Church Planter Cohort XII (2026-2027)
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.
MITCH CRAIG
Mitch Craig is the Lead Pastor and Church Planter of The Vine Church in Milford, Michigan, where he is building a launch team. Mitch came to faith after hearing the gospel on a mission trip to Brazil. Following his conversion, he and his wife Brittany were baptized, married, and committed to serving the local church. His call to church planting was further shaped through training at Grimké Seminary and a pastoral residency at The Door Church in Texas. Mitch and Brittany have a son, Beau, and are expecting their second son. As a family, they enjoy outdoor adventures and are fluent in American Sign Language.
MATT MURPHY
Matt Murphy is a Pastoral Resident at Frontline Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he is preparing to plant a church in the area. Matt came to faith at a young age and developed an early desire to carry the gospel to others. Over time, God shaped that calling into pastoral ministry and church planting. Matt’s ministry has also been shaped by his and his wife Lu’s experience in military life, giving them a deep love for and understanding of the military community. He earned his M.Div. from Liberty University. Matt and Lu have four sons — Abram, Graham, Ari, and Theo — and are expecting their fifth son. In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with family, hiking, running, playing guitar, and reading in his hammock.
MATHEW XIONG
Mathew Xiong is a Church Planting Resident at Trinity Church Wayzata and is planting a church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with a vision to reach the Hmong community and their diverse neighborhood with the gospel. Though raised in the church, Mathew came to fully understand God’s grace at 18 through the influence of a youth pastoral intern from Crown College. Mathew previously served as an assistant pastor in Fresno, California, and later as a pastoral fellow at University Reformed Church. He earned his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in 2021. He and his wife, Jou, are passionate about hospitality, discipleship, and building a diverse church community centered on Christ.
JOE DENTICI
Joe is the planting pastor of Servant King Presbyterian in Greenville, South Carolina, launched on Easter 2026. A natural skeptic, he came to faith in college almost by accident. He graduated from Beeson Divinity School in 2007 and served with Reformed University Fellowship at UAB and Penn State, then as associate pastor at Grace & Peace before being called to plant Servant King. Joe and his wife, Melissa, have three children—Anne Charlotte, Cannon, and Beck—and a chocolate lab, Champ. He enjoys live music, distance running, and reading, especially fiction, poetry, and theology.
MICHAEL PREVITERA
Information on Michael’s ministry will be added soon.