Resourcing ministry teams to serve, grow and lead with open access tools and ideas
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104 Bayside Circle
West Monroe, LA 71291
Ministry Action Plans Story
Ministry Action Plans first emerged in Newport News, Virginia in 1993 with a local church guidebook for innovative ministry through worship and the arts. An early motivation was Willow Creek Community Church and its consequential, seeker-targeted vision that revolutionized ministry methodology in the United States.
This early effort progressed to a 1998 Southwestern Seminary thesis project—Purpose Driven Creativity—which turned into a 250-page book that was used to resource other churches. After teaching a survey communication course at Southwestern for three years, the idea for developing a web resource was born.
Beginning as “Church Growth Game Plan” with a basic web version in 2000, the site because “Church Growth Central” in 2005. The final iteration—”Ministry Action Plans”—arrived in 2010.
A motivation throughout this time was adjunct teaching in communication and church growth through Union University’s Organizational Leadership Program. But even more important was a desire to grow and learn, to innovate and change, and to stay relevant in the face of constant change across the cultural landscape.
A key lesson has been that while methods and vocabulary may change, the basic principles and strategies for growing churches, reaching unchurched people and discipling new believers remains remarkably unchanged.
About Tim Spencer
Tim Spencer serves as Executive Pastor at First West in Northeast Louisiana. He previously served on the Senior Team at Collierville First Baptist Church outside Memphis, TN and as Adjunct Instructor of Organizational Leadership & Communication at Union University in Germantown, TN. He has led churches—large and small, innovative and traditional—for more than 30 years.
Tim is married to Suzy Hamrick of Livingston, Alabama. Together they have three children—William, Daniel and Katie. Tim’s hobbies include home projects, classic movies, American history and basketball.
Academic Background
- M.A. in Communication/Educational Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
- M.A. in Public Policy/Government from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia
- B.A. in History and Music from Union University, Jackson, Tennessee
Professional Background
- Executive Pastor at First West, West Monroe, Louisiana, 2015 – present
- Executive Pastor—Ministries at Collierville First Baptist Church, Collierville, Tennessee, 2012 – 2015
- Adjunct Instructor of Organizational Leadership & Communication at Union University, Jackson, Tennessee, 2005 – 2015
- Associate Pastor of Worship at Collierville First Baptist Church, Collierville, Tennessee, 2000 – 2012
- Arts & Media/Administration Pastor at NorthShore Church, Flower Mound, Texas, 1996 – 2000
- Adjunct Instructor of Communication Arts at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, 1998 – 2000
- Celebration Arts Pastor at Twin Cities Community Church, Grass Valley, California, 1995 – 1996
- Minister of Music & Worship at Deer Park Baptist Church, Newport News, Virginia, 1991 – 1995