We believe that church planting is at the core of who we are as Baptists. As J.D. Greear has said, “God formed the church for the purpose of His mission. He doesn’t have a mission for the church as much as He formed the church for His mission.” Church planting is the natural outworking of our obedience to Christ and making disciples.

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is excited to welcome Mike Pittman as the new Church Planting team leader. Pittman is passionate for the opportunity to see the transformative work of Christ in multiplying churches — and believers — across the state.

Prior to joining the state convention, Pittman served as a church planter and lead pastor of Vertical Church in Lumberton. The multisite church added locations in Bladen in 2013 and Pembroke in 2015. The church celebrated more than 400 baptisms in seven years.

We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his upcoming transition to the convention.

Why is this work necessary?
This next season is so important not only in church world, but especially in church planting world. We live in a time where people are seeking, but they aren’t sure what they seek. As believers, we understand that they are seeking Jesus, and our future church plants will make the message of His gospel clear and available.

What excites you about this work?
I am so excited about the opportunity to help existing churches once again become reproducing churches and to help new churches successfully plant with the intention of helping others plant successful churches.

How would you describe our role as a convention?
Our role in this next season is deep prayer for revival, with a vision for multiplication.

What do you want to see happen across North Carolina in regard to church planting?
I want to see prayer-soaked, vision-fed seeds in churches all across North Carolina. Without a supernatural move of God, this is dead in the water. But I believe God is about to do something amazing in our state. I relish the opportunity to be part of that.