Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Groves.
Hi Jon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story isn’t one of overnight success… it’s a story of faith & risk.
I’ve spent most of my adult life in ministry, preaching, leading, and helping build churches. Along the way, I learned a lot, not just about what works, but about what doesn’t. I’ve seen both the beauty of the Church and the damage that can happen when faith becomes more about systems than people.
Starting Honor Church in Lake Mary came out of a deep conviction that God was calling us to build something healthy, biblical, and genuinely life-giving. Not flashy. Not shallow. A church where Scripture is preached clearly, prayer is taken seriously, families are valued, and people are actually known…not just counted.
There was no safety net. No launch team with deep pockets. No guaranteed outcome. Just a clear sense that obedience mattered more than comfort. We stepped out in faith, often with more questions than answers, and trusted God to meet us in the work. The greater Orlando metro is one of america’s top most unchurched regions considering churches per capita.
Today, Honor Church is a growing, tight-knit community made up of people from all kinds of backgrounds, many of whom had been hurt by church or had walked away from faith altogether. Seeing people rediscover trust, hope, and purpose has been the most rewarding part of the journey.
I’m still learning, still growing, and still deeply aware that this is God’s work, not mine. But I’m grateful to be part of what He’s building here in Lake Mary (and now in Deltona as well) and excited about what’s ahead.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road and honestly, I wouldn’t trust the story if it were.
Starting a church means stepping into uncertainty from day one. Financial pressure, long hours, and the emotional weight of leading people through real-life struggles all come with the territory. There were seasons where progress felt slow and the cost felt high, especially when there were no guarantees that things would work out.
One of the biggest challenges was choosing to build health instead of speed. It’s tempting to chase numbers or momentum, but we were committed to doing things the right way, biblically, relationally, and sustainably, even when that meant slower growth or harder decisions.
There were also personal challenges. Leadership exposes you. It stretches your faith, your character, and your endurance. There were moments where quitting would have been easier than continuing, but those were often the moments that clarified the calling the most.
Looking back, the struggles weren’t obstacles… they were formative. They shaped the culture of our church and deepened our reliance on God….they made us into a family that loves people radically. From it our one rule was born: No Perfect People Allowed! The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s been meaningful, and I wouldn’t trade what we’ve learned or who we’ve become through it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the core, my work is about helping people encounter Jesus in a way that’s real, understandable, and life-changing. I’m a pastor, preacher, and leader, and I specialize in building healthy church culture rooted in Scripture, prayer, and genuine community.
I’m probably best known for clear, practical Bible teaching. I don’t believe faith should be confusing or disconnected from everyday life. My focus has always been to open the Bible, explain what it actually says, and then help people live it out whether that’s in their families, their work, or their personal decisions.
I also care deeply about reaching people who have been overlooked or burned by church in the past. Many who come to Honor Church hadn’t planned on returning to church at all. Creating a space where people can rebuild trust, ask honest questions, and grow at a healthy pace is something I’m especially passionate about.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a building or a platform… it’s the people. Seeing marriages restored, faith rebuilt, young families find spiritual direction, addicted get freedom, and individuals step into leadership and service is incredibly meaningful to me.
What sets us apart is our commitment to depth over hype. We’re not trying to be the biggest or loudest church. We’re focused on being faithful, loving our city, preaching the Bible clearly, taking prayer seriously, valuing families, and walking with people for the long haul. In a culture that often rushes past formation, we’re committed to doing the slow, meaningful work of discipleship.
Even though pastoring is my calling….I am a content creator who loves creating videos and resources to help people know the facts about faith. I’ve developed church invite strategies that have been used by hundreds of churches, and we are actively building a school community where new church planters, ministry leaders, or people who just want to know the Bible better can learn.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people is how much of an “extroverted introvert” I actually am.
Most people see me preaching, leading, or creating content and assume I’m naturally energized by crowds. The truth is, a lot of my best work happens in quiet spaces… studying, writing, thinking, and praying. I love people deeply, but I’m wired to process slowly and intentionally.
That’s shaped how I lead. I’m not driven by hype or constant noise. I value depth, preparation, and meaningful conversations over being busy for the sake of being visible. It’s also why our church culture emphasizes authenticity and presence…not performance.
In many ways, the public side of what I do is an outflow of private disciplines. What people see on Sundays is built in solitude during the week. That rhythm has kept me grounded and helped me stay focused on why we’re doing this in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.honor.church
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/honor.church
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/honor.church
- Twitter: https://x.com/JonLGroves
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jon.Groves
- Other: https://instagram.com/JonLGroves
