Matt Chandler (/ˈtʃændlər/ CHAND-ler; born June 20, 1974) is an American pastor, author, and church-planting leader in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He has led The Village Church in Flower Mound since December 2002. He also chairs the board of the Acts 29 Network.
Chandler is known for direct, down-to-earth preaching, his 2009 brain cancer fight, and books like The Explicit Gospel. He is one of the best-known Reformed voices in Southern Baptist life.
Maybe you searched his name after hearing he stepped away from preaching in 2022. Or you want the facts on his wife, theology, or pay. This profile covers all of it and flags anything that cannot be confirmed.
Quick answer: yes, he still preaches. He returned to the pulpit on December 4, 2022, and was teaching a series on the Beatitudes at The Village Church in September 2026.
Matt Chandler at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Matt Chandler (often searched as Matthew Chandler) |
| Born | June 20, 1974, Seattle, Washington, USA |
| Age | 52 (as of October 2026) |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Lauren Chandler (m. July 31, 1999) |
| Children | Audrey, Reid, and Norah |
| Parents | Steve Chandler (father); Janet Chandler (mother) |
| Home | Dallas-Fort Worth area, Texas |
| Education | |
|---|---|
| University | Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas (Bible degree) |
| Seminary | Started classes twice, did not finish |
| Ministry | |
|---|---|
| Title | Lead Pastor and Elder |
| Church | The Village Church, Flower Mound, Texas |
| Denomination | Southern Baptist (SBC-affiliated church); Reformed and charismatic-friendly |
| Since | December 2002 |
| Other role | Executive Chairman, Acts 29 Board (president 2012 to 2022) |
| Website | pastormattchandler.com |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Books | 12 titles listed since 2012, plus Bible study guides |
| Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
| Net worth | No reliable figure (online guesses range from $3 million to $5 million) |
Name check: other people share this name, including a children’s book author born in 1972. This article is about the Texas pastor.
Matt Chandler’s Early Life and Background
Matt Chandler was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up on the move. His father served in the military, so the family kept packing boxes. They lived in Olympia, Washington; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Alameda, California; and Galveston, Texas, according to his Wikipedia biography.
Where Is Matt Chandler From?
He was born in Seattle, but Texas shaped him most. He played high school football there, and at 6 ft 5 in he was hard to miss. He has said his mother had a deep faith.
How Matt Chandler Came to Faith
A teammate named Jeff Faircloth shared the gospel with him in a way that caught his attention. Chandler pushed back. For about two years, he went to church gatherings, argued, and asked hard questions. Then he accepted the Christian faith.
His first job after high school was janitor at Pine Drive Christian School in Dickinson, Texas. He first spoke to a crowd when he shared his testimony at a high school chapel. At 18, a small Baptist church in La Marque, Texas, hired him as a youth minister.
Matt Chandler Education
Chandler earned a Bible degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. While there, he led a weekly Bible study called Grace at the Paramount Theater. He started seminary classes twice. He quit both times, because he felt Bible school had already given him the tools.
That means he has no seminary degree. Christianity Today noted that he picked up theology and church structure without formal denominational training.
Matt Chandler’s Ministry Journey
Chandler worked as a youth minister and traveling preacher before he ever led a church. In 1996, Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene hired him under pastor David McQueen. In 1999, he started a nonprofit called Waiting Room Ministries with his friend Shane Barnard, half of the worship duo Shane & Shane.
He also met his wife during these years. They married in 1999 and moved to Dallas, where he kept preaching on the road.
The Call to Highland Village First Baptist
A woman on the board of his nonprofit asked him to send a résumé to Highland Village First Baptist Church. Chandler did not expect an offer. He thought their beliefs were too far apart.
The church offered him the job anyway. In 2002, at age 28, he accepted. About 160 people attended at the time. By most measures it was a step down from his traveling ministry, and it became The Village Church.
Chandler has said John Piper helped shape his character. Piper interviewed him in a three-part series about his story, including how he became a Calvinist.
Rise to Prominence: How Matt Chandler Built The Village Church
The Village Church grew from about 160 people to more than 11,000 under Chandler. The church reportedly added over a thousand people a year after he arrived. By 2010, DFWChild reported 8,200 weekend attendees across Flower Mound and its satellite locations.
Growth brought changes. Chandler has said it helped him move the church to an all-male eldership. The church describes its mission as gospel-centered worship, community, service, and multiplication.
[IMAGE: The Village Church campus in Flower Mound, Texas]
From Multisite Church to Independent Congregations
Chandler’s church gave away most of its campuses. On September 24, 2017, he announced that the remaining campuses would become independent churches. Christianity Today reported the plan as a shift toward local ministry and church planting.
Church leaders compared it to parents celebrating when children grow up and move out. Each campus voted, and most votes were well over 90 percent in favor.
| Campus | New church name | When it became independent |
|---|---|---|
| Denton | The Village Church Denton | August 2015 |
| Plano | Citizens Church | August 2019 |
| Dallas | Northway Church | October 2019 |
| Fort Worth | Redemption Story Church | January 2021 |
| Southlake | Restoration Church | July 2021 |
Dates come from MinistryWatch. Flower Mound is now the main Village Church congregation.
Matt Chandler and the Acts 29 Network
Chandler became president of Acts 29 in March 2012. The network plants churches and had been co-founded by Mark Driscoll, whom Chandler succeeded. It has grown to hundreds of churches in the United States and abroad.
During his 2022 leave, Chandler moved to executive chairman of the board. Brian Howard became president. Chandler’s own site says he helps guide the network’s vision and theological alignment.
He also built a national name through conference talks and podcasted sermons. That includes events like Together for the Gospel and the Desiring God pastors conference.
Matt Chandler’s Brain Cancer Battle
On Thanksgiving morning 2009, Chandler collapsed from a seizure in front of his children. Doctors found a mass in his right frontal lobe. He had surgery on December 4, 2009, per The Dallas Morning News.
The pathology report came back on December 15. The tumor was an anaplastic oligodendroglioma, a grade 3 cancer. Surgeons could not remove all of it.
He began radiation and chemotherapy in late December. His wife Lauren later wrote that he had six weeks of radiation and 18 months of chemo. The typical prognosis they were given was two to three years.
Chandler kept teaching through treatment and posted video updates from home. In 2010 he said he believed God had healed him. Lauren has said brain tumors are never truly cured, so he still gets regular scans.
The experience shaped his later books, including Take Heart and Joy in the Sorrow. If you are walking through your own hard season, this guide on why trials are part of the Christian life may help.
Matt Chandler Books, Sermons, and YouTube
Chandler has written at least 12 books since 2012. His newest is Becoming Like Jesus, released April 28, 2026 by Thomas Nelson. It walks through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and shows holiness as a long, uneven process. For more on that theme, read these 10 ways to live a holy life.
[IMAGE: Cover of Becoming Like Jesus by Matt Chandler]
| Title | Year | Co-author or note |
|---|---|---|
| Becoming Like Jesus | 2026 | Thomas Nelson; Chandler narrates the audiobook |
| Awake and Alive | 2025 | Thomas Nelson |
| The Overcomers | 2024 | On thriving in an age of anxiety and outrage |
| Family Discipleship | 2020 | With Adam Griffin |
| Joy in the Sorrow | 2019 | With church members and friends |
| An Even Better Christmas | 2018 | Good Book Company |
| Take Heart | 2018 | With David Roark |
| The Mingling of Souls | 2015 | With Jared C. Wilson; on marriage |
| Recovering Redemption | 2014 | With Michael Snetzer |
| To Live Is Christ to Die Is Gain | 2013 | With Jared C. Wilson |
| Creature of the Word | 2012 | With Eric Geiger and Josh Patterson |
| The Explicit Gospel | 2012 | With Jared C. Wilson |
The Overcomers deals with worry and anger in daily life. For a Bible-based look at the same struggle, see what the Bible says about anxiety.
Matt Chandler on YouTube and Podcasts
You can watch Chandler’s sermons on The Village Church’s YouTube channel. Full sermons also sit on thevillagechurch.net. Short clips of his preaching spread widely online. One early clip, “Jesus Wants the Rose,” was already popular by 2010.
He and Lauren also co-host a podcast called Between Sundays with the Chandlers. They talk about work, family, and walking with Jesus between church services.
Matt Chandler’s Personal Life: Wife, Family, and Home
Matt Chandler has been married to Lauren Chandler since July 31, 1999. They met in the summer of 1997 in the mountains of Colorado. He was the camp preacher, and she was part of her church youth group.
Lauren is a Texas native, singer, worship leader, and author. She wrote Steadfast Love and released a worship EP called The Narrow Place in 2012. She also wrote children’s books, including Praise Him.
[IMAGE: Matt Chandler and Lauren Chandler together at The Village Church]
Is Matt Chandler Still Married?
Yes. I found no credible report of a divorce. Lauren and their three children stood with him on stage when he returned to preaching in December 2022. The two now co-host a podcast and speak at marriage events together.
Matt Chandler’s Children and Family
The Chandlers have three children: Audrey, Reid, and Norah. Their youngest was born shortly before Matt’s 2009 diagnosis. Matt’s father served in the military, which explains the childhood moves.
Where Does Matt Chandler Live?
He lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. An older Gospel Coalition profile placed the family in Highland Village, and his church is in Flower Mound. His exact address is not public, and wiki sites that name other states have no reliable source.
Matt Chandler Theology and Beliefs
Chandler is a Calvinist, a continuationist, and a complementarian. In plain words: he believes God chooses who is saved, spiritual gifts like prophecy and healing still operate, and the pastor and elder roles belong to men. He grew into these views over time and has explained them in public interviews.
Is Matt Chandler a Calvinist?
Yes, and nothing public suggests he has changed. His teaching on salvation is Calvinist. Desiring God’s interview series covers how he wrestled with Reformed ideas and then embraced them. He still sits on the Acts 29 board, a Reformed network.
He sits in the same Reformed-leaning stream of Southern Baptist life as former SBC president J.D. Greear.
Reformed and Charismatic: A Rare Mix
Chandler calls himself a Reformed charismatic. Christianity Today noted this is uncommon among Southern Baptists. Some Reformed critics say the two labels do not fit together. Chandler has said people who hold both can feel like orphans.
Other Beliefs
He holds a complementarian view of gender roles. Men and women are equal in worth, but only men serve as pastors and elders. He teaches Christian hedonism, a phrase from John Piper. It says God is most honored when you find your deepest joy in him.
On creation, he calls himself a historic creationist, following Old Testament scholar John Sailhamer. He also teaches that Israel and the church are two distinct bodies.
Matt Chandler’s Influence and Legacy
Chandler’s biggest mark is on church planting and young Reformed pastors. Through Acts 29, he helps train and send out church planters. Through The Village Church, he tested a model where campuses grow up and leave home.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, he shares the Southern Baptist megachurch scene with pastors like Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church. His reach also runs online. REACHRIGHT counted about 200,000 followers across his personal accounts in 2026.
Matt Chandler Today (2026)
Chandler is still lead pastor at Flower Mound. In April 2026, Crosswalk reported that the church saw a record number of baptisms the year before.
Does Matt Chandler Still Preach?
Yes. The church’s sermon page lists his messages through September 2026. They include “The Poor in Spirit” and “Those Who Mourn,” part of the Beatitudes series behind his new book.
Criticism and Controversies
Chandler’s public record includes three episodes that drew heavy criticism. Each is summarized here from news reports, with the church’s response where it exists. None involves a criminal charge against him.
Why Did Matt Chandler Stop Preaching in 2022?
He stepped away on August 28, 2022. Elders announced an indefinite leave after they learned he had sent Instagram direct messages to a woman who was not his wife. They said the messages used language unfit for a pastor.
Chandler described the exchange as unguarded and unwise. He said the messages were not sexual or romantic. Elders called the leave both discipline and development.
The church hired the law firm Castañeda + Heidelman LLP to investigate. It did not release the report, saying the woman asked to stay out of the spotlight. The Acts 29 board asked Chandler to pause his speaking for Acts 29. A Fort Worth church planted by Village, CityView, left the network and cited leadership concerns.
He returned on December 4, 2022, after about three months. Elders laid hands on him and prayed. Christianity Today said the church gave few details about the process, and Southern Baptists were debating how to restore ministers after a failure.
Supporters pointed to the discipline and his public apology. Critics wanted more transparency. Chandler later said he met both grace and accountability. For what the Bible expects of church leaders, see these 10 qualities of a good Christian leader.
2024: Questions About His Father’s Job at the Denton Campus
In July 2024, the podcast Bodies Behind the Bus interviewed two former Denton campus members. They said Chandler’s father, Steve Chandler, worked as a custodian at the campus from 2007 to 2012. He had earlier admitted to child sexual abuse that happened about 40 years before, they said.
A 2019 statement read at the Denton church said Steve Chandler had shared his past, that safety rules began in 2009, and that his background check showed nothing. Religion News Service reported that The Village Church said it uses background checks, training, and security protocols. The reports concern the church’s handling of the job, not claims against Matt himself.
Earlier Cases: 2015 and 2019
In 2015, The Village Church placed a member named Karen Hinkley under church discipline after she started annulment proceedings. Her husband had admitted to an addiction to child pornography. Chandler later apologized, and she accepted it.
In 2019, The New York Times reported on a family who said church leaders gave them too few answers after their daughter said she was molested. The family sued. Chandler disagreed that the church mishandled the case. The church settled in 2022.
Matt Chandler Salary and Net Worth
Matt Chandler’s salary and net worth are not public. The Village Church has not published his pay. Churches are exempt from filing public tax forms, so no filing shows it.
Third-party sites list salaries from about $66,000 to $300,000 and net worth from $3 million to $5 million. None link to a tax filing or church statement. Treat every number as a guess. Book royalties and speaking likely add income, but no source gives amounts.
Awards and Recognition
Chandler has few formal awards, but he has earned wide recognition.
- Ranked #89 on the Pastor Influence 100 list by REACHRIGHT in 2026.
- Named a Keeping the Faith honoree by the Head for the Cure foundation for his public cancer fight.
- Led The Village Church onto Outreach Magazine lists of large and fast-growing churches, per Crosswalk.
Interesting Facts About Matt Chandler
- His first job out of high school was janitor. At 6 ft 5 in, he never needed a step stool at the pulpit either.
- The church he took over had about 160 people and a different name: Highland Village First Baptist.
- He co-founded Waiting Room Ministries with Shane Barnard of Shane & Shane.
- He left seminary twice and still became a leading voice in Reformed circles.
- During cancer treatment, he posted video updates from his living room, once showing his surgical scar.
- A 2014 article said a missions trip to India pushed him toward his charismatic views.
- He narrates the audiobook of Becoming Like Jesus himself.
Matt Chandler Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Born June 20 in Seattle, Washington |
| 1996 | Hired by Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene |
| 1999 | Starts Waiting Room Ministries; marries Lauren on July 31 |
| 2002 | Becomes pastor of Highland Village First Baptist (now The Village Church) |
| 2009 | Seizure on November 26; brain surgery on December 4 |
| 2012 | Becomes president of Acts 29; publishes The Explicit Gospel |
| 2015 | Denton campus becomes independent; Karen Hinkley case |
| 2017 | Announces all campuses will become independent churches |
| 2019 to 2021 | Plano, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Southlake campuses become independent |
| 2022 | Leave begins August 28; returns December 4; lawsuit settled |
| 2024 | Podcast reports raise questions about father’s Denton job; The Overcomers released |
| 2025 | Awake and Alive released |
| 2026 | Becoming Like Jesus released April 28; Beatitudes sermon series in the fall |
Matt Chandler FAQs
What Happened to Matt Chandler (Matthew Chandler)?
Matt Chandler has faced three public events. He survived a malignant brain tumor diagnosed in 2009. He took a three-month leave in 2022 over unwise Instagram messages with a woman who was not his wife. In 2024, reports questioned how his church handled his father’s employment. He remains lead pastor of The Village Church.
Does Matt Chandler Still Preach?
Yes. Matt Chandler returned to preaching on December 4, 2022, after his leave. The Village Church website lists his sermons through September 2026, including a Beatitudes series that matches his book Becoming Like Jesus. He also co-hosts the podcast Between Sundays with his wife, Lauren.
Why Did Matt Chandler Stop Preaching?
He stopped on August 28, 2022. Church elders placed him on leave after learning of Instagram direct messages with a woman who was not his wife. Chandler said the messages were unwise and not romantic or sexual. Elders restored him after about three months of discipline and development.
Is Matt Chandler Still a Calvinist?
Yes, as far as the public record shows. Chandler holds Calvinist views on salvation and has explained them in interviews with John Piper. He also chairs the board of Acts 29, a Reformed church-planting network. He calls himself Reformed and charismatic, meaning he believes spiritual gifts still operate today.
Who Is Matt Chandler’s Wife, and Is He Still Married?
Matt Chandler has been married to Lauren Chandler since July 31, 1999. They met at a Colorado youth camp in 1997. Lauren is a singer, worship leader, and author. They have three children: Audrey, Reid, and Norah. I found no credible report of a divorce, and they co-host a podcast.
What Is Matt Chandler’s Salary?
The Village Church has not published Matt Chandler’s pay. Websites list figures from about $66,000 to $300,000, but none link to a tax filing or church disclosure. Churches are exempt from filing public Form 990 returns. Treat any salary or net worth number as a guess.
What Is the Village Church Matt Chandler Leads?
The Village Church is a Southern Baptist megachurch in Flower Mound, Texas. Matt Chandler became lead pastor in December 2002, when about 160 people attended. It grew to more than 11,000 attendees across locations. Most campuses became independent churches between 2015 and 2021.
How Tall Is Matt Chandler?
Matt Chandler is 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall, according to his Wikipedia biography. He played high school football in Texas. A few celebrity sites list 5 feet 8 inches, but that number conflicts with news profiles and reference pages.
Where Is Matt Chandler From?
Matt Chandler was born in Seattle, Washington. His father served in the military, so the family moved often. They lived in Olympia, Washington; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; Alameda, California; and Galveston, Texas. He played high school football in Texas and now lives there.
How Old Is Matt Chandler?
Matt Chandler was born on June 20, 1974, so he is 52 years old as of October 2026. A few sites list an April 20 birthday, but most profiles and reference databases give June 20.
Where Does Pastor Matt Chandler Live?
Matt Chandler lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with his wife, Lauren. An older Gospel Coalition profile placed the family in Highland Village, and his church sits in Flower Mound. His exact address is not public, and sites naming other states are not reliable.
Who Is in Matt Chandler’s Family?
Chandler’s family includes his wife Lauren and their children Audrey, Reid, and Norah. His father served in the military during his childhood, which meant many moves. His parents are Steve and Janet Chandler. He rarely shares more about his extended family in public.
What Is Matt Chandler’s Theology?
Chandler is a Calvinist on salvation. He is also a continuationist, believing gifts like prophecy and healing continue today. He holds a complementarian view, with male pastors and elders. He teaches Christian hedonism, a phrase from John Piper, which says God is honored most when you find your joy in him.
What Is Matt Chandler’s Education?
Chandler earned a Bible degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He started seminary classes twice but left both times, saying Bible school had given him the tools. He has no seminary degree. Before college he worked as a janitor and began youth ministry in La Marque, Texas.
Is Matt Chandler on YouTube?
Yes. Chandler’s sermons stream on The Village Church’s YouTube channel, and short clips of his preaching circulate widely. Full sermons, including the 2026 Beatitudes series, are also on thevillagechurch.net. His official site links to his podcast, Between Sundays with the Chandlers.
What Is Matt Chandler’s Role as a Pastor?
Matt Chandler is lead pastor and an elder at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, a role he has held since December 2002. He is also executive chairman of the Acts 29 board and the author of at least 12 books. Over twenty years, he has led the church from about 160 people to over 11,000.
Which Matt Chandler sermon helped you most? Share it in the comments below.
References
- Matt Chandler (pastor) – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Chandler_(pastor)
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler Official Website
https://www.pastormattchandler.com/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler Resources – Desiring God
https://www.desiringgod.org/authors/matt-chandler
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler Restored to Ministry After Three Months – Christianity Today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/12/matt-chandler-returns-pulpit-restored-village-church/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler returns to Village Church pulpit – Cross Timbers Gazette
https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2022/12/05/matt-chandler-returns-to-village-church-pulpit/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Brain tumor of Matt Chandler found to be malignant – The Dallas Morning News
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2009/12/16/brain-tumor-of-matt-chandler-pastor-of-village-church-found-to-be-malignant/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Lauren Chandler on Seeking Stability When Your World Is Shaken – The Gospel Coalition
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/lauren-chandler-on-seeking-stability-when-your-world-is-shaken/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler’s Village Church Ends Multisite Era – Christianity Today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2017/09/matt-chandler-village-church-end-multisite-campuses-dfw/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - The Village Church Completes Transition Away from Multi-Site Model – MinistryWatch
https://ministrywatch.com/the-village-church-completes-transition-away-from-multi-site-model/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - The Rise of Reformed Charismatics – Christianity Today
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2017/12/rise-of-reformed-charismatics/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler under fire as podcast alleges Village Church hired father despite known abuse – Religion News Service
https://religionnews.com/2024/07/12/matt-chandler-under-fire-as-podcast-alleges-village-church-hired-father-despite-known-abuse/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler Sees Massive Movement of God in U.S. – Crosswalk
https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/matt-chandler-sees-massive-movement-of-god-in-us-driven-by-the-death-of-secularism.html
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler – DFWChild
https://dfwchild.com/matt-chandler/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Matt Chandler: 200K Followers (2026) – REACHRIGHT Pastor Influence 100
https://reachrightstudios.com/pastor-influence-100/matt-chandler/
Accessed: October 2, 2026 - Sermons – The Village Church
https://www.thevillagechurch.net/resources/sermons
Accessed: October 2, 2026
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