Meet Josh Duncan
Having grown up in a small East Tennessee town where I only had 43 people in my graduating class, I stand amazed at everything God has allowed me to experience. God has used each experience to further develop my understanding of what it means to have my identity shaped by Jesus and secure in Him.
In 2003, I began my ministry leadership journey as God allowed me to serve as a part-time youth pastor in my hometown as I finished college. Jennifer and I were married in 2005, which led us to move to Kingsport, TN where I worked as a third grade teacher while she finished nursing school. During this season, God further clarified His call upon my life for full-time ministry. He opened a door for my first full-time ministry position in 2007 back in the Knoxville area where I would serve as an associate pastor. In 2010, God led us to start a new a church in South Knoxville that eventually led to the planting of another church and the start of several missional communities around the Knoxville area.
After transitioning the church plant to be led by local leadership, in 2015, God moved our family to Walled Lake, Michigan (30 minutes outside of Detroit). During our two years in Michigan, I served as the Lead Pastor of a church. Additionally, I was also able to begin coaching and training other pastors in Michigan to implement disciple-making strategies in their churches through the Missionary Church denomination and the Ignite Church Planting Network. I’m still actively coaching several church planters and pastors in Michigan and Tennessee and leading various trainings as we prepare for our next season of ministry leadership within the local church.
God continues to show me that His vision for His church is not to simply gain salvation and become faithful church attenders. Instead, His church has the privilege and responsibility to truly BE the church by making disciples who can make disciples as they live, work, and play. The more I understand and implement this vision into my life the more excited I become about leading others to experience the joy and calling of being Jesus’ disciple.
When I’m not focused on ministry leadership, I love spending time with my family. Attending sporting events and enjoying the outdoors by camping and hiking are some of our favorite things to do. Personally, I love all things sports which includes playing basketball and cheering on the Tennessee Vols, Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Pistons. I graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Learning (teaching degree) and from Liberty Theological Seminary with a Master’s Degree in Church Planting & Church Growth.
My wife, Jennifer, was born and raised in South Knoxville where she attended South-Doyle High School. She graduated from ETSU with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to become an RN. She specialized and worked in Hospice for about 8 years. Since our two boys, Kaden (7) and Kolton (4) were born, Jennifer has only worked part-time in order to stay home with them and recently begin home schooling. Jennifer loves photography, hiking to waterfalls, the beach, and of course, cheering on the Tennessee Vols. Kaden caught my sports bug and is the little athlete of the family. He loves to play basketball and baseball. Kolton is our tough, outdoor guy. He loves building things and playing with his trucks in the dirt. He’s a marine biologist in the making and can tell you anything you want to know about ocean animals.
Serving Him Together,
Josh Duncan