Chris Chavez

Chris Chavez Assistant to Matt Chandler, The Village Church (Highland, TX)

I grew up around a great family of believers. Although God saved me at an early age, my mother wanted me to be able to verbally express my understanding of the event so I was not baptized until 13. The Lord radically changed the direction of my life around the time He saved me. My father was killed in a car wreck when I was six so my mother raised four of us on her own. Unknowingly, even though I was saved, I became very dependent upon myself and this eventually created a sense of pride and entitlement.

Entering college at the University of North Texas, I followed the prodigal son route. I went about pursuing the things I wanted despite the Spirit’s conviction. I wanted to do the things I wanted to do. This trend continued while serving in the U.S. Army for four years. While in the military, I earned my MBA at Tarleton State in preparation for a successful career. It was not until I was on the way to having all that I thought I wanted in sight that the Lord called me back to Himself.

While working as a financial planner in Fort Worth, all that one could want was before me. About a year into my job the Lord graciously overran my desires and asked me to leave. Leaving my job began my walk through the wilderness. The Lord used this time in my life to both discipline me for my disobedience and remove many of my independent ways. Instead of being dependent upon myself, He made me depend upon Him. The reshaping of how I act, think and make decisions was and is a long process. It was during this time that I began attending The Village.

One thing I had during this time was free time. Volunteering at The Village by running the resource ministry, I ran into Matt Chandler and we talked and prayed together from time to time. Eventually, the Lord opened a door for me to do contract work in Iraq for a year. This enabled me to remove all debt, but my time away was a spiritual train wreck in many ways. Toward the end of my time away, Matt asked me what my plans were upon my return. It turned out that he had thoughts of hiring me as his assistant. The day I got back, he offered me the job. Soon after, I accepted, and God even healed my hurts from my time in Iraq before my first day of work.

I have known for about seven years that I was done with secular work, and this job is exactly where I want to be. The weight of what is asked of me is not taken lightly, and there is no other job on staff I’d rather do. My task is to place Matt in the best position to love his wife and family and to study so he can effectively teach and shepherd the flock. It is my firm belief that his personal sanctification is a key element in doing what God asks of him.

I look forward to helping him and The Village Church staff in continuing doing what God asks.  I see how God, in His sovereignty, has orchestrated every little detail of The Village’s story along with my own.  I met the joy who would become my wife here and we look forward to our future. Her name is Heather and our story is much like The Village’s…divinely ordained. Heather is a tangible expression of God’s great love for me. I praise God for her and we desire to live out the Gospel together until He calls us home.