History & Denomination

Church History

In a sense, Desiring God Community Church began in November, 2001, when the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association announced that they were relocating from Minneapolis to Charlotte. A couple of months later, John Piper preached a sermon on church planting at Bethlehem Baptist Church. That eventually led to church to contact Coty Pinckney – who was about to complete missionary service in Cameroon, West Africa – asking him to pray about possibly planting a church in Charlotte.

The Pinckneys moved to the area in October, 2002 and started a Bible study in December. The first Sunday morning service took place on March 9, 2003, with David Livingston, an Associate Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, preaching. The church constituted itself officially later that month. The first public service took place September 28. From July, 2003 for almost six years, the church met at UNC Charlotte. We moved to our present location in February, 2009. Fred Balbuena served as Associate Pastor from 2006 through 2017.

Our Denomination

Desiring God Community Church is under the day to day authority of its pastor and elders, who must be approved by the congregation. No denominational executives or committees have any authority over the local congregation.

However, DGCC is delighted to partner with other churches for the cause of spreading the gospel for the joy of all peoples - both those who live nearby and those who live on other continents. To help achieve these purposes, DGCC cooperates with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

The SBC is best thought of as a parachurch organization - an organization that stands alongside of local churches, and helps them better accomplish the tasks to which God calls them.

Among the SBC agencies, we have closest contact with the International Missions Board. We also much appreciate the work of the Founders Ministries, which is helping to move the SBC closer to the solid teaching of the founders of the denomination.

Church Planting Network

Treasuring Christ Together is a network of churches joyfully serving pastors and their wives,
and supporting churches to start new Christ-treasuring churches. TCT grew out of the same sermon that led to the planting of Desiring God Church.