We Champion the Church Disciple Leader
OUR DREAM
47,000 Plus Southern Baptist Churches
These churches are dependent upon leaders who are called or hired, and who possess the competencies needed to lead the church to develop a healthy disciplemaking environment. While many of these churches function with a full-time, part-time, or bi-vocational leader, there are countless others that have more than one pastoral, ministry, or director level staff member. This means there could be 40,000 – 100,000 SBC church leaders (pastoral, ministry, or director level) at any given time who are tasked with equipping the church to make disciples.
Church Leaders from a Variety of Backgrounds
Some are seminary trained, some have never attended seminary, and others are new to serving in a church environment. Whatever their background, they are sometimes placed in positions that demand thinking and ministry competencies that they might not have learned or developed, thus creating a challenge for both them and their churches. If they don’t connect with others and seek wise counsel, they and their churches could experience disappointing, discouraging, and, at times, disastrous outcomes. Sadly, these leaders come and go in churches without ever reaching their full potential or helping their churches reach their full potential.
Additionally, experienced, and seasoned leaders desperately need connections that will help them continue to grow, remain healthy, and sharpen their disciplemaking skills.
This is the DLN Space
This is the space in which the Disciple Leaders Network (DLN) is serving. DLN’s vision is to champion disciple leaders so they can experience success in equipping the church to make disciples.
Strategic Objectives
- Discover the Relational — Connect disciple leaders with church, organizational, and denominational leaders to foster mentoring and lifelong relationships—Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, CSB)
- Develop the Leader — Connect disciple leaders with organizations, leaders, and resources that will help them develop the competencies needed to continue being leaders worthy of imitation—Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. (Hebrews 13:7, CSB)
- Deliver the Practical — Connect disciple leaders with biblical and practical disciplemaking solutions, resources, ideas, and strategies—Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10, CSB)
OUR TEAM
DLN Board Officers
John McClendon
Executive Director
John has 40 plus years of ministry experience and has served as the Executive Director since 2015. He is a speaker, author, and consultant in areas related to church leadership, discipleship and Sunday School. He has served churches in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee and served 13 years at Lifeway with a focus on training and development. John’s greatest joy comes from watching church leaders connect with others who will help them flourish in their ministries and homes.
Alan Raughton
Secretary-Treasurer
Alan serves as the Pastor of Christian Education & Discipleship at Nashville First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN. Prior to coming to Nashville First, he served 24 years at Lifeway training and connecting with Christian Educators and Adult Ministry leaders around the country about the work and strategy of adult ministry. Alan has a passion for training Sunday School leaders and ministry professionals.
Ben Baxley
Chairman, Associate Pastor, Adults, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN
Ben has served churches in Tennessee and North Carolina. Ben’s experience working with adults has helped FBC Hendersonville expand their groups ministry as they move forward post-COVID. Ben is a leader who loves to learn and share what he learns by investing in other leaders.
Nathan Miller
Vice-Chairman, Adult Pastor, First Baptist Concord Church, Knoxville, TN
Nathan’s focus is on the adult discipleship ministries of First Baptist Concord which includes leading the groups ministries. He is the former Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Administration at HBC Wendell, NC and studied Pastoral Ministries with Biblical Languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Biblical studies at Liberty University.
DLN Board
2025
Carl Fondren
Executive Pastor, Hiland Park Baptist Church, Panama City, FL
God called Carl to serve as a minister at the age of nineteen. Carl has had the opportunity to serve churches in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Florida. His greatest passion is helping the church remain focused on her mission and helping leaders join God in fulfilling that mission.
Kim Harris
Vice President of the DLN Board | DLN Member Catalyst | Church Consulting, Noonday Baptist Association, Atlanta Metro Area, GA
Kim has served on the Christian Education staff in numerous churches in the greater Atlanta area including Roswell Street and West Cobb, both in Marietta, GA. She has served with the Noonday Association since 2018. Kim is passionate about training and developing leaders as is evident in her work to develop a weekday preschool training event that reaches hundreds of leaders each year.
Robert Mullins
Lead Pastor, Crossroads Community Church, Greater Montgomery Area, AL
Robert has over 27 years of ministry experience serving in the local church. Robert has served in Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. He has a passion to see people get connected to the Lord and have fun doing it! Besides being the Lead Pastor, Robert is the founder of Passion Tree Netowrk. A network designed to encourage disciple-making pastors.
2026
PJ Dunn
North Region Discipleship Consultant, Georgia Baptist Mission Board, GA
As a discipleship consultant with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, PJ helps churches make disciples and reach their community. He is especially passionate about reaching and equipping single adults. As an advocate for singles, he travels nationally, speaking, coaching, and creating content for singles and the local church. PJ founded Table for One Ministries in 2013 with a mission to build community for single adults through discipleship.
Ben Baxley
Associate Pastor, Adults, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN
Ben has served churches in Tennessee and North Carolina. Ben’s experience working with adults has helped FBC Hendersonville expand their groups ministry as they move forward post-COVID. Ben is a leader who loves to learn and share what he learns by investing in other leaders.
Randy Stone
Professor of Christian Education, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA
Randy has faithfully served at NOBTS since 2011, equipping hundreds of students in the area of disciplemaking. Local church ministry is central to Randy’s life and ministry. He has more than three decades of experience, serving a variety of positions and with a variety of congregations. He also coaches struggling staff members, consults with local congregations and presents at leadership conferences.
2027
Dixie Lovett
Women’s Ministry Director at New Vision Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN
Dixie is a seasoned Women’s Ministry leader. She has served at New Vision Baptist for multiple years where she serves with a disciplemaking team whose goal is to reach adults in Murfreesboro, TN with the gospel and see their lives transformed as they worship, connect, serve, and go.
Sean Keith
Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist, Louisiana Baptist Convention, Alexandria, LA
Sean is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for the Louisiana Baptists Convention. His goal is to assist Louisiana Baptist Churches in developing and utilizing their small groups strategy to make disciples and accomplish the Great Commission. He assists churches in developing a path forward towards a healthy, growing church.
Nathan Miller
Adult Pastor, First Baptist Concord Church, Knoxville, TN
Nathan’s focus is on the adult discipleship ministries of First Baptist Concord which includes leading the groups ministries. He is the former Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Administration at HBC Wendell, NC and studied Pastoral Ministries with Biblical Languages at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Biblical studies at Liberty University.
2028
Shelley Melia
Associate Dean/Program Director for MA in Children’s & Family Ministry at Dallas Baptist University
Prior to DBU, Shelley served for more than 25 years in children’s and family ministry in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas.
Dr. Melia is also a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in grief and resilience. She holds an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, two master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute.
Brad Delaughter
Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church De Soto, Missouri
In addition to serving as Lead Pastor, Brad also serves as a hospital chaplain, is the Director for National Sustainability and Missouri Team Lead for Prison Seminaries Foundation and is an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Brad has served as a prison chaplain, church planter, and church revitalizer. Brad has a Master of Arts in Christian Education, as well as a Master of Theology, and a Ph.D. all from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In his spare time Brad enjoys time in the gym, hiking with his family, and cooking Cajun meals.
Sean Beach
Associate Minister of Education, First Baptist, Dallas, TX
Sean has been the Associate Minister of Education since 2021. He holds a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Liberty University.
Sean and his wife, Katie, have been married for eleven years, and they have three girls, Caroline (9), Madison (7), and Emily (4).
DLN Ministry Leaders
Director of Events
Kim Harris
Experienced church ministry consultant and ministry training event planner.
Eastwood Baptist Church, Marietta, GA
Champion Coordinator
Dwight Moss
Founder and lead trainer of Sunday School/Home Group Trainers.
Immanuel Baptist Church, Lebanon, TN
Lunch & Learn Host
Joseph Brasher
Adult Ministry Pastor
New Vision Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN
Prayer Ministry Leader
Bob Moon
Discipleship Pastor
Covenant Baptist Church, Brentwood, TN
Ministry Assistant
Becky McClendon
Preschool Volunteer and Connect Group Leader
Northside Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, TN
SUPPORT
Disciple Leaders Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. It is committed to four financial goals: (1) Keep the cost of membership to a minimum so it won’t be a financial burden on the church or church leader. (2) Maintain a lean, yet sustainable organization. (3) Provide adequate support for the ministries and staff of the organization. (4) Financial transparency and accountability through annual budgeting approved by the board, financial reports, expenditure approval processes, and financial oversight by a board approved accounting firm.
Donate
Giving can be in the form of a one-time gift or an ongoing gift such as monthly, quarterly, or annually. Donations can be made to our annual budget or to the Disciple Leaders Foundation managed by the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.
Give Online
Text to Give:(615) 237-1044 (Keyword: Support)
Join
Joining the Disciple Leaders Network provides you with the opportunity to learn, grow, and experience the ministry of DLN.
Join Now
Partner
If you are part of a like-minded organization, an SBC entity, state convention, association, seminary, school, or a company whose ministry aligns or compliments our strategic objectives, we would like to partner with you. There are multiple levels in which one can partner with us.
Partner Now
Pray
Disciple Leaders Network is constantly watching, praying, and discerning what God would have us do next, so that we can make sure church leaders are given every opportunity to experience success. You can join us in praying that we will make wise decisions, that leaders will discover this ministry, that leaders will benefit from this ministry, and that we will be able to remain financially viable.
Advocate
Perhaps you don’t feel you can be involved, but you do have a burden for helping church leaders experience success in their ministries. Would you consider being our advocate to these leaders and helping them understand the value of this ministry? Let your church staff or other church leaders know about the ministry and how they can be involved.
CORE BELIEFS
God
There is one and only one living and true God who reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Bible
The Holy Bible is the only infallible, authoritative Word of God and is the sole basis for our doctrine and beliefs.
The Believer
As people who have been redeemed through Jesus Christ, believers have been uniquely designed by their Creator and empowered by His Spirit to live out The Great Commission and The Great Commandment.
The Body
The church, consisting of born-again, baptized believers, is the Body of Christ, banded together to fulfill The Great Commission and The Great Commandment.
The Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord.
DLN also subscribes to the doctrinal statement of the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention with all current amendments and reaffirmations.
HISTORY
In 1955, there were three distinct regional Southern Baptist associations that supported what was then called Christian or Religious Education. The Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay), at the invitation of these three associations, led the effort to unite these three groups into one organization, the Southern Baptist Religious Education Association (SBREA). Over the years there have been additional opportunities to unite with other Baptist associations such as the Baptist Religious Educators Association of the Southwest (BREAS). In 2001, SBREA changed its name to Baptist Association of Christian Educators (BACE).
Because of the changing church practice landscape, another strategic pivot was made between 2015 and 2021. In 2022 the pivot was completed with a commitment to move forward by expanding the ministry and identifying the ministry as the Disciple Leaders Network in order to better describe the new focus. Disciple Leaders Network is pursuing ways to fill a leadership vacuum that has left many church leaders wondering how they can provide what is necessary to equip their local church to make disciples.
Today, Disciple Leaders Network stands ready to serve the next generation of disciple making leaders, however that ministry might be defined by the local church.