The Heart: Cultivating a Strong Walk with Christ as a Church Planter

J.A. Medders

General Editor New Churches

J.A. (Jeff) Medders is the Director of Theology and Content for Send Network and General Editor for New Churches. He is also an author, a preacher, and a PhD student in biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, studying Charles Spurgeon and the Song of Songs. Jeff is a native Houstonian, where he lives with his wife and two kids.

Tony Merida

Vice President, Planter Development Send Network

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C, and is the Vice President of Planter Development for Send Network. He also serves as a Board member for The Gospel Coalition. Tony has written several books including, The Christ-Centered Expositor, Love Your Church, and multiple volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He’s happily married to Kimberly, and they have five children.

Vance Pitman

President Send Network

Vance Pitman is president of Send Network, founding pastor of Hope Church, and author of UNBURDENED: Stop Living for Jesus So Jesus Can Live Through You and The Stressless Life: Experiencing the Unshakable Presence of God’s Indescribable Peace. As a seasoned church planter and now leader of the largest church planting organization in North America, Vance seeks to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples, by multiplying the Church all over North America, that the nations may come to know Him.  Vance and his wife Kristie have four children and four grandchildren, and live in Georgia.

Jared C. Wilson

Jared C. Wilson is pastor for preaching and director of the pastoral training center at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, and an assistant professor of pastoral ministry and author in residence at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of over 25 books and the co-host of the For The Church Podcast and The Heart of Pastoring Podcast. Jared and his wife, Becky, have been married for 29 years.