 David Platt was born in 1979 and is the lead pastor at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. Platt graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He attended seminary at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and also a Doctor of Philosophy. After graduating, he served at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as Dean of Chapel and Assistant Professor of Expository Preaching and Apologetics.
He also served at Edgewater Baptist Church in New Orleans and resided in a parsonage when Hurricane Katrina hit and flooded the parsonage. Atlanta natives, Platt and his wife, Heather, lived in New Orleans until Katrina flooded their parsonage and displaced them in 2005.
He was hired to lead the congregation of The Church at Brook Hills and became known as the youngest “megachurch” pastor in America at age 28. He is regarded as an exceptional expositor and motivator, and his teaching style is center deeply in Scripture. His sermons draw heavily upon Scripture and his attention to detail and belief in the power of Scripture is abundantly clear. While not as renowned for making all of his sermons flashy and high tech, he aims to make each of his messages rooted deeply in Scripture and as applicable and relevant to modern culture as possible.
One of his most major philosophies in rooted in Scripture in Psalm 67:1-2. He believes that everyone was uniquely created by God to impact the world in some specific way. He said, “God is in the business of blessing His people so that His ways and His salvation might be made known among all people.”
Platt claims that his first love in ministry is disciple-making: the simple Biblical model of teaching God’s Word, mentoring others and sharing faith. His love of discipleship and travel has led him to share his teachings with church leaders throughout the United States and the World.
He travels regularly to Africa and Latin America, teaching in churches, seminaries and underground churches locally and abroad.
One interesting aspect of The Church at Brook Hills is Platt’s intense 6-hour Bible study called Secret Church. The purpose of this Bible study is to “teach those who have a passion to deeply know God through his Word so that they may be better equipped to teach God’s Word and make disciples of all nations.” In addition, it serves as a resource to give people a better understanding of the Church around the world, covering such topics as the Holy Spirit, Angels, Demons and Spiritual Warfare, the Body of Christ and better ways to study the Bible.
Platt and Heather were married in 1999. They have three children: sons Caleb and Joshua and a daughter, Mara Ruth.
Dr. David Platt is the author of the New York Times best-seller “Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream,” and the follow-up book, “Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God.”
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