2024 Men of the Year: Tyler Padgitt

When Tyler Padgitt arrived in Springfield in 1999, he began pastoring a student group at Truth Tabernacle that grew from a few members to over a hundred in just five years.

“It was a fun season of trips, student services, community outreach, service projects and individual investment in students,” he says. “Many of those first students are still a part of church life today and a few serve on The Courageous Church staff.”

After becoming lead pastor in 2004, Padgitt helped spearhead a comprehensive rebranding and relaunch initiative, transforming Truth Tabernacle into The Courageous Church. Through this transition, Padgitt faced the challenge of updating the church’s methodology while adhering to biblical principles.

“This required navigating an established church culture and membership that needed both bold leadership and relational investment to embrace change,” he says. “That change was slow at times and personally painful, but resulted in great growth and blessing.”

Under his leadership, The Courageous Church has grown from a staff of one part-time member to a team of 20 staff members and 400 volunteers, plus expanding from one location to three campuses. He also helped increase total assets from $300,000 to $13 million, which he attributes to effective stewardship and strategic financial management.

Padgitt says he invests efforts to develop an active volunteer culture among the leadership team, staff and church members.  A recent volunteer program involved mobilizing the church for a substantial diaper and feminine hygiene drive for Council of Churches of the Ozarks Inc. This, he says, resulted in the collection of over 360,000 items, one of the largest donations of items the organization has received.

He also served on the Council of Churches’ board of directors. During this time, Padgitt contributed to a leadership overhaul that facilitated the move to a new facility, aiming to better serve the Springfield community.

Mentorship and coaching is a role woven into Padgitt’s life, including his involvement with Man Camp, a group of 20-30 men dedicated to developing themselves into Christ-honoring men, exceptional fathers and workplace leaders.

“This ongoing effort, spanning over 12 years, has nurtured numerous leaders, fostering a close-knit community of mentorship and personal success,” he says.

In his personal life, Padgitt extends his leadership qualities to his two sons, Evan and Owen. He says it is a passion to equip them for adulthood and have them involved in the church themselves.

Outside of pastoral duties, Padgitt is a real estate investor, dedicating any extra time to coaching new investors. He says he is driven by a passion for fostering financial independence and success, aiming to help investors create a lasting legacy for their families. He adds that he takes great pride in Springfield and cares about influencing others to become stakeholders and make a hands-on investment.