Podcast Summary: UnSeminary Podcast

Episode: From 70 to 2,000: Loving People Back to Church in the Northeast with Jeremy Baker

Host: Rich Birch
Guest: Jeremy Baker, Lead Pastor, Elevate Church, CT
Date: February 5, 2026

Overview

In this inspiring episode, Rich Birch welcomes Jeremy Baker, Lead Pastor of Elevate Church in Connecticut. Jeremy shares the remarkable story of Elevate's explosive growth from 70 attendees to over 2,000 weekly in under four years—a rare feat for any church, and especially noteworthy in the spiritually challenging Northeast. They dive deep into the principles, practices, and heart that have fueled this revival, emphasizing authentic people-first ministry, practical outreach, intentional discipleship paths, and relentless focus on the lost.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context and Spiritual Climate in the Northeast

• The Northeast is an "unchurched region," quite different from the "Southern Christianity" culture.
• Jeremy relocated from Dallas, Texas, leaving comfort for greater missional impact in a region less receptive to church.

  "We’re living the good Dallas life, the big Texas life... but there’s more. There’s a group of people that need the Lord." — Jeremy Baker [04:02]

2. Planting Elevate Church: Humble Beginnings

• Pulled life savings to invest ~$100,000 in a big launch, hoping for 800-1,000 people, but only 70 attended. [05:00]
• Despite disappointment, they shifted focus to relentless outreach and serving the community.
• Massive growth followed, from 70 to 2,400+ weekly.

3. Core Principle #1: Seeing and Loving People Well

• Fundamental belief: People want to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
• Cultural saying: "We see you. We hear you. We celebrate you." [08:23]
• Mary Kay quote: "Everybody has an invisible sign around their neck that says, ‘see me.’" [08:44]
• Loving people through every step, from "the street to the seat":
  • Parking lot "banner waivers" greet and bless attendees on arrival.
  • First-time guest team trained to notice and connect immediately.
  • Over 100 volunteers facilitate hospitality, orientation, and navigation throughout the building—even in bad weather.

  "As the tires hit the parking lot, that miracles take place in people's lives... Whatever that miracle might be." — Jeremy Baker [12:03]

• Honest feedback: "If you’re introverted, it’s gonna be hard—18 people might talk to you before you even find your seat." [14:14]

4. Core Principle #2: Meeting People Where They Are Spiritually

• Acknowledgement: The region has many spiritual returnees or those new to faith post-pandemic.
• Personalized communication: Always introducing himself, making newcomers feel welcomed and known.
• Next steps for new believers: Classes, a "grow track," and dozens of "life groups" for both deep dives and entry-level understanding.
• Continuous invitation: "Are you serving on a team? Are you in a life group?"

  "The goal is not just gathering large crowds. The goal... is to help people develop spiritually, to help people find their personal walk with God, not just come and hear a good word." — Jeremy Baker [18:13]

• Mission mantra: "Making heaven more crowded... and making disciples that follow Jesus." [19:31]

5. Growth Tactics: Practical Outreach

• Early marketing (mailers) was expensive and ineffective in the Northeast.
• Real growth hinges on two things:

  1. Relentless Invite Culture

     • Every week, the language of invitation permeates services, midweek groups, and church communication.
     • "Invite card" displays and QR codes everywhere make inviting easy.
     • "We are a bringer church, we are an inviting church... That’s who we are." [21:44]

  2. Strong Social Media Presence

     • $1,500/month budget, managed by a youthful team (ages 19–22).
     • Relentlessly trusting younger generations for digital engagement.

     "I’m 50... there’s things I’m not versed in. I just have to trust this younger generation, and they have done a phenomenal job." — Jeremy Baker [21:04]

6. Sustaining Focus on Reaching the Lost

• The gravitational pull toward inward focus ("preferences") is strong as churches grow.
• Leadership vigilance: Continually reset the vision on people, not programs or preferences.

"If we’re not careful, we’ll lose the vision of what God has here and... become inward focus rather than outward focus." — Jeremy Baker [29:30]

• Willingness to sacrifice personal preference for community impact:

  "I'm putting down my preference so that I can carry the purpose of the good news." [32:25]

• Ongoing question for his team: “Is it possible that God could use one church to really change a community?” [31:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On People-First Ministry:
  "It’s not problems to be solved, it’s people to be pastored... Sometimes pastors make people the problem and the people are not the problem. The people are the purpose of why we do the pastoring." — Jeremy Baker [33:40]

• On Invite Culture:
  "We have invite card stands everywhere. So simple. We have QR codes... you can invite [with] our service times. So really practical steps like that have really helped us. In… every service, it’s just been indoctrinated… repetition, you know, over and over and over." [22:30]

• On Staying Missional Despite Growth:
  "It was never about being big. … always about reaching the lost." — Jeremy Baker [25:18]

• On the Northeast as a Strategic Mission Field:
  "I woke up one day, said, God, I’m comfortable, and I don’t want to be comfortable anymore." — Jeremy Baker [29:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Context: [02:17]–[04:02]
• Early Struggles & Launch: [04:02]–[07:17]
• Loving People Well / Guest Experience: [11:11]–[15:34]
• Discipleship Pathways: [15:34]–[18:13]
• Invite Culture & Outreach Tactics: [19:31]–[24:59]
• Staying Focused on People & Not Preferences: [27:45]–[32:31]
• Final Encouragement to Leaders: [33:35]

Final Encouragement from Jeremy

• "Just make it about people. ... Steward that really well, and just love the people that God brings." [34:10]

Connect with Elevate Church

• Website & Instagram: elevatelifect.com

Takeaway for Pastors and Church Leaders

• Prioritize authentic, relentless love for people, both in outreach and inside the church.
• Build systems for radical hospitality, easy next steps, and true discipleship for everyone—no matter where they are spiritually.
• Maintain laser focus on reaching the lost, being vigilant against inward drift, and empowering every generation for the mission.
• Remember: "It’s not about problems to be solved, it’s people to be pastored."