From Traditional Roots to Transformational Impact: Christine Burch's Journey with Amplify Church

In a world often loud with negativity, there's a growing need to amplify the good, the purposeful, and the Christ-centered. This is the mission of Christine Burch, Executive Pastor of Amplify Church in Toledo, Ohio. Alongside her husband, Christine is pioneering a new work that blends deep faith with practical, impactful leadership, transforming a legacy church into a vibrant community hub.

Christine's journey to Amplify Church is a testament to divine calling and courageous leadership. After years away, she returned to her hometown to take the reins of a church founded by her grandparents in 1962 and later led by her father. What started as a transition to lead an existing congregation evolved into a bold decision to launch an entirely new church. “It was a very tiny church, and so we decided to launch a new church instead,” Christine explains. This wasn't just a rebranding; it was a complete cultural shift, driven by a vision to reach those who had been hurt or disillusioned by past church experiences.

As Executive Pastor, Christine is the strategic backbone of Amplify Church, handling operations, team building, and problem-solving. “I handle the teams and making sure that we have all the people in place, all of the supplies ordered, that we have all of the equipment there, and finding solutions for everything under the sun. That's what I do. I solve problems for the church,” she states. This role, while administrative, is deeply rooted in her faith.

Leading with Prayer: The Foundation of Faith and Business Integration

For Christine, integrating faith into her daily leadership is non-negotiable, starting with prayer. “I have to remember to be intentional every day about starting my day with prayer and about praying before I make decisions, before I make moves,” she emphasizes. She highlights the wisdom from the book Lead with Prayer by Cameron Doolittle, Peter Greer, and Ryan Sug, noting that the most successful business leaders are often those who lead with prayer. This isn't about avoiding work, but about ensuring every action is divinely guided, ultimately saving time and preventing mistakes.

Spirit-Led Decisions: Countering Worldly Practices

One of the most significant decisions Christine and her husband faced was transforming a traditional church into a new, dynamic ministry. This meant challenging long-held practices and mindsets. “This is not about your comfortability. This is about kingdom,” Christine recalls telling her team. Navigating resistance to change, she stood firm, knowing that appeasing comfort could mean missing God's greater purpose. “I can't make you comfortable and appease you and miss God because there are souls waiting on us to be where we need to be,” she asserts. This unwavering commitment to being spirit-led, even when it seemed counter to conventional wisdom, proved critical in their launch.

Generosity as a Cornerstone of Connection

Christine's faith profoundly influences how she gives her time, talent, and treasure. Upon returning to Toledo after 25 years, she and her husband intentionally sowed seeds of generosity. They attended community events and benefits, not to receive, but to give. “We wanted to be a blessing first and show them who we are as generous givers first before we asked anything of them,” she explains. This approach built trust and demonstrated their character, surprising many who were unaccustomed to such selfless giving.

Engaging for Impact: Participation Projects

Christine encourages other Christian business leaders to live out their faith by creating “participation projects.” Drawing insights from Mission Increase, an organization focused on donor discipleship, she advocates for initiatives that pull people in and foster connection. “If you can create an event and pull them into that event, then it gets people connecting, it gets people talking. It gets people to trust one another,” she advises. Amplify Church’s block party, for instance, engaged community members who weren't yet part of the church, allowing them to experience the church's culture and build relationships. This led to many feeling comfortable enough to attend their services.

From Test to Testimony: Launching Amplify Church

The ultimate test for Christine was the monumental task of taking over a legacy church and completely transforming it into Amplify Church. This involved not just changing the name, but shifting culture, mindsets, music, staff, and community engagement. “You have to change board members. You have to do all the nuances of changing account numbers and making sure there's different structures in place,” she recounts. The challenge was immense, often leading her to question if they were truly following God's will. Yet, through it all, the Lord's message was clear: “You just do what I told you to do. It will all work out in the end.”

The testimony is evident: Amplify Church successfully launched, and new souls are being added weekly. This journey taught Christine the power of trusting God's plan, even when it meant navigating discomfort and skepticism from those who saw her as family rather than a spiritual leader. Her story is a powerful reminder that following God's lead will always illuminate a path from any test to a triumphant testimony.

Christine Burch’s work at Amplify Church is a beacon of how faith, strategic leadership, and a heart for community can transform not just an organization, but an entire city. Her commitment to amplifying the name of the Lord through practical, spirit-led action is an inspiration for all who seek to make a lasting impact.

Connect with Amplify Church

Website: www.amplifytoledo.com
Instagram & Facebook: @AmplifyChurchToledo
Email: hello@amplifytoledo.com