This is Francis Chan.
He is one of my earthly heroes. Here is a man after God’s own heart. He is a hard worker for the movement of the gospel. From founding Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA over a decade ago, to writing two books (Crazy Love and Forgotten God) which have deeply impacted my spiritual walk, to making the new Basic DVD series which teaches the Basics of the Global Church with a call to rededication to the spirit of what we are doing; Francis Chan has done it all.
A family man of a wife and five kids, Chan grew up without parents, brothers or sisters. His mother died while giving birth to him, his step mother died at age 7 in an automobile accident when he was 12 years old and soon thereafter his father died of cancer. Chan was raised by his grandparents in Northern California where he accepted Christ into his life and began working in Youth Ministry. Later he would plant Cornerstone Church in SimiValley, CA, a mega church that boasts over 5000 members. The part that inspires me is what comes after his church plant succeeded.
While pastoring this church, Chan began to get different revelations from God, impressions about God while reading his word, which burdened him to challenge his church to a deeper level with God. Chan began preaching some rather unpopular messages including comparing the American dream with the walk of Jesus, a real fear of God, Living as the bible says, and truly following Jesus. It was then that His Church really blew up. One would think that the opposite would happen but when a person preaches the true word of God, even though the message may be challenging and unpopular, and MORE people respond, you know the Holy Spirit is doing something.
The thing about Francis Chan is that I see a lot of myself in him. He seems to be a good public speaker, funny, confident but he can also be really transparent, revealing that he worries a lot about what others might think of him, not being sure as to where God is taking him, getting comfortable in his walk with God, etc. I think what inspires me about Francis is that his walk with God is transparent and completely faith-based. He seems unsure about what he does but confident only in God. And wouldn’t you know it that the faithful God that he professes is the same one that is providing for him, blessing him and leading him even when others might question his decisions. Francis epitomizes a modern day disciple of Christ walking by faith in a faithless world
Earlier this year Francis Chan announced that he was leaving his huge church in a step of faith towards what God was calling him to do. The issue was what exactly God was calling him to do. Francis was not sure of anything but God’s calling but for Francis, that was enough. And his church members not only saw it coming, but sent him out confident in the Spirit’s leading. Chan sold his house, left for Asia to do missions work with his family and once again walked on faith alone toward Gods call for his life. That’s what I hope to do one day, to walk by faith and not by sight. My eyes of course are not fixed on Francis or any other contemporary Christian preacher but on God and Him alone.
If you want to read up about my hero in the faith check out his
website!
