Dustin Dozier
Pastor, Author, Church Growth & Multisite Strategist
Helping Churches Grow & People Belong
Trusted By Churches & Organizations Nationwide
Solving the Belonging Problem in Today's Church
Does this sound like your church?
You love your community. You pour everything into ministry. But something isn't clicking — and you can feel it. You're not alone.
Guests Visit — But Never Return
You work tirelessly to create a great Sunday experience, but new visitors slip through the cracks week after week. Without a clear follow-up system, potential members become lost connections.
Growth Has Plateaued
You've tried new outreach strategies, better marketing, and more programs — yet the numbers stay flat. The issue isn't effort; it's infrastructure. What got you here won't get you there.
Your Team Is Burned Out
Key leaders are wearing too many hats. Volunteers cycle through the revolving door. Without healthy systems and clear roles, even the most passionate team can't sustain the pace.
People Feel Unknown
In a growing church, it's easy for people to feel anonymous. If your community doesn't have intentional pathways to belonging, attendance becomes a spectator sport — not a family.
Your Church's Growth Partner
Three Ways to Work Together
Whether you need a spark of inspiration, a complete systems overhaul, or a long-term partner in your corner — there's a path built for you.
Inspire the Crowd
Speaking
Dynamic keynotes and workshops for conferences, staff retreats, and leadership gatherings. Dustin brings energy, clarity, and actionable frameworks that equip your team to build a culture of connection from day one.
- Conference keynotes
- Staff & leadership retreats
- Workshop intensives
- Guest speaking
Architect Your Systems
Consulting
A hands-on partnership to audit, design, and implement guest experience and assimilation systems tailored to your church's DNA. From first-time visitor follow-up to volunteer pipelines, we build what actually works.
- Guest experience audit
- System design & implementation
- Team structure optimization
- Multi-site strategy
Grow Your Leadership
Coaching
Ongoing 1-on-1 and group coaching for pastors and church leaders who want a trusted guide in their corner. Think of it as a strategic partner who's been where you are — and knows the way forward.
- 1-on-1 pastoral coaching
- Group coaching cohorts
- Monthly strategy calls
- Accountability & support
20+ Years Serving the Local Church
Meet Dustin
Building What Works. Leading What Matters.
A Pastor Passionate About Building Healthy People, Strong Teams, and Effective Ministry
Dustin serves as Teaching Pastor and Director of Next Steps at First Baptist Simpsonville | Upstate Church, a thriving multi-site church in South Carolina. He oversees the Next Steps Team across ten locations — more than 400 volunteers creating meaningful connection pathways for 6,000+ weekly guests.
Over the past eight years, Dustin has helped launch seven new campuses, double church attendance, celebrate 850+ baptisms, and earn recognition as the 9th fastest-growing church in America (2023). He's also the creator of The Connected Church Co., an organization devoted to walking alongside pastors through practical resourcing, coaching, and team training. Above all, Dustin is a husband and proud dad of three — building a home filled with faith, laughter, and purpose.
The Connected Church
They Visited and Left—Solving the Belonging Problem in Today's Church.
What if every guest who walked through your doors felt seen, known, and genuinely connected — not just welcomed?
The Connected Church is the practical playbook for pastors and church leaders who are tired of the revolving door. Inside, you'll discover proven frameworks for building guest experience systems, volunteer teams, and small group pipelines that turn first-time visitors into lifelong family. This isn't theory — it's the roadmap that has helped churches across the country break through growth barriers and build lasting, thriving communities.
Moving people from attending church to belonging.
Testimonials
Pastors & Leaders
Who've Been There
Don't just take my word for it. Here's what church leaders are saying about working together.
“Dustin's influence doesn't stop with our church. He has invested in pastors and churches beyond our own, generously sharing what he has learned to help them strengthen their guest services, grow their volunteer teams, and create authentic pathways for connection.”
Dr. Wayne Bray
Lead Pastor, First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church
“The heart of leadership isn't found in a program, but in a person. Dustin gets it. His heart to reach people is evident.”
Clay Scroggins
Keynote Speaker · Leadership Coach · Author, How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge
“I believe that the church of the next generation will be the church that connects all of the different aspects of their communities. Dustin has a heart to see and help the local church connect with people beyond church attendance.”
Mike Linch
Lead Pastor, NorthStar Church · Podcast Host, Linch with a Leader
The Connected Church Co.
The Connected Church Co. exists to help pastors and church leaders build churches where people move beyond attendance into genuine belonging. We partner leader to leader to bring clarity, consistency, and intentional systems that support meaningful connection and discipleship. Because healthy churches aren't defined by who shows up, but by who finds their place.
- Guest follow-up systems that actually get used
- Tools to move people from visiting to belonging
- Done-for-you, editable church resources
- Simple processes that support church growth
- Clear next steps for every guest
Explore tools, templates, and resources built to help your church move people from visiting to belonging.
Take the Next Step
Ready to Build a Church Where Everyone Belongs?
Let's talk about where your church is and where it could be. A 30-minute discovery call could be the turning point for your community.
dustin@dustindozier.com