provoking and useful. And I found the interaction and recommendations to be very significant and helpful." - John B, Michigan

"It was incredibly valuable and encouraging to receive great advice and wisdom and further insights into what and how we could implement cultural change. This was time well spent and essential in my view for any church serious about developing a discipleship culture through the training that the "Vine Project" propagates." - Nathan, Adelaide

The consultation with Ian was...
Encouraging... Strongly agree
Stimulating... Strongly agree
Helpful... Strongly agree
Challenging... Strongly agree
A good length... Strongly agree

"I appreciated the conversation (free consultation) with Marty. It was helpful to 'think out loud' with someone who understood what I was trying to accomplish. He listened well and shared his recommendations based on what I was asking for instead of having a product-centered agenda." - Donny C, Tennessee

"The Vine Growers consultation is an amazing opportunity to talk about ministry in the local church with experienced Christian leader/s; it truly aided me to think more carefully about what to prioritise in ministry and how to go on in doing it!" - Prem, Nepal

"To have a fresh pair of eyes has been invaluable. Ian's perceptive comments, from an 'inside-outsider' have helped us as an eldership sharpen our language and practice in our church plant. We're grateful to God for Ian and the Vinegrowers consultation."
Tim, Canterbury NZ

Vinegrowers is a ministry of Matthias Media (Australia) and Matthias Media (USA).

Copyright Matthias Media 2023.