Rev. Chris McLain
If I were to tell you one true
thing about Chris McLain, it
would be that the love of God
is the truest thing I know.
The first time I knew I had
met God was as a little child
on the swing set. I was
puzzling over a situation,
when I was overwhelmed
with a sense of God’s
presence guiding me. That
life-giving assurance has
stayed with me.
I grew up in Virginia Beach
as the middle of three kids.
With parents in the medical
field, I sure learned my way
around a hospital! We grew
up enjoying outdoor activities
like fishing, camping and
horseback riding.
John and I married in 1999. He’s a Circulation Specialist at
the local library and an aspiring artist who focuses on
illustration and environmental design concepts for fantasy
settings. Our two boys are Isaac, 13, and Sam, 10. As a
family, we enjoy cooking, hiking and camping, museums and
movies. We also have a tiny Chihuahua named Padme.
We count it a great blessing to join you all at Shady Grove
United Methodist Church.
A little more about Chris . . .
Church service
- Missions experience: ASP, Shenandoah Valley Outreach
Project, Free Medical Clinic, Compassion International—
Peru, UMVIM—Guatemala
- Children’s Ministry, Norfolk
- Ubuntu Racial Reconciliation team, Durham, NC
- Adjunct Staff Chaplain, Burlington, NC
- Solo pastorates in Winchester and Charlottesville
- Associate pastorates in Virginia Beach and Blacksburg
Habits
- Tea in the morning
- Having best ideas while driving and writing those ideas on
napkins
- Dragging around napkins with illegible scribble
Regrets
- The sweater I am still knitting after buying the yarn 14
years ago
- Misrepresenting to those who see me knitting it how long
it’s taking
- Quitting running when I was "too busy"
Interests
- Engaging new experiences and new people of all ages
- Sun—I am solar powered!
- Running
- Guitar
Studies
- B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies, Virginia
Wesleyan College
- M.Div., The Divinity School at Duke University
- Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, Bowen Family Systems
Theory