2016 Speaker Profile...Chris Winans

What’s your wife’s name and how long have you been married?

• My wife’s name is Carey and we’ve been married for 10 years. 

How many children do you have and how old are they?

• We have three children: Caleb (6), Natalie (5), and Thomas (4 months) 

Share a little about your educational background.

• I started out my education in music and have a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Music performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Later in life, I went to seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. 

What were your favorite parts about your educational experience?

• My favorite part of being in school was belonging to a community with others who shared similar goals and passions. (Sounds like something we should be fostering in our churches!) 

How long have you been in your current pastorate?

• I’ve been at Cornerstone EPC in Brighton, MI for three years. 

Have you pastored elsewhere?

• No, with the exception of an internship at Goodwill Church in Montgomery, NY. 

What have been some of the best lessons you’ve learned in your role as a pastor?

• So many things…but one powerful thing I’ve learned is that every person is unique; that each of us sees the world, God, and others from a unique perspective. Every human being is a walking story, an evolving novel. I’ve learned that my role as a pastor is to help people make the connection between their story and the Christian narrative as embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Their story becomes incorporated within His story; their poetry is weaved into the divine poetry. 

What would you most like your church to be known for?

• Different churches can be known for different things…maybe great doctrine, or dynamic worship. My dream would be for Cornerstone to be known for an outward love for others that reflects the heart of Christ for the world. 

What books of the Bible have been most impactful on your personal growth and ministry (and why)?

• I have been most impacted by the books of Amos and Romans. Amos continues to show me that God’s care for people is holistic, it encompasses both body and soul. Jesus displays holistic care when he displays concern for people’s physical needs as well as their spiritual needs. How we treat the poor, marginalized, and outcast matters to God. On the other hand, the book of Romans has impacted me intellectually. It continually pushes against my assumptions and reminds me that my ‘system’ is never adequate. I think the Reformers reflected this in their maxim of “Always Reforming.” 

Who are some of your greatest spiritual influences in these three categories:

1. Pastors/scholars/authors from the past

• The author from the past that has had the most influence on my life is Martin Luther…particularly his book The Bondage of the Will, which was my baptism into Reformed thinking. I wasn’t the same person before and after I read it.  

2. Current pastors/scholars/authors

• As for current authors, I have been most influenced by N.T. Wright and James KA Smith. Unfortunately, Wright isn’t kosher among some in the Reformed tradition due to his position on justification; an issue which is largely semantic rather than substantive. Personally, I have found him a helpful guide in knowing how to read, ask questions of, and understand the Bible. I have also been influenced by Stanley Hauerwas and Tim Keller.

 3. People we maybe haven’t ever heard of…but would be blessed by if we had

• Two authors who have been helpful to me to understand ethics and modern culture has been Charles Taylor and Alasdair MacIntyre. 

Are there any books that you find yourself regularly re-reading?

• One book I find myself looking through and thinking about regularly is Miroslav Volf’s book Exclusion and Embrace. Volf’s book paints an important picture of how Christians should be relating to others, especially those we call our enemies. Another (especially given this particular election) is the book by James Hunter called To Change the World. So much energy has been wasted and people turned away from the church by aligning Christianity with partisan politics. Hunter shows a different way…something he calls ‘Faithful Presence.’ His analysis of culture and the institutions that form it is very helpful. 

If you could spend an entire day with one person of your choosing from the Bible (not including Jesus), who would you choose and why?

• Probably the Apostle John…only so that I could sit down with him and go through the book of Revelation together. Can you imagine THAT Bible study?

If you could have been present at any event in the Bible, which event would you choose and why?

• I would be present at the burning bush. I SO identify with Moses and his feeling of inadequacy, and love the merciful response of God that He will be with Moses and teach him what to say. 

What are some of your hobbies/interests apart from the Bible/theology?

• Apart from Bible/theology, I’m a jazz nut (or more likely…nerd). It drives my wife crazy because if we’re hanging out somewhere and jazz is playing in the background, I get instantly distracted (although I can usually name the musicians performing…like I said…nerd!)