About Acts 29

Acts 29 exists to be faithful to The Great Commission by planting churches worldwide by recruiting, assessing, training, and supporting church planters.

What We Believe

Acts 29 stands in the tradition of historic evangelical confessionalism. We affirm the Lausanne Covenant and are committed to the following five theological distinctives:

Gospel centrality in all of life
The sovereign grace of God in saving sinners
The work of the Holy Spirit for life and ministry
The equality of men and women and the principle of male servant leadership
The local church as God’s primary mission strategy

WHAT WE WANT TO BE KNOWN FOR

Acts 29 will ensure that we are known for:

Evangelistic Church Planting
Theological Definition
Contextual Evangelism
Missional Collaboration
Global Ambition

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Acts 29 will succeed to the extent that we:

Recruit church planters dedicated to leading healthy, multiplying churches
Assess men based on core competencies to lead healthy, multiplying churches
Develop men who are planting or leading healthy, multiplying churches through coaching, training, and support

Staff Members

BRIAN HOWARD

President

Brian Howard has over 20 years of proven leadership experience as a leadership coach, non-profit executive, church planter, lead pastor, and business owner. Brian holds a master’s degree from Talbot School of Theology, has been married for 26 years to the love of his life, and has four children.

PHILIP MOORE

Vice President for Global Regions

Philip Moore is married to Rachel and they have five children. In 2006, Phillip moved to France to pastor a church in the Paris area. Since then, by God’s grace, the church has planted three daughter churches and trained and sent a couple to plant a church in the centre of Paris. He is now the Acts 29 Vice President for Global Regions as well as the Regional Director for Acts 29 Europe.

DOUG LOGAN

Vice President for Advancement

Doug Logan is an associate director for Acts 29 and has been in urban ministry for nearly 25 years. In 2011, he planted Epiphany Fellowship of Camden with his wife, Angel. They have three sons and three grandchildren. He serves as the president of Grimké Seminary, founded On the Block Collective, and is the author of ‘On The Block.'

TONY MERIDA

Executive Vice President

Tony Merida is the founding pastor of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tony has an extensive itinerant ministry and has written several books, including 'The Christ-Centered Expositor,' 'Ordinary,' and 'Orphanology.' He is happily married to Kimberly and they have five adopted children.

MATTHEW SPANDLER-DAVISON

Vice President for Global Outreach

Matthew is originally from Stonehaven, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and was awarded a doctorate by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Matthew is married to Tracy and has two daughters. He is a church planter and the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship Church in Bardstown, Kentucky.

ANDY BEAN

Vice President for Operations

Andy was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, where he lives with his wife, Ashley, and two children. Andy has over 12 years of experience leading communications and operations teams through many different phases of church life: from planting to multiplication to multi-site. Andy and his family have been members of Redeemer Fellowship Church in Kansas City since 2009, where Andy served as a pastor and director of operations until taking this position with Acts 29.

TYLER JONES

Vice President for Church Planting

After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in 1997, Tyler and his wife Kimberly moved to Raleigh, where they now continue loving their city with their three kids. Tyler planted Vintage Church in the fall of 2002, which has now grown to five locations in the Triangle. Serving in a myriad of leadership roles with Acts29 since 2003, he is driven by his passion for planting and growing churches to advance the gospel across the US and the world.

SCOTT ZELLER

Vice President for Global Coordination

Scott is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he’s a pastor for Redeemer Church—a church-planting church having sent out planters throughout the UAE and to Lebanon, Kuwait, and India. He’s been involved in ministry leadership development and church planting in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East for many years. Scott’s married to Angela and they have four children.

ADAM RAMSEY

Regional Director | Asia Pacific

Adam Ramsey leads Liberti Church on the Gold Coast, Australia and also serves as the director for Acts 29 Asia Pacific. The author of several books, including Truth on Fire and Truly, Truly, I Say to You, his favorite parts of life include being married to Kristina, making memories with their five kids, and preaching good news. Adam is quite serious about joy and an avid practitioner of laughter.

FRANCISCO BENDFELDT

Regional Director | Latin America

Francisco began his ministry as a teenager and has preached in several countries around the world during the last 20 years. He is the lead pastor of Casa de Libertad in Guatemala City and has a passion to reach others with the gospel through church planting. He lives in Guatemala with his wife Carol and his four children.

ONE MOKGATLE

Regional Director | Africa

One, his wife Confidence, and their two daughters live in Pretoria, South Africa. He leads Rooted Fellowship, a gospel-centered, disciple making, and transcultural church, planted from a partnership with LIG.punt and Bryanston Bible Church. One’s desire is to see more churches planted in Pretoria and beyond.

DWIGHT BERNIER

Regional Director | Canada

Dwight and his wife, Jessica, live in Montréal with their four children. In 2011, they began Church 21, a multi-location church in the province of Québec. Dwight has a great desire to see churches planted all throughout Canada. He enjoys baseball, running, reading, U2, and playing in the city with his family.

CHANDRA HOWARD

Director of Human Resources

Chandra has been a part of the Acts 29 family for many years. She is married to Brian and they have four amazing kids. Chandra planted a church with her husband in 2002, has served as the marketing director for Context Coaching, and currently serves as the director of human resources for Acts 29.

RACHEL WOLVERTON

Director of Marketing & Communications

Rachel worked in various marketing roles for Wycliffe Bible Translators for nine years before joining Acts 29. Originally from Florida, she’s an alumna of LeTourneau University and Eastern Michigan University. She lives in Colorado with her husband, Nick, and their three sons. She enjoys the outdoors, reading, and cooking.

JEFF MEDDERS

Director of Assessment and Podcast Creator

Jeff is the host of The Acts 29 Podcast and works with the content and theology of Acts 29. He also serves on staff at Risen Church and the Risen Collective in Houston, Texas. He’s a PhD student in biblical spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff is the author of 'Humble Calvinism' and 'Gospel Formed.'

DWAYNE BOND

Director of Pastoral Care

Pastor Dwayne Bond is an elder and serves as the lead pastor of Wellspring Church. He and his family relocated to Charlotte to plant Wellspring in 2006. Dwayne is married to his beautiful wife, Leslie, and they have three wonderful children.

GARY COUSINS

Director of Global Operations

Gary is married to Claudia and based in her home country of Germany. They have two teenage boys. Gary pastored for six years in Northern Ireland followed by eight years in leadership development with an international missions agency. He enjoys trail running and is a volunteer firefighter.

RONELL KING

Global Networks Liaison

Ronell, her husband Darret, and three children live in Linden, Johannesburg. She studied interior design and décor and had her own business before going full-time into ministry in 2009. Ronell is eager to see church planting teams flourish for the sake of furthering the gospel and glorifying God's name.

CHRISTY BRITTON

Director of Content

Christy is a member of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, and serves as the discipleship classes coordinator. She’s married to Stephen, and they’re raising four boys together. Team Britton enjoys Cajun food and cheering for the LSU Tigers.

AHARON LOGAN

Marketing and Communications Specialist

Aharon was born to an inner-city church planter and has been raised in the ministry his entire life. For three years, he worked as an executive assistant for a Presbyterian church in New Jersey and now serves Acts 29's marketing and communications needs. He married Erin in 2019 and resides in Richmond, Virginia.

YADIRO HENRIQUEZ

Lead Graphic Designer

Yad is a graphic designer who currently resides in Oak Island, North Carolina. In 2000, he graduated with a BFA in graphic design from the School of Visual Arts in New York. That may seem like centuries ago in internet years, but don’t worry, this hyperbolic old dog is on top of all the new tricks. Yad enjoys houseplants and dogs.

JESSICA ESTES

Communications Project Manager

Jessica has a BBA in marketing from Texas A&M University with a background in advertising and communications. She and her husband, Jason, have three children. Jessica is a member of The Village Church, serves on the PTA Board at her children’s elementary school, and loves spending time outdoors with her family.

STEPHANIE OSBORNE

Sponsorships Coordinator

Stephanie is a graduate of Texas A&M University and also received her MA in international conflict resolution from George Washington University. She enjoys traveling and serving in the music ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. She and her husband, Caleb, have three young boys.

JUSTIN ROBERTS

Information Systems Specialist

Justin has been married to his best friend, Samantha, for six years and they have two beautiful girls. He enjoys coffee, supporting local community, and loves exploring the outdoors.

REBEKAH PAZ

Executive Assistant to Brian Howard

Rebekah has 10+ years of administrative experience and helped her husband, Edward, plant theMOVEMENT Church in Oakland, California. Originally from Texas, she graduated from San Francisco State University and has lived in the Bay Area for 14 years. She enjoys all things Texas, crafting, new restaurants, and exploring Oakland.

NICOLE COX

Finance Assistant

Nicole was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Her husband, Michael, and their three children are part of the newest Living Stones Church plant where Michael is a pastor. She volunteers for the finance team and has three years of experience working in ministry as an assistant. When not working, she is homeschooling her kids, leading a women's community group, and hanging out with her best friend—her husband!

SU PARKS

Executive Assistant

Su recently relocated to Southern California after living in Northern Ireland for 15 years where she and her husband, Lucas, planted Village Church Belfast. They have been married for 25 years and have three children. Su is passionate about sharing Christ with others, being active, and expressing herself through art.

BRYAN LAUGHLIN

Co-Director of Theological Training

Bryan Laughlin is the lead pastor of Remnant Church in Richmond, Virginia, where he lives with his wife and four children. He is an experienced pastor and planter with a heart for the gospel and church planting. He has served many years in the local church, training and equipping leaders for gospel ministry.

JAKE DAVIES

Global Partnership Coordinator

Jake was born and raised in Alaska. He met and married Allison, his wife of 20 years there, and they're raising four kids. Before his service in the local church, Jake served in the United States Navy, received his education in business management, started a small business, and is currently finishing his master's studies at Western Seminary. Through serving the local church for many years, Jake has a deep desire to strengthen and grow the church locally and globally. He enjoys cooking, building houses, and fishing with family, friends, and anyone who comes within his path.

JUSTIN ANDERSON

Director of Church Planting

Justin has spent the last 20 years leading churches. He has planted three thriving Acts 29 churches (Phoenix, San Francisco and Seattle), led a large-scale church merger and has coached and consulted dozens of leaders through major church transitions. Justin currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Emilie and five kids.

TYLER ST. CLAIR

Urban Strategist

Tyler St. Clair is the lead pastor of Cornerstone Church Detroit. He is a regular contributor to the Acts 29 blog. Tyler is also the US network lead for Church in Hard Places and urban strategist with Acts 29 Urban, and acts as a liaison between Acts 29 and Grimké Seminary Urban. Tyler is married to his best friend and has five amazing kids.

ALEX URREA

Global Assessment Coordinator

Alex is the assessment coordinator for Latin America. He is part of Iglesia Reforma, and lives in Guatemala City, Guatemala with his wife Jeanine, Flor & Matteo.

TIM SIZEMORE

Apprentice Manager, Church in Hard Places

Tim is a lay elder at Redeemer Fellowship Church. Tim and his wife, Robbin, have four children between the ages of 11–16. They enjoy camping, hiking, biking, and all sports.

DAWN GRIBBIN

Office Admin & Events Manager, Church in Hard Places

Dawn was raised in northern Virginia and is a member of Redeemer Fellowship Church in Bardstown, Kentucky. Dawn is married to Chris and they have three children. She joined Acts 29 in August, 2019, serving as the personal assistant to the vice president for global outreach and the administrator for Church in Hard Places.

ZACHARY MORGAN

Lead Assessment Coordinator

Zack is from north Georgia and served as a pastor for seven years before joining Acts 29. Zack is married to Shelby and they have two children. Zack is grateful to be part of the process of seeing healthy churches planted through Acts 29.

TYLER POWELL

Assessment Coordinator

Tyler has been married to Jodi for more than 20 years and they have four children. He holds a master of divinity degree from Denver Seminary and has been in ministry since 2001. Tyler currently serves as the church planting director at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, overseeing the church planting residency, and previously served as the assessment director for Acts 29 from 2006–2015.

SHAUNA SIGMON

US Event Coordinator

Shauna and her husband, Matt, helped plant Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she serves as the women’s discipleship director and her husband is the executive pastor. They have five witty children, including two who joined their family through the blessing of adoption. Shauna and her family have traveled around the world encouraging planters and missionaries.

STEVE ROSS

Urban & Diversity Content Strategist

Steve Ross has been married to his lifelong best friend, Jamie, since they were 19. They're blessed to raise three sons and five daughters together. He serves as the lead pastor at Arise, a gospel-centered, multiethnic church in Ventura, California, and loves shepherding the church toward unity in diversity.

Dave Pinckney

Associate Director of North American Regions & Rural Church Strategist

JESS LOVE

Executive Assistant to Andy Bean

Jess has more than five years of experience working in church administration. She graduated from the University of Kansas and lived in Kansas City, Missouri, before meeting her husband and moving to Columbus, Georgia, in 2021 for his Army placement at Ft. Benning. She loves music and coffee, exploring new cities with her husband, and growing and arranging flowers in her free time.

JOSH KIM

Executive Assistant to Doug Logan

Josh lives in Philadelphia with his wife Sarah and serves as a pastor at Metro Church. He graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary and is passionate about global church planting with a desire to see the gospel advance among skeptics.

TAYLOR OWENS

Executive Assistant to Dwayne Bond

Taylor lives in Huntersville, North Carolina, with her husband and three children. She has a BA in international affairs from Florida State University and an MS in management from Sullivan University. She spent most of her childhood living overseas in Italy, Belgium, and Switzerland, so she loves to travel and explore new places.

Olivia Meade

Content Editor

Olivia is a born and raised West Virginian. She received a master's of business administration from Marshall University and has a background in nonprofit development and marketing. She’s married to Matt and they have two young daughters. Their family calls New Heights Church in Milton, WV home.

Rob Berreth

Director of Equip

Rob Berreth has been involved in church planting for over 20 years, helping launch churches in Seattle, Boston and Bellingham, WA USA, where he has serves as the founding and lead pastor for the past 18 years. He holds an MDiv from Gordon-Conwell and is , obsessed with church-based training. He has been married for 23 years to his high school sweetheart and has four children.

Pete Carlson

Equip Assistant

Pete specializes in Customer Success on the EQUIP Team. He is married to Rachel and has two boys, Emmett and Warren. He lives in the Pacific Northwest and is passionate about helping local churches develop and deploy disciples and churches. He helps to pastor an Acts 29 Church in Bellingham, WA.

Travis Whitehead

Global Project Manager for Regional Development

Acts 29 Board