Chris Lentz - Candidate for Director of Adult Ministries

Let us introduce you to
​Chris Lentz.

Want to know more?

• Job Description

• Chris' Resume

• Chris' Philosophy of Ministry

• Chris lives in Forest, Virginia, with wife Donna. They have been married 30+ years and have two grown children, a daughter who is an ICU nurse and a son who is a senior at University of Tennessee.
• Chris currently works as a Mental Health Skill Building Clinician for Strategic Therapy Associates in Lynchburg.
• He holds a B.S. in Behavioral Sciences with Bible Minor from North Central University (1988) and an M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University (1995)
• He served as Associate Pastor/Executive Pastor/Missions and Care Pastor at Trinity Church [EFCA] in Watseka, Illinois from June 2003 – July 2013; he served on the elder board of that church prior to being asked to join the staff. 
• He has also served as Program Director of Knox Area Rescue Ministries (Knoxville, Tennessee), Clinical Director of Great Plans Academy (Fairmont, Minnesota), and Clinical Supervisor of Onarga Academy (Onarga, Illinois).
• He and Donna attend Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he serves as a layman in the small group ministry under Adult Ministries Pastor Luis Nodal. 
• Chris has visited Grace twice before at our invitation, once with Donna. During these visits, he met with staff, elders, deacons, and some Sunday school teachers.

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Salvation Testimony:
I came to Christ at the age of eight while visiting my grandmother's Southern Baptist Church in Southern Illinois. In alignment with what is very common among SBC churches, the service in which I participated contained a strong evangelistic message, which was followed by an alter call. I understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior, and I responded that morning to the invitation. I was born again during the morning service, followed by experiencing baptism in the evening service.

Two Strongest Spiritual Gifts:
Administration and Shepherding - God has provided me with the opportunity to develop and provide oversight specific to many elements related to the management of people and processes. This has included the use of strategies and systems to support work endeavors. Much of my work has included efforts associated with care ministry activities, including general ministry within, and external to, the Body of Christ. I am a strong believer in advancing the Great Commission under the influence of the Great Commandment. 

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A peek into Chris'
​Philosophy of Ministry.

I have identified the six following elements which contain approach strategies that I believe are important to initiating (and maintaining) a successful small group ministry.

1. There should be a commitment to satisfy the question of why a church is initiating a small group ministry.
2. There should be a committed and unified understanding related to what a church is expecting to accomplish through the implementation of small groups.
3. There is a popular statement in leadership circles that asserts, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This position primarily addresses the who of small groups with concern to group leadership. Small group leaders should be carefully selected, properly trained, and intentionally supported.
4. When initiating a small group ministry, there needs to be a decision related to an approach for adding group members and determining what materials will be utilized for group study.
5. There needs to be a determination related to the where of small groups specific to group meeting locations.
6. The meeting schedule and frequency of small groups addresses the issue of when.
   
   ​Read the full Philosophy of Small Group Ministry.

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Welcome Opportunity Starts Sunday, October 18! 
We are so happy to have the Lentz family join Grace Community Chapel. We would like to bless Donna and Chris as they make the transition to serving in Missouri. If you would like to write a welcoming note, provide practical items such as paper towels, toilet paper, or hand soap, or give gift cards to restaurants or grocery stores, there will be a table set up by Perk Place for these items on two Sundays, October 18 and 25. During the week, items can also be dropped off in the church office. Let’s make Chris and Donna feel welcome and get to know us in this unique time of COVID and social distancing.
​(from the Deaconess Board of GCC)       

Gift Collection October 18-25