Today, I'm excited to interview CF Connect partner Travis Whittaker. Travis Whittaker serves as pastor of Mile City Church in metro Detroit, Michigan.
In 2013, Travis and his wife, Jen, moved back to their hometown in South Lyon, Michigan. They felt God leading them to create an experience for people of all backgrounds to come explore, get their questions answered, and begin moving toward God. So, in 2015, a launch team of 75 people set out together to plant Mile City. Travis and Jen are now raising their family back on 10 Mile with their four children, Tristan, Lena, London, and Tavin, and are honored to lead the Mile City family.
Tell us about your current ministry context.
Travis Whittaker: Mile City is a multi-campus church in the metro Detroit area. Our church is a tri-lingual church, reaching individuals who speak English, Japanese, or Espanol. My wife, Jen, and I planted the church nine years ago.
What is the greatest challenge you face as a church right now?
Travis Whittaker: We have always strived to be a multiplying church and have multiplied eight times. Multiplication brings unique challenges, though, as we have to allow ourselves to be stretched. It is only when we are stretched that we will continue to be a sending church.
What is one piece of advice you would offer new church planters?
Travis Whittaker: Establishing a culture of prayer both individually and collectively can easily get put on the bottom of the list. I have found that it is so crucial to make sure it is the top priority.
How is your family doing?
Travis Whittaker: I am grateful to run this unique race with my wife, Jen. Between baseball, gymnastics, and equestrian, our four kids keep us on our toes.
What is God teaching you in this season?
Travis Whittaker: To be faithful in the unimpressive, to love people well, and that discipleship and multiplying take time and require consistent installments.
How can Champion Forest pray for you?
Travis Whittaker: Pray that God would raise up more church planters to come to our residency program so that we can send them out to start new churches.
CF Connect exists to encourage and support pastors and church planters doing the work of ministry. God continues to accomplish incredible things through faithful CF Connect partners.
About Abigail O'Neel
Abigail O’Neel served as a resident at Champion Forest Baptist Church in Northwest Houston. Abigail holds a ThM and an MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS). Her research focuses on theological anthropology, gender and sex, embodiment, sociality, and siblingship. She is the founder and host of The About Her Podcast and currently writes for her church and various parachurch ministries. She and her husband, Caleb, live in Houston, Texas.
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