Michael Catt, Author, Film Producer and Megachurch Pastor, Dies

Dr. Michael C. Catt, the pastor of megachurch Sherwood Church, film producer and author of numerous bestsellers, has died. Catt died after a bout with prostate cancer.  The Georgia pastor was first diagnosed with prostate cancer five years ago and has been courageously battling it since. He was 70 years-old. 

Catt served as senior pastor at Sherwood Church from 1989 through 2021, at which time he retired to Gatlinburg, Tenn.  During that time the church grew into a multi-generational, multi-ethnic congregation including those from more than 20 nations. Sherwood developed a large imprint in its city, building a 100-acre Legacy Sports Park, establishing numerous crisis pregnancy centers and repurposing an old Coca-Cola bottling plant into a hub for disaster relief operations and ministry to at-risk youth.   

Just a few years after bringing brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick on staff at Sherwood as associate pastor of media and associate pastor of preaching and prayer, respectively, the church stepped into filmmaking.

Sherwood Pictures was born with the movie "Flywheel" in 2003. Catt served as executive producer as well as in future projects "Facing the Giants" (2006), "Fireproof" (2008) and "Courageous" (2011). He would also be executive producer for "Woodlawn," a film by another set of brothers, Andrew and Jon Erwin.

In addition to overseeing other media productions, Catt was a prolific author. Some of his books include Fireproof Your Life, Prepare for Rain, The Power of Desperation, The Power of Persistence, The Power of Surrender and The Power of Purpose.  

Catt was also a well-known speaker at numerous conferences, including those at The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. He was president of the 2008 SBC Pastors' Conference, a former International Mission Board trustee, president of the Georgia Baptist Convention's Preaching Conference and GBC vice president. Catt also represented Southern Baptists in a small group meeting with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office in 2002.  

Not long before his death, his family posted a tweet about some of Catt's heath struggles. "In recent months, his health has taken a turn for the worse, and he has had several surgeries, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits," the family said. "Recently, doctors found a tumor in his brain stem. They do not recommend operating on the tumor. Because of this, we have chosen to forego any future cancer treatments, with the goal now being to make him as comfortable as possible through palliative care for the few months he has left this side of heaven." 

A celebration of life service will be held at Sherwood Baptist Church next Tuesday. Visitation hours will be held in the Atrium from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The service will begin at 1:30 p.m. 

 

 

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