Patrick O’Connell

Patrick O’Connell serves at Exponential as the Executive Director of Practice and a Directional Leader on the Global Expressions Team. In these roles, he equips leaders with practical tools and frameworks for starting, sustaining, and scaling church-planting networks while shaping vision and strategy for  Patrick didn’t grow up in church—he once dabbled in atheism. He lived as a committed agnostic until he encountered Jesus at Community Christian Church in Chicago during a dark and painful season in his life. That experience redirected his life and calling.

 

He went on to help plant a network of churches in Kansas City, where he began coaching and training planters. His leadership journey has since taken him around the world, serving alongside thousands of leaders who share his passion for reproducing networks and multiplying the Kingdom.

 

Patrick is the co-author of Together: Pursuing the Great Collaboration and writes regularly on his Substack, The Great Collaboration, where he explores the intersection of networks, collaboration, and Kingdom leadership. He frequently speaks at conferences, trains leaders, and develops resources to inspire multiplication and movement.

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A former Army soldier and marketplace executive, Patrick holds a degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master’s in Missional Church Movements from Wheaton College. He is married to Nancy, whom he met in a punk rock mosh pit, and together they have three children. He is also a proud grandfather to Ezra and Aviana.