Church Planter Cohort XI (2024-2025)
Members of our Church Planter Cohort spend a year developing the skills necessary to sustain health, fruitful ministry as they plant or replant a church. Church planter cohorts start each Fall. The current cohort members are below.
You can find more information on how we help church planters here. And, you can begin the process to apply for our next cohort by completing an interest form here.
JOSH CRUM
Josh is planting Refuge Church in Lansdale, Pa. He grew up in church but it wasn’t until his life fell apart while in college at Penn State that God truly got his attention. Josh got his masters from Missio Seminary and has been in ministry for 18 years. He loves hanging out with his wife Bethany and their four kids. He also enjoys playing and watching sports, traveling, reading, watching movies, searching out street art, and sneakers.
STEVE JEANTET
After years of living in and loving Sarasota, God led Steve and his family , to plant New Creation Church, which desires to see the beauty and hope of the coming of the new creation in Christ manifest in their fast-growing community. Steve is married to Kim and they have four children: Jeremiah, Charis, Rachel and Micah. Steve is a graduate of Eastern University (PhD in Organizational Leadership) and Reformed Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He is a big baseball fan and can often be found coaching Little League, umpiring youth baseball, or watching the Phillies.
RYAN SMITH
Ryan is the planting pastor of Alabaster Church in Asheville, NC. His greatest passion is helping people in an urban, progressive, post-Christian context understand and love the Bible as they see its beauty, complexity, relevancy, and fulfillment in Jesus and his Kingdom. Ryan has served with several churches around the country in a variety of cultural and theological contexts. Prior to planting in Asheville, he was the Teaching Pastor of Collective Church on the Westside of Los Angeles. He holds degrees from Evangel University (B.A. Bible & Theology) and Western Seminary (M.A. Biblical & Theological Studies). Ryan and his wife Erin have been married since 2012, and have a daughter and a son.
PAUL DESCHAMPS
Paul Deschamps is a Church Planting Resident at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, working toward planting a new church in Rolesville, NC. He’s been married to Lindsey for 17 years, and they have three kids: a 12-year-old daughter and 9-year-old twin boys. Paul loves being outdoors—whether it’s hiking, biking, or skiing—and enjoys live music, and traveling with his family. He’s also an enthusiastic home cook. Paul holds a Bachelor‘s from the University of Maryland, a Master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MDiv from LAMP Seminary.
BRIAN MACDONALD
Brian is the planting pastor of Oak City Church in Bartow, Florida. He met his bride, Ella, at Baylor University where they graduated and were married in 2000. After graduation, Brian and Ella moved to Montgomery, Alabama where they served in youth ministry for 9 years while he earned his M.Div. from Birmingham Theological Seminary and later planted and led a PCA church for 7 years. They felt a call to Florida to launch their second church plant. The MacDonalds have been blessed with six children: Hudson, Henry, Nate, Jake, Oliver, and Molly.
ROB TOMBRELLA
Rob Tombrella is the preaching and vision pastor at Resurrection Church, a church plant in Anna, Texas, which launched on September 15, 2024. For nearly 20 years, He served as an associate pastor for next generation ministries and city outreach at Grace Church in Frisco, Texas. Rob is married to Michelle. They have three sons (Sam 20, Joel 19, Asher 16). He holds degrees from Sam Houston State and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.