This month, I want to introduce Mike Reil, one of our cohort’s church planters. By God’s grace, eight brothers are going through our training in 2024. I had the opportunity to participate in Mike’s assessment with the Send Network last fall, and thus, I am excited he joined our cohort. He will be planting Tree of Life Church in North Oak Cliff. Regarding the cohort, Mike says, “I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of this cohort with such a diverse group of planters as well as lead teachers, and to see how God uses each of us to both be formed and to contribute for the building up of one another and His Gospel work.”
Mike is married to Aletha, and they have four children: Marchesa (12), Oakley (10), Sephora (8), and Aurora (6). Mike currently works as a project manager for a commercial glass company. Aletha works as a freelance writer and editor. Mike also has a personal trainer business. He grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo, NY, in a Catholic family and attended a Jesuit high school. During college, he was converted to an evangelical church. The Reils moved to DFW so Mike could attend Dallas Seminary. Mike holds the ThM in Pastoral Ministry from DTS.
Currently, Mike is a Church Planting Resident with Northway Church in Dallas. Participation in the DBA cohort is a part of his residency with Northway Church. The Reils currently live in North Oak Cliff. Following the cohort training, he will begin building a core team for a new church in North Oak Cliff. Regarding the church plant, Mike says, “My vision is to plant a God-glorifying church in the heart of North Oak Cliff where, like grocery stores, there is a gap in that area of the city for a much-needed presence of the light of the Gospel. I desire to plant and grow a church that is centered on the Great Commission of making disciples and having that pervasively displayed in all stages of what it encompasses, from initial faith to maturity to multiplication, and for that work to spill out of the church itself into the surrounding communities to see God’s Spirit do a great work in transforming this area of Dallas for Christ and His Kingdom.”
Mike is beginning to develop prayer and support partners. If you want to connect with Mike or have him meet with your Missions Team, please email me at Micah@DentonBaptist.org. Finally, please commit to praying for the Reils. When I asked Mike how our churches can pray for them, he said, “For Tree of Life Church, things are very much in the early stages, and there is a lot to be done. Please be in prayer that God would raise up men for leadership alongside me as well as men and women who share the vision for North Oak Cliff and would desire to be part of serving this church plant.”