This month I’d like to introduce Jonathan Yates. He is one of the eight brothers in this year’s Church Planter Cohort. We originally connected with Jack through Ryan Ross who is the pastor of City Church in Melissa and also serves with the Send Network. Jonathan is serving as a church plant resident at City Church. Jonathan is married to Melissa and they have two children: Autumn (11) and Lincoln (8).
Prior to pursuing church planting, Jonathan served as Minister of Education and Administration at Hillcrest Church in Austin as well as Minister of Families and Children at Crosspoint Church in McKinney. Before ministry he was a middle school math teacher. Jonathan also earned his MDiv from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute.
Our Cohort trains men in theology, practical church planting issues, as well as the Send Network’s core competencies of a church planter. Jonathan says, “I am excited to learn strategies and best practices that will enable us to plant effectively in the Van Alstyne community and reach our area with the Gospel!” He also has been able to attend our monthly lunches and gleaned wisdom from our speakers.
The Yates are planting Family Church in Van Alstyne and have already begun gathering a Core Team. About the church he says, “We want to plant a church to empower every family in Van Alstyne and beyond to have transformed lives through faith in Jesus Christ. We want to make fully developing disciples who make fully developing disciples.”
When I asked Jonathan how we can pray for him, he responded, “We would appreciate prayers that God continues to connect us with people who are passionate about church planting, love the Van Alstyne area, and want to partner with us in our planting efforts and financially support us.”
You can learn more about Family Church by visiting FamilyChurchVanAlstyne.com. From the website you can learn more about their vision, Core Team meetings, sign up to join their prayer team, and even financially support the church.
Jonathan recently preached at our church and did great. Email me (micah@dentonbaptist.org) if you would like to meet Jonathan or have speak to your missions team or even preach at your church.