About
About Matt
Pastor, professor of church planting, and author.
Matt Rogers is the pastor of Christ Fellowship Northgate in Greenville, South Carolina, the church he planted in 2009. He lives in Greenville with his wife, Sarah, and their five children.
Since its start, the church has planted five other congregations and sent dozens of church planters and missionaries around the world. Matt has led more than fifty short-term mission trips, and through the North American Mission Board and The Pillar Network he has consulted with hundreds of church plants on pastoral and leadership development.
A two-time graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv and PhD), Matt teaches church planting and revitalization at Southeastern, where he also coordinates the seminary’s North American Church Planting and Revitalization program.
He is the co-creator of the Seven Arrows Bible-reading method and has written 14 books and resources for Bible readers, students, and church leaders.
Ministry & teaching
- 2009 – presentLead PastorChrist Fellowship Northgate, Greenville, SC — planted in 2009
- 2018 – presentAssistant Professor of Church Planting & RevitalizationSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- PresentCoordinator, North American Church Planting & RevitalizationSoutheastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- 2015 – presentChurch Development DirectorThe Pillar Network
- 2012 – 2018Lead Writer & EditorSend Network, North American Mission Board
- 2007 – 2009Family PastorCrosspoint Church, Clemson, SC
- 2001 – 2004Student MinisterSpringwell Church, Greenville, SC
- 1999 – 2001Student MinisterWhite Oak Baptist Church, Greenville, SC
Education
- PhD, 2016Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryApplied Theology. Dissertation: “Holistic Pastoral Training: Partnership Between the Seminary and the Church in the United States”
- MDiv, 2009Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryChristian Ministry
- MA, 2006Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryCounseling
- BA, 2001Furman UniversityPsychology
Courses taught
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Missiological Foundations for Church Planting
- Methods and Models of Church Planting
- Administration and Education in the Local Church
- Evangelism: Nature and Practice
- Disciple-Making Methods
- Preaching and Teaching in the Local Church
- DMin oversight in church planting and missions
He has also chaired and served on committees for dozens of DMin and PhD students.
- Guest Lecturer, Anderson UniversityChristian Worldview; PhD Seminar in Leadership; Missions and Church Planting
- Guest Lecturer, Charleston Southern UniversityDisciple-Making Methods and Models
- Board Member, Reaching and TeachingOrganizational development and mission sending
- Strategic partner, Central Asia AffinityInternational Mission Board
- Denominational serviceSouth Carolina Baptist Convention and the Three Rivers Baptist Association
Writing & publications
Matt’s books are on the Books page, and his articles and podcast appearances are on the Articles page. Other writing:
- ForthcomingNow What? Making Sense of Parenting at Each New StageCourier
- ForthcomingGospel Pioneer: The Life of Bernie MayThe Seed Company
- ForthcomingResidencies: Best Practices for Local Churches to Raise Up PastorsSouth Carolina Baptist Convention
- 2026Churches Multiplying Pastors: A Guide for Pastoral Residencies, Mentoring, and Training Shepherds for the Local ChurchCourier
- 2023“Five Trends in Church Planting”9Marks Journal
- 2023“Sending Out Church Planters Strategically”9Marks Journal
- 2022“13 Pillars for Planting Healthy Churches”9Marks Journal
- 2019The Jesus Bible (contributor)HarperCollins
Training resources
- Lead resource developer, The Pillar NetworkPastoral resources for a network of 700 church-planting churches across North America
- Content developer, Church Planting PipelineNAMB’s two-year internship and residency training modules
- Project developer, The Palmetto CollectiveA two-year residency for university students across South Carolina, with the South Carolina Baptist Convention
Elsewhere
Churches, conferences, and training events.