Why Plant Churches?

J.A. Medders

General Editor New Churches

J. A. Medders (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the director of theology and content for Send Network, and the general editor for New Churches. He is the author of Gospel Formed, Humble Calvinism, and co-author of The Soul-Winning Church. You can follow Jeff on X, Instagram, and his newsletter.

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.

J.D. Greear

J. D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Under Pastor J. D.’s leadership, the Summit has grown from a plateaued church of 300 to one of over 10,000, making it one of Outreach magazine’s “top 25 fastest-growing churches in America” for many years running. He has authored several books, including Essential Christianity: The Heart of the Gospel in Ten Words (2023), Just Ask: The Joy of Confident, Bold, Patient, Relentless, Shameless, Dependent, Grateful, Powerful, Expectant Prayer (2021), and What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? (2020).