Dr. Bobby Gilstrap
Dr. Bobby Gilstrap
Dr. Bobby Gilstrap founded and has led “Dynamic Church Ministries,” a church leadership training and consulting ministry since 2006. This ministry provides coaching and training for church planters and ministry leaders. In addition, he has led in the development of training resources for churches and Southern Baptist associations in church planting, evangelism, missions, strategic planning, church health and technology.
Numerous workshops and training events have been developed and presented by Gilstrap across the United States for state conventions, associations, churches, the Network of Baptist Associations, North American Mission Board and other organizations. Several areas of experience and expertise have included: church planting, leadership, evangelism, strategic planning and implementation, smaller attendance church ministry, social media and technology, healthy church systems, and contextualization.
Beginning in 2001, Gilstrap began assisting churches during the transition period after a pastor resigns. He has developed a practical "Simplified Search Team Training" to assist church search teams in the significant work of finding a new pastor or staff member. In addition, he has been trained as a Transitional Pastor by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board (Lifeway Christian Resources, in Nashville, Tennessee).
In 2016, Gilstrap was recruited to Atlanta to lead the Urban Atlanta Church Planting Network (Planta Atlanta) and the New Work Foundation. Before moving to Georgia, Gilstrap served as the Lead State Missionary (or Executive Director) of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan following 10 years as the Director of Missions for Huron and Southeastern Baptist Associations in southeastern Michigan. He was also the host and moderator of the national tele-conference podcast of the Audio Conference for Pastors (2006-2010, 2014) and did dozens of video trainings published on various platforms.
In ministry since 1981, Gilstrap has served as a pastor, church starter and as a mentor, supervisor and consultant for numerous pastors and church planters (MI, TX, OK, GA). He has also served several churches in associate positions and as the pastor of four churches. In addition to his extensive ministry experience, he has started several photography businesses and has been in management and sales for several media, retail and marketing businesses.
For almost five years, Gilstrap also served as Communications Team Leader on the National Leadership Team of the Network of Baptist Associations, a professional organization for Southern Baptist associations.
Gilstrap has been married to his seminary sweetheart since 1988, Louisiana born Brenda Wallace Gilstrap who has been a longtime Montessori & Pre-school teacher. They have two adult sons. Robert ('92) works for Textron Aviation in Wichita, KS and is a part-time storm chaser. Andrew ('95) is a mechanical engineer for Mesodyne (fuel cell technologies) in Somerville, MA and enjoys working with his hands and space aeronautics.
In addition to numerous certifications and completed professional training, Gilstrap holds the following accredited degrees:
- AA - Brewton-Parker College, Georgia
- BA - Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma
- MDiv - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas
- DMin - Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Missouri