Francis Chan

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Francis Chan

Francis Chan
Born August 31, 1967
San Francisco, USA
Nationality American
Education Bachelor of Arts— Master's College
Master of Divinity— Master's Seminary
Occupation Pastor, author, educator
Religion Christian
Spouse(s) Lisa Chan
Children five children: four daughters and one son.

Francis Chan (August 31, 1967) is an American preacher. He is the former teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA, a church he and his wife started in 1994.[1] He is also the Founder and Chancellor of Eternity Bible College[2] and author of the best-selling book, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, which came out in 2009.[3] He released his second book Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit in August 2009. His other works include Erasing Hell in 2011, Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples in 2012, and the Basic Series by Francis Chan, a DVD series started in 2010. He also sits on the board of directors of Children’s Hunger Fund and World Impact.

Chan is known for speaking at major national and international events and conferences.[4][5][6][7]

Cornerstone and Chan's ministry

Chan and his wife, Lisa, founded Cornerstone in 1994 with only 30 people. Within two months, the church had grown to 100 people, and by 2000, Chan was leading a $1 million project to provide for the 1,600 member congregation.[8] Cornerstone is now one of the largest churches in Ventura County, California.[9]

In 2005, Francis was the featured speaker in a now international video called Stop And Think (JustStopAndThink.com) which went viral, landing in every state and 30+ countries.

Chan regularly uses a variety of approaches to disseminate his teaching.[10][11]

Chan frequently talks about 'What the Bible is really saying' and really living our lives that way. He is not afraid of confronting lukewarmness.[12] By 2013 Chan's teaching had developed heightened emphasis on baptism and the Lord's supper.[13]

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, Chan announced to his congregation that he felt called to resign at Cornerstone in Simi Valley to pursue what God had laid on his heart. As of April 2010 he stated he was not yet sure what city God had called him to,[14] but by June 2011 stated publicly he felt called to San Francisco, CA. He moved to Northern California, and as of 2013, Francis's website said he was "working to start a church planting movement in the inner city of San Francisco and also working to launch a countrywide discipleship movement."[15]

Biography

Chan was born in San Francisco to native Chinese parents. His father named Chan after the city of his birth. [16]

Francis Chan's mother died giving birth to him. After Chan's father remarried, when Chan was about 7 years old, his stepmother died in a car accident when he was 9 years old. His father remarried again when he was 10. His father then died of cancer when Chan was 12 years old. Francis Chan was then raised by his stepmother Josephine Chan along with his older sister Grace, older brother Paul and much younger half-sister, Gloria. He had family support from his father's younger sister and her husband, Marion and William Wong, along with a large extended family and church family. He did not get along well with his father growing up, but says that his fear of his father has helped him understand a level of fear of God. He also stated he didn't understand the love of God well until he became a father himself.[1]

As a high-school and then junior-college student, Chan was active in Christian youth groups which helped develop his faith in Christ and his interest in ministry.[1]

Before becoming a senior pastor, Francis worked for a variety of employers including Taco Bell, Mic Pizza, Kirby Company, Ralphs Market, Broadway Men's Clothing, hardwood flooring contractors, and the Acapulco restaurant.[17]

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Master's College and a Master of Divinity degree from Master's Seminary.[18]

After a three-month leave from Cornerstone, Francis said he felt convicted to sacrifice more for God. Chan gives away about 90 percent of his income, doesn't take a salary from his church, and has donated most of his book royalties, which have totaled about $2,000,000, to various charities. Much of it goes to organizations which rescue sex slaves in foreign countries."[19] Furthermore, in 2008 it was reported that Cornerstone would give away 55% of its income to charitable causes.[20]

Personal life

Francis Chan is married to Lisa Chan, and they have five children—four girls and a boy.

Bibliography

  • Chan, Francis; Danae Yankoski (2008). Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-1-4347-6851-3. 
  • Chan, Francis; Danae Yankoski (2009). Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-1-4347-6795-0. 
  • Chan, Francis; Matt Daniels (2010). Halfway Herbert. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-0-7814-0418-1. 
  • Chan, Francis; Matt Daniels (2010). The Big Red Tractor and the Little Village. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-0-7814-0419-8. 
  • Chan, Francis; Preston Sprinkle (2011). Erasing Hell: What God said about eternity, and the things we made up. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-0-7814-0725-0. 

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Extraordinary Reverend Francis Chan". Jesus Awakening Movement for America/All Nations. Nov 7, 2012. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  2. ↑ Chan, Francis. "about EBC: a message from our founder". Eternity Bible College. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  3. ↑ "ECPA Bestsellers". Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. June 2009. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  4. ↑ "Catalyst Conference". Catalyst Conference. Retrieved Jul 26, 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Catalyst West | Catalyst". Catalystwestcoast.com. Retrieved Jul 26, 2010. 
  6. ↑ Awakening 08 and Passion Conference, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vuoIYq-NOU
  7. ↑ "Pastors conf. to focus on Great Commission". Baptist Press. Apr 24, 2009. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  8. ↑ Giordono, Joseph (Mar 28, 2000). "Membership explosion leads to expansion Simi church to double in size" (subscription required). Los Angeles Daily News. 
  9. ↑ Kisken, Tom (Jan 22, 2008). "1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade still polarizes". Ventura County Star. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  10. ↑ Hong, Regina (Oct 17, 1998). "Pastor Envisions Christianity Leaving False Piety Behind; Worship: Francis Chan uses personal stories to help ensure congregants that Cornerstone Community Church is 'pure and blameless and free of hypocrisy.'" (subscription required). Los Angeles Times. 
  11. ↑ "Big screen in church draws critics, naysayers and a congregation". Kingman Daily Miner. Sep 3, 1998. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  12. ↑ Dyck, Drew (Nov 4, 2008). "Who's Behind 'Crazy Love'?". Ministry Today. Retrieved Jun 11, 2009. 
  13. ↑ <Heightened emphasis?>Tryggestad, Erik (May 2013). "'I want to be found furious': Francis Chan, Christian author and sought-after speaker, challenges believers at Tulsa Workshop to allow faith to drive them to bold action". Christian Chronicle (Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Christian University). p. 6. Retrieved 2013-04-12. 
  14. ↑ "Francis Chan is stepping out in faith… | Catalyst". Catalystspace.com. Apr 19, 2010. Retrieved Jul 26, 2010. 
  15. ↑ "about francis". Retrieved Jul 4, 2013. 
  16. ↑ "The Extraordinary Francis Chan". Evangel Literature.  Unknown parameter |access date= ignored (|accessdate= suggested) (help)
  17. ↑ Living a Life That Matters, http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cornerstone-simi-video-podcast-living-a-life-that-matters-living-courageously/2305939743
  18. ↑ "Staff". Eternity Bible College. 
  19. ↑ "Crazy Passion: Francis Chan keeps pushing and pushing to make more and more disciples.", Christianity Today, October 2009.
  20. ↑ "Francis Chan's Crazy Love | Christian Bible Studies". Christianitytoday.com. Oct 28, 2009. Retrieved Jul 26, 2010. 

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