Leadership

Staff Leadership

John Chandler - pastor/local theologian
The term “local theologian” might be a new term for you, but it uniquely captures a primary role John desires to play in our community. John seeks to reveal how God is at work around us by listening to the voices of our local context and framing them within God’s greater story as we find it in history and the Scriptures.

Before to moving to Austin, John and his family lived near Seattle for three years where they helped start Pathways Church. Prior to that, John served for 11 years on the staff of Central Christian Church in metro Phoenix. John holds an MA in Christian Studies from Mars Hill Graduate School in Seattle and a BA in Church Leadership from Hope International University in Fullerton, CA.

John and his lovely wife, Sherri, have been married since 1994. They have three young children — two daughters, and one (very nurtured) son. You can find John on Twitter, Facebook, or blogging at SomeStrangeIdeas.com.

Leadership Team

Since we are a developing community, direction comes from an external leadership team in conjunction with our staff. This team provides encouragement and oversight for our finances, direction, and theology.

Todd Hiestand
Todd serves as a Co-Pastor for The Well in Feasterville, PA. The Well is a mission-focused church that we hope to have an ongoing relationship with and learn from. They are also a member of The Eccelsia Network. Todd blogs at ToddHiestand.com.

Chris Marlow
Chris serves as a Pastor at The Vista Community of Williamson County in north Austin. Chris is also a former church planter in Raleigh, NC. Like The Well, Vista has been very encouraging and supportive of our new community, and we look forward to an ongoing relationship with them as well. Chris blogs at SimplyMissional.com.

Coaching

JR Woodward
JR is a two-time church planter. Currently, he pastors Kairos of Hollywood, which was planted in 2002. JR was one of the founding members of, and serves on the board for, The Ecclesia Network. Drawing from his own experiences in church planting, JR offers wisdom and guidance for the local leadership of our emerging community. JR blogs at JRWoodward.net.