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Chris Widener, a former pastor turned author, speaker, and chaplain, joined the team at “Sheepdog and Shepherd” to share a story that is less about titles and more about transformation.
For Widener, ministry began in the pulpit. At just 25 years old, he was leading his first church. Over the years, he would start two more, pouring into the lives of those around him with scripture, prayer, and pastoral care. But while he faithfully carried the title of pastor, something inside felt out of place.
“Every time I went to a pastor’s conference, I thought, ‘One of these guys is not like the others,’” he recalled, remembering the feeling of being an outsider among older clergy with long beards and traditional ways.
That gnawing sense of dissonance eventually led him into professional speaking, where mentors guided him to reach broader audiences. But even then, Widener’s path was not straight or smooth.
He endured what he calls not just a “dark night of the soul,” but a “dark decade.” It was a period marked by financial collapse, personal doubts, and even the loss of a multimillion-dollar home that turned into a courtroom battle.
“I shook my fist at God a lot,” he admitted. Yet through it all, he never renounced his faith. He simply wrestled, like Jacob in the night, refusing to let go until he found a blessing.
One turning point came in the form of a conversation with a young venture capitalist in Scottsdale. After Widener confessed he had hit rock bottom, the man replied, “That’s fantastic. Jesus is the Rock.” The phrase struck him like lightning, awakening his spirit to the truth that even the lowest point can be holy ground when it finds its foundation in Christ.
Widener’s ministry also extended beyond the pulpit and the speaking stage. In Issaquah, Washington, he approached the longtime police chief with the idea of starting a chaplaincy program. Without hesitation, the chief agreed. That began seven years of ride-alongs, death notifications, and thousands of hours spent with officers through difficult days.
“Police, fire, EMTs—they never get called when everything’s going great,” Widener said. “The weight they carry comes from always responding to crisis.” It was in those trenches that his heart for first responders deepened.
Widener’s voice is now heard in churches and in the marketplace. He believes that his kingdom impact does not require a pulpit.
“You have far more influence in the world than I do,” he told his congregation years ago. “My job is to train you to influence the people you work with.” Whether through writing, speaking, or simply asking a stranger if they need prayer, his message is consistent: the Gospel belongs as much in the streets as in the sanctuary.
Chris Widener’s story is not one of easy answers. It is the story of a man who faced collapse and found renewal in unexpected places, discovering that rock bottom is often the very place God chooses to meet us.
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