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 under the dynamic ministry
of Dr. Dolphus Price. 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, one of America’s largest private universities. 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 Executive Vice President/CEO of Trinity Baptist College and Administrative Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. Dr. Shoemaker travels extensively speaking in churches and pastors' conferences, and his travels have taken him to all fifty states and several foreign countries.
Since April 2003, Dr. Shoemaker has served as Vice-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, Liberty University, and Trinity Baptist College.
For many years, Charles Shoemaker has had a burden for Church Planting which compelled him to establish Church Planting America (CPA), a mission organization designed to assist American church planting efforts. Serving as President of CPA, Dr. Shoemaker has the opportunity to train and mentor men who have been led of God to plant fundamental, Bible-believing churches.
He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 34 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, and marriage enrichment.
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 for church growth needs. 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 !