Church Planter Cohort IX (2022-2023)
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.
RANDLE BISHOP
Randle is planting Trinity Gospel Church where he hopes to see South Dallas and South Oak Cliff touched afresh through the grace of the gospel of our Savior-King! He graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2011 where he met his wife, Matina. The two have been married for 12 years and have five wonderfully-energetic children. Prior to planting, Randle lived in Chicago, serving at Immanuel Baptist Church where he was ordained and sent out for the work of church planting in 2019. He also participated in a 16 month church planting cohort with the The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas.
JAY DENTON
Jay is currently planting Downtown Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC. He has been married to Bet for over 16 years and has three little girls (Laine 11, Remy 8, Breck 6). Before planting in Wilmington, Jay served as a Campus Pastor with Reformed University Fellowship at Boise State (2019-22) and UNC Wilmington (2015-19). He also served as a pastor at Midtown Community Church in Raleigh, NC (2010-15). He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary Charlotte and Gardner-Webb University. Jay loves time at the beach with his family, playing tennis, reading about mid-century design, and cooking BBQ.
ADAM PICKARD
Adam planted Citizens Church in Kernersville, NC in March 2021. He earned a BA in Christian Studies from Gardner-Webb University and a Masters Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before planting Citizens, Adam was on the launch team and staff team for New City Church in Raleigh, NC where he served for 4 years before being sent to Kernersville. Adam is married to his wife Emily and will be welcoming their daughter, Jane, in December 2022! Adam loves his sports teams (even though they’re terrible), fishing at the coast, & good coffee.
KRIS COOPER
Kris is currently a campus minister who planted RUF at North Carolina Central University in 2016. He is a graduate of Bucknell University and has his seminary degree in Christian Leadership from Liberty University. Kris has been in ministry for 18 years. He created a college ministry called ‘The Gathering,’ and served as assistant pastor at Jordan Memorial in Baltimore, Md. He served as pastor of Mt. Calvary Church in Aberdeen Md. Kris is married to Santae, his wife of 12 years; they have two children, Alexis and Andrew. Kris loves sports, hanging with the fellas and watching movies. He enjoys life and living to the glory of God.
STEVEN GILCHRIST
Steven will be planting Jubilee Fellowship Church in Atlanta, GA in the spring of 2024. He is currently completing a church planting residency at Atlanta Westside Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA where he has also served as the Community Engagement Director since 2021. Steven is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner) and holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta. He is married to Kelly, and they have twins: Titus and Leah.