Church Planting America

About Us...

Our President

Charles Shoemaker was born and reared
in the Chicago area, where he was converted
to Christ at the early age of eight. God used
the bus and AWANA ministries as a means to
reach Brother Shoemaker with the gospel.

At the age of sixteen, Bro. Shoemaker was
called to preach. After completing high school,
he attended and graduated from the Institute
of Biblical Studies of Liberty University, earning
a diploma in Bible. He also has earned a
Bachelor’s degree (B.R.E.) in Pastoral Theology,
a Master’s degree (M.A.) in Biblical Studies, and
a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) from Nova
Southeastern University. He has received
honorary doctorates, including the D.D. degree from Midwestern Baptist College, the L.H.D. degree from Liberty University, and the Litt.D. from Temple Baptist College.

Dr. Shoemaker has been in full-time ministry since 1975 having served as a church planter and senior pastor. In July of 1995, he joined the staff of Trinity Ministries, serving as Administrative Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and CEO/President of Trinity Baptist College. Dr. Shoemaker travels extensively speaking in churches and pastors' conferences, and his travels have taken him to all fifty states and several foreign countries.

Dr. Shoemaker currently serves as the Chairman of the accreditation commission for the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). TRACS is an accreditation agency that is approved and recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), and accredits institutions such as Bob Jones University, Northland Baptist Bible College, and Trinity Baptist College.

In addition to Bro. Shoemaker’s pastoral ministry, leadership of Trinity Baptist College, and his vast preaching itinerary, God has used his writings to minister to pastors all across the country where his articles have appeared in numerous publications.

He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 36 years and reside in Jacksonville, Florida. They have two daughters, Amy and Emily; two sons-in-law, Dennis and Michael (all in full-time ministry); two grandsons, Charles and Daniel, and two granddaughters, Michaela and Sophia. In addition to spending time with his family, Dr. Shoemaker enjoys reading, writing, and politics.

History of CPA

Church Planting America was birthed in the
heart and mind of Dr. Charles Shoemaker in 1983
while serving as a Senior Pastor in Minnesota.
Due to his experience in church planting—
prior to this time he had personally planted
three independent Baptist churches—the Lord
used him as a featured speaker in church
planting conferences throughout the United States
and Canada.

Dr. Shoemaker ’s original vision for Church Planting America involved the following five objectives:

To assist Bible colleges in training young men to plant new independent Baptist churches. The need is both to share the burden of church planting and to help prepare men, while in school, for future church planting endeavors.
To assist church planters as they arrive on the field. The needs are in the areas of selecting a meeting place, finances, organization, marketing, legal matters, and visitation.
To assist local churches that are in need of training and motivation. Special seminars have been designed to minister to specific ministry needs within the local church. Along with revival meetings and missions conferences are seminars dealing with stewardship, leadership, discipleship, men’s retreats, Sunday school clinics, marriage enrichment, deacon training, and staff training.
To assist American missionaries and foreign national pastors with church planting and church growth needs. One or more annual missionary trips will be taken to provide this type of assistance.
To assist pastors in the United States with ministry materials and lay training programs designed to promote healthy, growing churches. On average, two monthly seminars are conducted, in various locations, working with pastors, staff, and lay leadership.

Today, Church Planting America has grown and developed beyond Dr. Shoemaker ’s original vision. In concert with Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville , Florida , men are being prepared for the awesome task of church planting in needy cities around the world. With the help of Trinity Baptist Church , Trinity Baptist College , and a dedicated staff, God is raising up qualified men to impact communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ !