Church Planting
"God didn't call us to plant a church. God called us to reach a city. The church is simply the platform to engage the city."
- Vance Pitman, Founding and Lead Pastor, Hope Church, Las Vegas, NV
Our city has never needed hope more than it does now. And I believe that God has set up the best opportunities for people to know His will, His salvation, and His direction for their lives through life-giving churches that desire to give hope to the communities where God has placed them. But there are communities all over Dayton where the church as well as many other things is in decline. And when our churches are in decline, that means fewer and fewer people are hearing about, seeking, and calling on the name of Jesus. (Rom. 10:14)
Now is the time for us to begin to rebuild the church in Dayton
Now is the time for us to begin to rebuild the church in Dayton and to get in on what God is doing! Our goal is to create a culture in Dayton where pastors and churches are encouraged to build the kingdom, plant churches, and reach people however we can, knowing that it is God who gives the increase. As Paul and Apollos partnered together to grow the kingdom in 1 Corinthians 3, my prayer is that pastors, church planters, and leaders would continue to learn new ways to partner to bring more glory to our great God in Dayton TOGETHER!
meet our church plants
Trails Church - Planting Pastor Will Massaro (2024)
Open Heart Church - Planting Pastor Rob Cooper (2024)
CityLight Church Replant - Planting Pastor Dallas Works (2024)
Gospel Heights Church- Planting Pastor Bryson Jackson (2025)
Awakenings Christian Fellowship Riverside- Planting Pastor Cory Wendel (2025)
Grace Point Español - Planting Pastor Adrian Cespedes (2025)
Old North Baptist Church - Planting Pastor Michael Conn (2026)
The Church at Kettering (FBK) - Planting Pastor Ralph Green (2026)
Meet our church planting team
Pastor Reagan Wagoner (pictured here with his wife Heather) of Grace Point Fellowship is our team leader. Want to plant a new church, start a multiplication pipeline in your church, start a residency, or learn more about the process of church planting? Contact Reagan Wagoner at reagan@iamgracepoint.com
Bryson Jackson serves as the church planting pastor at Gospel Heights Church sent out by University Baptist last year. He is passionate about disciple-making, kingdom building and seeing churches planted across Dayton. Bryson’s wife Skyler of three years, two month old Shepherd, and husky Boaz keep his personal life lively and full. He is a high extrovert, enjoys connecting people, loves to read, plays the guitar, and has a passion for local politics serving as a township trustee the last 5 years in Butler Township.
Ralph Green serves as the Campus Pastor and Church Planter of The Church at Kettering, which launched on Easter Sunday 2026. Having grown up as the son of a church planter, Ralph developed a passion for planting healthy, gospel-centered churches from an early age. While still serving on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, he helped plant FBK’s Eastmont Campus as a core team member and served in a variety of roles. He later completed a one-year Church Planting Residency at First Baptist Church Fort Walton Beach and is currently in his fourth year of pursuing a Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ralph and his wife, Kristen, have one son, Wesley, and are committed to seeing healthy, gospel-centered churches planted and strengthened throughout the Greater Dayton Association of Baptists and across the nation.
Matt Wendel serves as the lead pastor of Awakenings Christian Fellowship in Piqua, Ohio. For 37 years, God has placed Matt and his wife, Jan, in missions and ministry settings where they have had the opportunity to walk alongside people in difficult and often overlooked places, including those impacted by addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and other life struggles. Awakenings Christian Fellowship is a church family committed to discipleship, restoration, and hands-on care for the community. The work God has allowed Matt and Jan to be part of has strengthened their burden to see churches planted and encouraged in places where people need both the truth of the gospel and the visible love of Christ.
see our Vision
Our vision is to continue connecting and partnering with GDAB church planters to go through healthy processes in partnership with the Send Network and strategic support from GDAB churches. This process will include:
Continuing the semester training process for new church planters. The training includes 11 sessions, and is open to any church planters who want to become trained in both competency and character.
Helping new planters navigate the process of assessment, training, and coaching in order to receive Send Network financial support, which can be available to them provided they complete the process for planting.
Finding and connecting GDAB churches with new church planters for the purpose of providing prayer support, financial support, and mission teams and individuals from other GDAB churches.
our Goals for 2024
To create a Leadership Pipeline for raising up leaders/new church planters in as many churches as possible across the GDAB
To create a vibrant and active GDAB Church Planting Team that works to initiate consistent monthly opportunities for church planters to connect, consistent monthly check-ins and care, and an ongoing coaching partner for every church planter
To review the process for revitalization and legacy church planting within the GDAB
To raise up a support system inside and outside the GDAB of supporting SBC churches that desire to partner with Dayton church plants
To identify churches that could start residencies for future church planters to train and grow and connect with GDAB pastors to raise awareness of the resources now available to them