OUR TEAM

In April 2013, Michael received the blessing and full support of his pastor to follow the leading of Holy Spirit to plant Faith Community Bible Church in North St. Louis City were they launched on September 11, 2016. Their mission is to make Christ known in the community. Pastor Byrd is married to the love of his life, Traci, who supports him and encourages him to do the will of God. He’s also had the blessed opportunity to father four wonderful children: Triniti, Makayla, Michael Jr. and Tyler.

Darren grew up in a small town deep in Southern Illinois; his Boomer Sooner wife Dr. Kelli Casper, in Oklahoma. They have been married since 1990 and have lived in the St. Louis area for that entire time. They have planted two churches together in St. Louis, one in the county and one in the south city neighborhood of Bevo Mill. Darren also serves as one of the pastors at the Journey Tower Grove.

He has been involved in missions and church planting in ten different countries throughout the world. Kelli is the principal at Mullanphy Elementary (St. Louis Public Schools) in the Shaw Neighborhood. They have two sons, Jordan and Zac.

Darren is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Apart from his love for Christ, God’s church and his family, Darren enjoys college sports, golf, hunting and watching Indy Cars racing at 230+ mph.

Mike is a STL guy through and through. Grew up in Brentwood, got my undergrad from Missouri Baptist University, met his wife Heidi there, and has served in churches in the Lou most of his adult life. He and Heidi were married in 1988 and we have five amazing children. Mike also holds a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He planted Genesis Church in Eureka in 2006, a church hey started with three families, and still serves as an Elder and Pastor of Preaching and Vision. Since that time Mike has had the honor of being involved in church planting on many levels including assessment, training, coaching, residencies, and sending through STL Metro, Send Network, and the Acts 29 Network.

Jen is the wife of Rik and the mom to four kids and Gram to two grandboys. Jen loves to travel with Rik, especially to the beach or any place that is warm. Jen has an amazing Weimaraner named Hughie that she is a bit obsessed with. Jen has been with StL Metro since 2014. She loves traveling, shopping, chocolate chip cookies, Sabroso (best Mexican food in the Lou), watching documentaries or Bridgerton and especially loves spending time with Rik and her kids / grandboys.

Rik is husband to Jen and dad to Brii, Hannah Grace, Cooper and Mia. He has lived in Ferguson since 1972. He has been the youth pastor at First Baptist Ferguson and he planted North Church in 2007. He has bi-vocational for the last 10 years.

Rik feels a calling from the Lord to serve, love and care for pastors. He has always had a passion to shepherd God’s people and believes in this cultural moment there is a pressing need for pastors to have a safe place to be heard, be vulnerable and be real. Rik’s passion to serve the church in by being that safe place.

In his free time Rik is probably playing golf with his friends or on a date with Jen.

In addition to serving at Metro, Matt works at Waypoint Church as the Communications and Young Adults Director and is the founder of Ministry Mind Media. He holds Masters of Theological Studies from Midwestern Seminary. When he’s not working, Matt loves spending time with his 4 kids and wife at home and playing golf.

Kale was born and raised in Marion, Illinois, and moved to St. Louis in 2005 to attend Saint Louis University. After graduating from SLU with a degree in Theological Studies and English Literature, he worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for nine years, most recently serving as the Associate Area Director overseeing InterVarsity's ministry on campuses in St. Louis. He joined the St. Louis Metro team in July 2017 and currently serves as the Director of the George Liele Center, coordinating mission teams to share and demonstrate the love of Jesus in compassion ministry all over the metro area.

Kale married his best friend Emily in 2012 and the two of them are hard at work raising their three girls on the south side of St. Louis city. You can read more about Kale's life and ministry at his blog, Along the Way Home.

Martin Winslow is the Mission pastor at Canaan Baptist Church in South County. Martin is passionate about teaching the nations through international work both domestically and in St Louis. Martin was married to his high school sweetheart, Amy in 1998 and has five children, Noah, Anna, Emma, Laura, and Nati.