by Dr. Tony L Lynn
PLYMOUTH, MI – Darren Greer, after eleven years of service with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), resigned January 2021. Greer’s career with NAMB started on January 20, 2010. This month, Greer pivoted from his former role with NAMB, as a church planting catalyst, to an increased role as the associational missionary strategist for Northwest Baptist Association in Michigan.
Greer’s early life was in Lebanon, Missouri. During the 1980’s, he pursued a university degree in criminal justice administration, and subsequently experienced a call to Christian ministry while assisting as a teammate with a church plant in Branson, Missouri. Greer recalled, “During those days, church planting teams were given a double-wide trailer and a pat-on-the-back when they started new churches. We’ve come a long way compared to the support, training, coaching, and encouragement we give now.”
During the eighties, Greer devoted himself to ministry by attending Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and by serving in ministry roles as minister of education and youth. It was during those same years that Greer explored Michigan, first as a summer missionary then he later returned to Michigan to serve the Lord in various ministry roles by permanently moving to Michigan in 1987.
With the Lord’s help, Greer has faithfully made it through other transitions in his life. His first wife passed away three-months after giving birth to their son Cameron. His second wife, Sharon Fishell-Greer and he married in October 2010. Sharon was the state convention’s elected president of the Woman’s Missionary Union for five years and the first woman in state convention history to serve in the roles of second and first vice-president. Both Greer and Sharon, will continue to serve the Lord as partners in the ministry with each of their distinct callings and gifts. They have set up their home in Kalkaska, Michigan.
When asked what he enjoyed while serving with NAMB and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) as a church planting catalyst, Greer replied, “I loved seeing what God did across the entire state with men like Josh Tovey of Redemption Church, Grandville and David Hiser of Antrim Community Church, Bellaire and many others. God never ceases to amaze me at what he does and how he does it.”
Greer was asked what he is looking forward to doing in his role as an associational missionary strategist. His voice displayed his excitement when he said, “I am looking forward to working at a closer level with the churches in the association. I want to discover places where we can plant new churches with NAMB. I want to continue, with joy, my more than thirty years of service in the northwest region of the lower peninsula of the state.”
State Director of Missions, Tony Lynn, said of Greer’s former service and new transition, “Greer has always and will always be a friend to all of Michigan’s Great Commission Baptists regardless of the role he serves. Greer’s desire to see the Good News of Christ advance, disciples trained, churches strengthened, and churches planted is evident by the humble manner in which Greer serves others. I was blessed to have worked closely with Greer which allowed me to appreciate him even more as a brother in the ministry.”
Northwest Baptist Association consists of ten churches, of which three were planted or replanted within the past five years. The churches are located in Bellaire, Frankfort, Traverse City, Cadillac, Lake City, Alanson, Cheboygan and Kingsley. If you’re interested in discovering ways in which you can partner with Darren Greer and Northwest Baptist Association you can write to Greer at GreerDarren@hotmail.com.
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.
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