NATALIE RUNION
Raised To Stay
Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away
NATALIE RUNION
MY NEW BOOK!
Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away
About Me
Hey Stayers! My name is Natalie Runion and I am the founder of Raised to Stay, an online community of Christ followers who have wrestled with their relationship with the Church but who are desperate to stay with Jesus and find healing for their hurt so they can help others heal. In 2019, after watching many of my friends and family walk away from not only the church but their relationship with God, I started writing to my own experiences as a pastor's kid turned pastor and before I knew we were a growing family of nearly 200k Stayers willing to having hard and holy conversation to bring restoration and, prayerfully, forgiveness as we wonder and wander together in our faith journey.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, I have done a little bit of everything to run away from vocational ministry ranging from acting to teaching Physical Education, but as we all know you can run but you can't hide from God. For twenty years I have been in the local church on staff in various roles, as worship pastor and women's pastor, taking my experiences as a pastor's kid and with each new assignment learning more about our current church culture and becoming curious as to why so many weren't simply leaving the building, but Jesus.
In 2023, after 44 years of living my life within the church walls, I stepped out to follow the evangelistic call to take the message of Raised to Stay to churches and church leadership around the world, a message of corporate repentance, restoration and revival. My books, Raised to Stay and The House That Jesus Built speak to a reconciled Church while also challenging and championing the saints to contend for community and longevity with Jesus and one another.
My husband and I live in Kentucky with our two teenage daughters where we continue to serve and volunteer in our local church and community.
I am a worship leader, songwriter, teacher, mentor and lover of all things family, friends and Jesus. Stick with me. We’re holding on to each other and we’ve got a wild ride ahead of us, and it’s going to be worth it.
I pray you find comfort in this space, that you would know you aren't alone in your wrestling with God's people and as you wander with us you'll begin the brutal and beautiful journey to finding a home in the family of God once again.
In it to finish it, Natalie
NATALIE RUNION
RAISED TO STAY
Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away.
An honest exploration of disappointment with the Church, Raised to Stay is for anyone weary of God’s people but longing to keep their faith in God.
We aren’t quitters. We are the stayers.
USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller
An honest exploration of disappointment with the Church, Raised to Stay is for anyone weary of God’s people but longing to keep their faith in God.
God might seem silent right now. God’s people might seem not worth the wounds. But hold on as Natalie Runion embarks on a journey for all who are wandering, wondering, and wrestling. Together, we will move toward trusting God again, knowing that even though Christian community may fail us, the love of God never fails.
When we say yes to God, we don’t say yes to church politics, ladder climbing, or burnout. We say yes to Jesus. We say yes to hope. We say yes to much that we can still embrace. Through honest words and deeply personal story, Runion challenges us to be part of a generation known for the passionate pursuit of Christ. To be remembered for loving one another, forgiving one another, and persevering with one another in our hunger for God.
We aren’t quitters. We are the stayers.
NATALIE RUNION
THE HOUSE THAT JESUS BUILT
Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away.
An honest exploration of disappointment with the Church, Raised to Stay is for anyone weary of God’s people but longing to keep their faith in God.
We aren’t quitters. We are the stayers.
THE HOUSE THAT JESUS BUILT
Leading Our Churches Back to God's Original Blueprint
At a time when churches seem far from God’s design, bestselling author Natalie Runion challenges us as Christians to follow the Bible’s blueprint for building holy, healthy churches that disciple holy, healthy followers of Christ.
In recent years, we’ve seen the “great resignation” in Church leadership and attendance, the devastation of spiritual abuse, and the breakdown of faith within our culture. In The House That Jesus Built, Natalie encourages all of us to recognize our role as Jesus’ disciples in rebuilding our churches, brick by brick. With personal stories and practical ideas, she guides us to:
- Be honest about past disappointments while still engaging with our church communities
- Ask how we as Christ followers have contributed to pain in our churches and how we can help heal one another
- Use the book of Acts as the blueprint for empowering the family of God to be the family of God
- Understand how even the apostles wrestled with their places in the early Church but remained committed to love God, love people, and make disciples
- Be unified on the foundation of Jesus Christ
The House That Jesus Built will stir your heart to see God’s churches realigned with the Great Commission and the Great Command. As Natalie reminds us, we are the Church. We are the ones who can partner with Jesus to build something beautiful out of the rubble—and back on the Rock.
Events
Check out these upcoming dates to see if I will be in your city this year! Or, grab a few friends and make a road trip to the city nearest you...
Booking
If you would like to bring the message of Raised to Stay to your local church or conference, we are currently working on our 2026-2027 schedule! To inquire about availability or to request a date, fill out this form and a member of the Raised to Stay team will get back with you shortly via email.
