Michael Carlisle

Director of Missions

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Mike began his career in cable television before being called into ministry. His formal training includes an MBA, MDIV, and Doctor of Ministry focusing on Transformational Leadership for the Global City.

Mike formerly served as Senior Pastor of two churches in Southern California, National Director of Evangelism Explosion and as Vice President at the North American Mission Board. He is currently serving as Director of Missions, San Diego Southern Baptist Association, he is also Founder and President of Vision San Diego, which partners with churches, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies.

Dr. Mike Carlisle, a native of Cincinnati Ohio, had an early faith experience in a small neighborhood Baptist Church and was later called into ministry as a freshman in college. While attending a Christian college, in Kentucky, he met and married his life partner, Judy Allen.

Mike and Judy were always active in their local church as teachers, leaders and lay ministers. It was in San Juan Capistrano, California, that Mike’s call to ministry was renewed. He resigned his executive position, left California, and moved his family to Texas, where he finished his Master’s of Divinity degree (M Div) at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After Seminary, Mike served as National Director, Evangelism Explosion, and then moved back to California where he led two churches as Senior Pastor. This included starting a new church that was sponsored by Rick Warren and Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, California.

Mike joined the staff of the North American Mission Board in January 1998.   His first primary goal -- to provide leadership and vision for using technology to further God’s Kingdom, start new churches, and evangelize North America and Canada.  Mike’s experience in evangelism, church planting, management and technology gave him a unique set of skills to provide technical and communications leadership with a ministry perspective. Mike was later appointed as Vice President of Strategic Communications then VP of Missions and Mobilization.

Before accepting the call to serve as Director of Missions for the San Diego Southern Baptist Association, Mike was President and Co-Director of Vision San Diego. Vision San Diego is a non-profit organization that connects businesses, schools, non-profits, government, and faith communities to transform the County of San Diego with servant leadership. 

As far as hobbies are concerned Mike’s interests include golf, reading, technology, motorcycles and racquetball. He and his wife, Judy, have three sons and five granddaughters. Mike holds several graduate degrees including MBA, M.Div., and Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership for the Global City.

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