I am the product of good parents, and good youth ministry. I was headed in the wrong direction very early in life. I was a pretty messed up kid by the time I was in seventh grade. Thanks be to God, He rescued me. I don’t know where I would be today if He hadn’t. Going into eighth grade my parents forced me to go on a retreat that changed my life. I realized on that retreat that the Faith isn’t just something to do “on the side”, but that it has everything to do with who I am and what gives life meaning.

Jesus hadn’t come to give me a bunch of obligations or to make me weird or boring if I followed him, but so that I could have “life to the full” (John 10:10). I realized that nothing but Jesus Christ could give me the fulfillment that I was looking for. I have been looking to Him ever since.

As I grew in faith throughout high school my one ambition in life solidified. I wanted to share with others what had made my life so very full so that my “joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4). A life in ministry is the only “career” path I ever considered.

God has blessed me on my path with amazing opportunities to serve His people. I get to speak to teens, young adults, and parent groups all around the country. I’ve worked in youth ministry in the East LA area, Wisconsin, and now in Denver. I’ve been able to write and regularly be on radio. Most of all, I get to serve God as the husband of Natalie and dad of Rosemary, Ethan, Genevieve, Joseph and Eloise. This is where I learn firsthand about the love of God the Father, a love that I strive to communicate through this ministry.

My life still has its struggles. Like anyone else, I deal with regular disappointments, eye-opening encounters with my own human weakness, and with the weaknesses of others. But the theme of World Youth Day ’93 still rings out clearly in my heart: “I have come so that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). There is a fullness in my life that no weakness and no struggle can take away. My desire to share that fullness for the rest of my life hasn’t changed since the 8th grade. I’d be honored by any way I can share it with you – by speaking at your event or assembly, through the downloads or books on this site, or responding to emails for prayers or with questions you have about the faith.

Your friend in Christ,

Chris Stefanick