FENTON, MI – We have three men who will be serving in new roles in three different areas of Michigan with one purpose. Our team is increasing once again to include more faithful and hardworking men. Would you celebrate with us? Will you pray for these new partners and their families?
The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), Send Detroit, and the North American MIssion Board (NAMB) are pleased to announce that 3 outstanding servant-leaders have agreed to serve as Church-based Church Planting Catalysts in Michigan. While each of their respective new church plants will be their highest ministry priority these men will help us discover, develop, and deploy future church planters. We found that those who do well in church planting have a network of quality people surrounding them looking for God’s calling on their lives. The three men are Eric Stewart, Ken Nether, and Matt Thompson. They begin their roles as catalysts on September 1.
Eric Stewart is the founding and lead pastor of ONELife Church in Flint. Prior to planting ONELife Church in 2014, Eric served as an associate pastor and interim pastor for almost a decade. Eric received a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science and Religion from Liberty University. He is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Eric and his wife, Lori, live in Swartz Creek with their three children.
Ken Nether is the founding and lead pastor of Crossover Church in Farmington Hills. Prior to planting Crossover Church in 2016, Ken worked as a teacher, a coach, and a professional basketball player in Europe. Ken is a graduate of Detroit Bible Institute and is pursuing another degree at Moody Theological Seminary. Ken and his wife, Tolice, have two children.
Matt Thompson is an associate pastor of Redemption Church in Grandville which was planted in 2015. Matt helped launch two new church starts including Redemption Church. This next year, Matt will become the pastor of a new church plant in Grand Rapids. Matt is a graduate of Clarks Summit University and has a Master’s degree from Baptist Bible Seminary. Matt and his wife, Bethany, live in Grandville with their three boys.
These three men possessed qualities and histories that led us to invite them into our shared mission. These men have . . .
Consistent testimonies for Christ
Wives who share their call to Christ’s service
A clear understanding of the church planting process
Spend time teaming with others and mentoring others in life
God-sized burdens to see the region’s people transformed by Christ
These men will join three other church planting catalysts within the state: Darren Greer, Tim Shrader, and Jason Robinson. As always, as you hear God’s call leading you to discover how you, your friends, and your entire church can get more involved in church planting write me at tony@bscm.org – I can suggest pathways that will allow you to help in creating new congregations throughout the state and into Ontario.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tony Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe.