Alex Paul
Chad Christenson moved around a lot when he was a child, but says he’s found a home as youth pastor at the Holley Christian Church.
“My father was a manager for J.C. Penney stores,” Christenson said. “I have three siblings and each of us was born in a different state. We lived in Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Nevada.”
Christenson counts Chehalis, Wash. as his hometown though, graduating from high school there in 1992.
He graduated in 1999 from Puget Sound Christian College after taking a couple years away from school.
His calling as a youth minister was sparked by a caring pastor in the family’s church in Chehalis.
“I was baptized in the sixth grade and I went to church when I was a child because it was something you did,” Christenson said. “I guess I really didn’t have a relationship with Christ at the time. In Chelahis, our youth pastor had a big impact on my life.”
Christenson met his future wife, Amanda (Smothers) a Sweet Home High School graduate, at college. They married in the summer of 1999.
The couple moved to Coquille where Christenson held a ministry position for 2 1/2 years.
“Coquille is so isolated,” Christenson said. “It takes almost 90 minutes to get to the interstate. We moved to Hillsboro to be closer to family.”
The family stayed in Hillsboro for two years and welcomed their son, Landon, on December 4.
Christenson said the family’s move to the Sweet Home area has been very positive.
“I like it here. It’s a very healthy church. There’s no fighting,” Christenson said.
In addition to his work with young people of the church, Christenson will work with focus on a small group ministry.
The Christensons are living with the Smothers family as they search for property on which they can build a home.
Christenson says he an avowed “sports freak” who enjoys golf and plays in a softball league. He is a Seattle Mariners baseball fan.
He and Pastor Kevin Hill “counter balance each other.”