J. D. Payne serves as the Pastor of Church Multiplication at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to moving to Birmingham, J. D. was a national missionary with the North American Mission Board. He was also an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also directed the Center for North American Missions and Church Planting. He has a B.A. in sociology from the University of Kentucky, and an M.Div. and Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written numerous book chapters, articles, and reviews in the area of missions and evangelism and church growth. J. D. is the author of several books including Apostolic Church Planting and Missional House Churches. He and his wife, Sarah, have three children and live in Birmingham, Alabama.