How it began
Operation Transformation is a church support ministry founded in 2013 by Dr. Steve Sells and a group of church leaders from various church backgrounds across North Carolina. OT is an outgrowth of Dr. Sells’ local church experience and his passion to help hurting, unhealthy churches see revitalization and spiritual growth. His passion is to see the local church thrive and impact the lost in their community with the Gospel.
The vision of OT is to help plateaued and declining churches find new life, enthusiasm and spiritual health. God has blessed the efforts of Dr. Sells with great success in church revitalization projects in North Carolina and Georgia. Simply stated, the process of Operation Transformation takes a struggling church from the brink of death to a vital, Holy Spirit led mission to become, once again, a mighty, moving force that will change the world.
Dr. Sells and the OT Team would love to assist you and your church in any way possible to revitalize your local congregation.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assist plateaued or discouraged churches in developing Biblically-based, Spirit-driven approaches to revitalize their New Testament purposes. These purposes include evangelism, discipleship, proclamation, fellowship, prayer, and ministry. These should always be done with Scriptural authority and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
Dr. Steve Sells
President and CEO
About the Founder
Dr. Steve Sells, a North Carolina native, has pastored churches across North Carolina and has been a Director of Missions in associations in North Carolina and Georgia. He received his education at Gardner- Webb University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Center for Biblical Studies.
Dr. Sells has led in planting churches at home and abroad in Romania, India, South Africa, and has ministered in Haiti. He is a certified church health consultant with Church Central. Steve co-authored with Robert Tenery the book, With Greater Power, The Secret to a Spirit-Powered Life and co-authored with Tom Cheyney, Life After Death, A Strategy to Bring New Life to a Dead Church.
Steve is married to Shirley Beattie Sells who is from Salisbury. They have 2 married children and 3 granddaughters.
Board of Directors
Rev. Leon Hawks
Chairman of the Board
Concord, NC
Rev. Doug Davis
Vice-Chairman of the Board
Archdale, NC
Rev. Kenneth Clark
Vice President of the Board
Statesville, NC
Dr. Dale Robertson
Treasurer/Secretary
Salisbury, NC
Dr. Mark Harris
Charlotte, NC
Mr. Steve Daniel
Morganton, NC
Rev. Stephen Bishop
Burlington, NC
Dr. Jim Harris
Salisbury, NC
Bryan Blackwell
Wilmington, NC
Rev. Danny Dodds
Elkin, NC
Core Values
We value the local church and the Gospel
as the hope of the world.
Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
We value the pastoral leadership of the local church
as the key to church health and vitality.
I Thessalonians 1:5, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
We value servant-hood as the ultimate
expression of leadership in the church.
Luke 22:27, “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth.”
We value disciple making as the
ultimate mission of the church.
Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
We value the power and presence of the
Holy Spirit as the sustainer of the church.
Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We value Evangelism and Missions as the
churches way of changing the world.
Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”