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Francis Chan

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Francis Chan
Francis Chan
Personal details
Born (1967-08-31) August 31, 1967 (age 57)
NationalityAmerican
SpouseLisa Lundgren
ChildrenSeven children (including Rachel Chan and Mercy Chan)
OccupationPastor, author, educator
EducationBachelor of Arts— The Master's University
Master of Divinity— Master's Seminary

Francis Chan (August 31, 1967) is an American preacher. He is the former teaching pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, 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 several books.

Chan also sits on the board of directors of Children's Hunger Fund, World Impact and Gospel for Asia.[3]

Chan speaks at national and international events and conferences. In December 2015, he spoke at the Chinese Mission Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.[4][5][6][7][8]

Cornerstone and 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 million-dollar project to provide for the 1,600-member congregation.[9] Cornerstone is now one of the largest churches in Ventura County, California.[10]

In 2005, Chan was the featured speaker in the Stop And Think (JustStopAndThink.com[11]) video.

Chan frequently talks about "What the Bible is really saying" "and really living our lives that way." He is not afraid of confronting "lukewarmness" in the Christian life.[12]

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. In June 2011 he stated he felt called to San Francisco, CA. He moved to Northern California, and as of 2013, Chan'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."[13]

Chan started Eternity Bible College in 2004 as a ministry of Cornerstone Community Church with 100 students. In 2008, Eternity launched an abroad program in Ecuador.[14] As of 2009, the college had 47 graduates serving in various parts of the world.

Chan serves as an ambassador for Care for Children.[15]

Biography

Chan was born in San Francisco, California to native Chinese parents. His mother tongue is Cantonese. Francis Chan's mother died giving birth to him in San Francisco. His father sent him away to Hong Kong to be taken care of by his grandmother as a baby. The family moved back to the U.S. when Francis Chan was 5 years old. Chan's father remarried when Chan was 1 years old. Then, 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 13 years old. These deaths helped Francis Chan understand at an early age the importance of knowing God.

Chan was then raised by his second 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, Chan 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.[16]

Chan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Master's College and a Master of Divinity degree from Master's Seminary.[17]

After a three-month leave from Cornerstone, Chan said he felt convicted to sacrifice more for God. Chan gives away about 50 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. All of it goes to organizations which rescue sex slaves in foreign countries.[18] Furthermore, in 2008 it was reported that Cornerstone would give away 55% of its income to charitable causes.[19] In 2015 he noted in a sermon at Abundant Life Christian Fellowship that he owns restaurants, a marina, and a hotel that he uses to finance his current mission work.[20]

In September 2014, Chan joined the board of elders of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship—a Spirit-led non-denominational, evangelical, and broadly multi-ethnic church in Mountain View, California—as an "elder among elders," and regularly preaches there.[21] As of August 2016, he is no longer listed on Abundant Life's list of elders.[22]

Personal life

Chan is married to Lisa Chan, a singer. They wed in 1994 and as of February 2018, have seven children;[23] their eldest is singer Rachel Chan.[24]

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.
  • Chan, Francis; Bill Hybels; Eugene Peterson (2014). The Road We Must Travel. Worthy Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61795-291-3.
  • Chan, Francis; Lisa Chan (2014). You and Me Forever: Marriage in the Light of Eternity. Claire Love Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9903514-0-5.
  • Fear God, 'Chan's Basics[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Extraordinary Reverend Francis Chan". Jesus Awakening Movement for America/All Nations. November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  2. ^ Chan, Francis. "about EBC: a message from our founder". Eternity Bible College. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2015/october/why-gospel-for-asia-kicked-out-of-ecfa-yohannan.html
  4. ^ "cmc-2016.org – This website is for sale! - cmc-2016 Resources and Information". www.cmc-2016.org. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  5. ^ "Catalyst Conference". Catalyst Conference. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  6. ^ "Catalyst West | Catalyst". Catalystwestcoast.com. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ Awakening 08 and Passion Conference, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vuoIYq-NOU
  8. ^ "Pastors conf. to focus on Great Commission". Baptist Press. April 24, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  9. ^ Giordono, Joseph (March 28, 2000). "Membership explosion leads to expansion Simi church to double in size" (subscription required). Los Angeles Daily News.
  10. ^ Kisken, Tom (January 22, 2008). "1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade still polarizes". Ventura County Star. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  11. ^ "Just Stop and Think – inspirational Movies – Think About God". Just Stop and Think.
  12. ^ Dyck, Drew (November 4, 2008). "Who's Behind 'Crazy Love'?". Ministry Today. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  13. ^ "about francis". Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  14. ^ http://eternitybiblecollege.com/about/the-story-of-eternity/
  15. ^ "Patrons & Ambassadors – Who We Are – Care For Children – Family First in Asia". www.careforchildren.com.
  16. ^ Living a Life That Matters, http://video.aol.com/video-detail/cornerstone-simi-video-podcast-living-a-life-that-matters-living-courageously/2305939743
  17. ^ "Staff". Eternity Bible College.
  18. ^ "Crazy Passion: Francis Chan keeps pushing and pushing to make more and more disciples.", Christianity Today, October 2009.
  19. ^ "Francis Chan's Crazy Love | Christian Bible Studies". Christianitytoday.com. October 28, 2009. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Why are we here? Meaning of life, Biblical Salvation – Francis Chan". Youtube.com. August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  21. ^ "Abundant Life Christian Fellowship". ALCF Board of Elders. Abundant Life Christian Fellowship.
  22. ^ "Staff". Staff (Abundant Life Christian Fellowship). Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  23. ^ "Marriage in Light of Forever: Francis and Lisa Chan on the Secret to Relational Success". The Gospel Coalition. December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  24. ^ "Rachel Chan Artist Profile". News Release Today. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  25. ^ James K. Wellman Rob Bell and a New American Christianity – Page 63 1426748442 2012 "And the first installment of Chan's Basics, indeed, marks that shift. It's for a reason that his first video was entitled, "Fear God." To balance Bell, Flannel brought in Chan as a more conservative evangelical who expressed the need to know that .
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