Chris W. Hodges (born June 21, 1964, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American pastor, author, and church planter best known as the founding pastor of the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. He started the church in February 2001 with just over 350 people gathered in a high school auditorium. By 2020, it had grown to more than 60,000 weekly attendees across 26 campuses, making it one of the largest churches in the United States. He is also the co-founder of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) and the founder of Highlands College. In February 2025, Hodges stepped down as lead pastor to serve as chancellor of Highlands College.
[IMAGE: Pastor Chris Hodges speaking at Church of the Highlands, Birmingham Alabama]
Chris Hodges at a Glance
| Personal | |
| Full Name | Chris W. Hodges |
| Born | June 21, 1964 — Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA |
| Age | 62 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Tammy Hornsby Hodges (m. 1986) |
| Children | Sarah, Michael, David, Jonathan, and Joseph |
| Grandchildren | 10 (as of 2024) |
| Ministry | |
| Title | Founder; Chancellor, Highlands College (from 2025) |
| Church | Church of the Highlands, Birmingham, Alabama |
| Denomination | Non-denominational (Charismatic / Evangelical) |
| Founded Church | February 2001 |
| Ministry Start | 1984 (youth pastor, Bethany World Prayer Center) |
| Website | churchofthehighlands.com |
| Career | |
| Books | 6 published (including Fresh Air, Pray First, Out of the Cave) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3–5 million (unconfirmed) |
| Co-Founded | ARC (Association of Related Churches), 2001 |
Early Life and Background
Chris Hodges grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in a devout Christian family. Faith was part of everyday life in his home from a young age, and by his teenage years he already felt a clear pull toward ministry. He attended Louisiana State University, where he continued growing in his faith.
What most people who know his story don’t realize is that his early path to ministry was not easy or straightforward. As a young man, Hodges battled panic attacks and depression — a personal struggle he has spoken about publicly in later years, including in a 2024 PBS interview. It was through those hard seasons, he says, that he found his footing in pastoral ministry. That experience would later shape his writing, especially his book Out of the Cave, which deals directly with depression and spiritual recovery.
[IMAGE: Baton Rouge Louisiana cityscape, Chris Hodges hometown]
Ministry Career
The Early Years: Bethany and New Life Church (1984–2000)
Hodges entered full-time ministry in 1984 as a youth pastor at Bethany World Prayer Center, a large charismatic church located just outside Baton Rouge. He was 20 years old. He stayed there for a few years before following a trajectory that would shape the next decade of his life.
After marrying Tammy Hornsby in 1986, the couple relocated to Colorado Springs, where Hodges joined the staff of New Life Church. He served there first as a youth pastor, then worked his way up to senior associate pastor. New Life Church, at the time, was one of the fastest-growing charismatic congregations in the country. The years in Colorado gave Hodges a close-up look at large-scale church building — and it left a lasting impression.
In 1994, he returned to Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, this time as an associate pastor. During this period, he also hosted a daily television program called Lifeline, which gave him early experience reaching audiences beyond the Sunday pew.
Moving to Birmingham: The Church of the Highlands Story (2001–2024)
In 2000, Hodges felt a clear sense of calling to start something new. He moved his family to Birmingham, Alabama, with a single goal: plant a church. He spent months recruiting a small leadership team and building the foundation before the doors ever opened.
The first service of Church of the Highlands took place in February 2001 at the Fine Arts Center of Mountain Brook High School. More than 350 people showed up that first Sunday. For a church plant, that was a strong start — but nobody in the room could have predicted what the next two decades would look like.
The church grew steadily, then dramatically. Hodges built a multi-site model, planting new campuses across Alabama and eventually into West Georgia. He kept the teaching style accessible, the worship contemporary, and the programming organized around clear spiritual next steps: know God, find freedom, discover purpose, make a difference. That simplicity became the church’s engine.
By 2020, Church of the Highlands was drawing more than 60,000 people every weekend across 26 campuses. It was regularly ranked among the ten largest megachurches in America. Hodges had spent nearly a quarter-century growing the thing from a borrowed auditorium into one of the most attended churches in the country.
[IMAGE: Church of the Highlands main campus Birmingham Alabama]
ARC and the GROW Coaching Network
While building the Church of the Highlands, Hodges also had his eye on the broader church planting landscape. In 2001, he co-founded the Association of Related Churches (ARC), a network designed to help new churches launch and grow. Over the next two decades, ARC would support hundreds of church plants across the United States, becoming one of the most influential church planting networks in the country.
He also founded a pastor-coaching network called GROW, which works with church leaders who are trying to break through attendance and growth ceilings. Each year, thousands of pastors attend conferences and roundtables led by Hodges and his team across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Highlands College
In 2011, Hodges launched Highlands College in Birmingham — a full-time ministry training school designed to prepare the next generation of church leaders. The college became a significant focus for him in his later years of leading the church, and he has consistently described it as one of his deepest callings: raising up leaders, not just building a congregation.
When Hodges announced his departure from the lead pastor role in February 2025, he made clear that Highlands College was the reason. He didn’t want to just run a church; he wanted to train the people who would run churches after him.
Books by Chris Hodges
Hodges is the author of six books, all focused on practical Christian living and pastoral leadership. His writing style mirrors his preaching — clear, direct, and grounded in real experience. Here are the main titles:
| Book Title | Year | Publisher | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Air | 2013 | Tyndale House | Spiritual renewal and a revived relationship with God |
| Four Cups | 2014 | Tyndale House | God’s promises through the lens of Passover |
| The Daniel Dilemma | 2017 | Thomas Nelson | Living with conviction in a culture of compromise |
| What’s Next? | 2019 | Thomas Nelson | Navigating spiritual growth and next steps in faith |
| Out of the Cave | 2021 | Thomas Nelson | Overcoming depression; Elijah’s story meets modern struggle |
| Pray First | 2023 | Thomas Nelson | Building a life anchored in prayer |
Fresh Air and What’s Next? are his best-known titles among pastors who attend his leadership conferences. Out of the Cave became personally significant because it drew directly from his own early battles with depression and anxiety.
[IMAGE: Chris Hodges books Fresh Air Pray First Out of the Cave covers]
Personal Life
Wife: Tammy Hodges
Chris Hodges met Tammy Hornsby in Louisiana and married her in 1986. The couple relocated together multiple times as Chris’s ministry assignments changed — from Baton Rouge to Colorado Springs and eventually to Birmingham. Tammy has been a consistent presence in his ministry life, though she maintains a much lower public profile than her husband. The two have now been married for 40 years and continue to live in Birmingham.
How Many Children Does Chris Hodges Have?
Chris and Tammy Hodges have five children: Sarah, Michael, David, Jonathan, and Joseph. As of 2024, the couple also had ten grandchildren. Several of their children have been directly involved in church ministry, and two of them — Michael and David — have had notable and publicly reported journeys through pastoral roles.
What Happened to Chris Hodges’ Son David?
David Hodges served as the college pastor at Church of the Highlands before leaving in 2017 to take on a youth minister role at Hillsong Church in Los Angeles. His departure from Hillsong came sometime after that, and Chris Hodges later confirmed during a sermon that David had relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he became involved in ministry there. No moral failing or public controversy has been attributed to David.
It is worth noting that the search query “What happened to Chris Hodges son David” sometimes pulls up results about an entirely different person. The basketball player Chris Hodges — a 6’8″ forward for Montana State — has no connection to Pastor Chris Hodges or his son David. See the FAQ below for a full disambiguation.
Chris Hodges’ Son Michael
Michael Hodges served as the campus pastor at the Church of the Highlands’ Greystone location. In 2017, he was removed from that position following what the church described as a moral failing. Speaking at the church’s ReCreate Women’s Conference that same year, Chris Hodges confirmed to the congregation that Michael was no longer serving as campus pastor, though he gave no further public details.
Michael later appeared at Freedom House Church in Charlotte, North Carolina — an indication, at the time, that he was returning to some form of public ministry. What his current role or status is has not been publicly confirmed as of the writing of this biography.
Theology and Ministry Philosophy
Hodges sits within the charismatic evangelical stream of American Christianity. His theology is practical and people-focused rather than deeply doctrinal in public presentation. Church of the Highlands operates as a non-denominational congregation with an elder-led governance structure. The church’s stated mission — helping people know God, find freedom, discover purpose, and make a difference — reflects Hodges’ consistent emphasis on spiritual formation as a journey rather than a single event.
He has long maintained close ties with other large church leaders and networks, including the late Joel Osteen’s world and the broader American megachurch movement. He lists pastoral mentors including Larry Stockstill of Bethany World Prayer Center. His conferences attract thousands of pastors annually who come specifically for the practical church-growth frameworks he teaches.
Unlike some charismatic leaders, Hodges rarely leans into prophetic or apostolic language in his public teaching. His approach is more methodological: build systems, develop leaders, simplify the gospel pathway, and repeat across campuses. Craig Groeschel of Life.Church has used Hodges as a resource speaker, a reflection of how his peer network sees his leadership expertise.
Controversies and Criticism
The 2020 Social Media Controversy
In June 2020, amid nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd, a Birmingham high school English teacher posted publicly on Facebook pointing out that Hodges had “liked” several posts by Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA — a conservative organization whose content on race relations many viewers found offensive and dismissive of systemic racism concerns.
The backlash was swift and significant. Within days, the Birmingham Board of Education voted to end its lease arrangements with Church of the Highlands, which had been holding services at two Birmingham city high schools for around $288,000 annually. A local public housing authority also moved to remove the church’s volunteers from public housing complexes, ending an outreach program that had served low-income residents.
Hodges issued a public apology, admitting that the liked posts were hurtful and did not reflect his beliefs or the church’s values. He addressed the congregation from the pulpit, stating plainly: “Racism, bigotry, prejudice exists. It’s real and it’s of the devil.” He also sent a written letter to church members reaffirming that the social media activity did not represent what he believed or taught. The apology was detailed and repeated publicly more than once.
The situation drew national media coverage and became a widely cited example in conversations about pastoral accountability on social media.
The Hillsong Connection and Parliament Questions (2023)
In 2019, Hodges and New Zealand pastor Paul de Jong were appointed by Hillsong’s global board to review allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct against Hillsong founder Brian Houston. Following that review, documents later surfaced showing that Hillsong had paid both Hodges and de Jong $10,000 each, listed under the heading “Senior Pastor Donation Expenses.”
Those payments were raised in a session of the Australian Parliament in March 2023 by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who called the payments “curious.” The documents also showed that Church of the Highlands had separately paid Brian Houston $15,000 to speak at the church, and that Hillsong had paid Hodges a $20,000 honorarium plus travel expenses for a guest speaking engagement in 2012.
Hodges had spoken publicly of his close friendship with the Houstons and had attended Hillsong Conference nearly every year since 2008. His son David also worked briefly as a youth minister at Hillsong’s Los Angeles location. Hodges has not made detailed public statements responding to the parliamentary mention.
The ARC Network Scandals
As co-founder of the Association of Related Churches, Hodges has faced indirect criticism following sexual and financial scandals involving several ARC-affiliated churches. Hodges himself has not been personally accused of wrongdoing in connection with those cases, but critics have questioned the oversight structures within the network he helped build.
Leadership Transition: Stepping Down as Lead Pastor (2025)
On February 2, 2025, Hodges announced from the pulpit that he was stepping down as lead pastor of Church of the Highlands. The announcement surprised many in the congregation, even though Hodges later revealed he and his successor had been discussing the transition for more than two years.
Mark Pettus, who had been on staff at the church for more than 20 years and had served as president of Highlands College since its founding in 2011, was named as the new lead pastor. Hodges called Pettus his “spiritual son” and made clear this was not a retirement or a response to any controversy. He said he had more energy and vision than ever — he simply wanted to give the remainder of his working years to Highlands College.
“I’ve always felt led to empower other leaders,” Hodges told the congregation. “That’s why we started Highlands College.” He transitioned into the role of chancellor of the college, a position that lets him focus on the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders full-time.
[IMAGE: Chris Hodges announcing leadership transition Church of the Highlands 2025]
Influence and Legacy
Few American pastors have built something at the scale of what Hodges created in Birmingham. Starting from a borrowed high school auditorium in 2001, he turned Church of the Highlands into one of the most attended churches in the country — without relocating to a major media market, without a television ministry, and without the kind of celebrity exposure that drives many megachurch growth stories.
His real legacy may be structural. The ARC network has launched hundreds of churches. Highlands College continues training ministry leaders. The GROW coaching network reaches thousands of pastors each year. Hodges built systems, not just a crowd. For church leaders who study church growth, that matters as much as the attendance numbers.
His writing — particularly Out of the Cave and Pray First — has also found a broad audience beyond his congregation, reaching readers who will never attend a service in Alabama but find his practical approach to faith accessible and honest.
The comparison most often drawn in American evangelical circles is between Hodges and Craig Groeschel — both built multi-site churches from scratch in the same era, both prioritize leadership development, and both have shaped how a generation of younger pastors think about church planting. The difference is geography and visibility. Groeschel became a household name; Hodges built something just as significant but never chased the platform.
Interesting Facts About Chris Hodges
- He started Church of the Highlands at age 36, with no guaranteed income and no church building.
- His son Michael appeared on Wheel of Fortune — a lighter moment his family shared publicly.
- Hodges attended nearly every Hillsong Conference from 2008 onward, describing Brian Houston as one of his ministry heroes before Houston’s fall.
- His depression and panic attacks in early adulthood are a central part of his personal testimony, though he rarely led with them publicly until writing Out of the Cave.
- He hosted a daily television program called Lifeline during his Bethany World Prayer Center years in the 1990s — long before most pastors were thinking about media reach.
- Church of the Highlands has been ranked in the top ten largest churches in America for multiple consecutive years.
- Hodges co-founded ARC the same year he launched Church of the Highlands — he was thinking about the network from day one, not as an afterthought.
- His successor Mark Pettus had served on staff for over 20 years before being named lead pastor — Hodges planned his own succession for years before announcing it.
Career Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1964 | Born June 21 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| 1984 | Entered ministry as youth pastor at Bethany World Prayer Center, Baton Rouge |
| 1986 | Married Tammy Hornsby; couple relocated to Colorado Springs |
| 1986–1994 | Served at New Life Church, Colorado Springs — youth pastor and senior associate pastor |
| 1994 | Returned to Bethany World Prayer Center as associate pastor; hosted Lifeline TV program |
| 2000 | Moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to plant a new church |
| 2001 (Feb) | Launched Church of the Highlands; co-founded ARC (Association of Related Churches) |
| 2011 | Founded Highlands College, Birmingham |
| 2013 | Published Fresh Air (Tyndale House) |
| 2017 | Son Michael removed from campus pastor role; son David departed for Hillsong LA |
| 2019 | Appointed by Hillsong global board to review allegations against Brian Houston |
| 2020 | Social media controversy over liked Charlie Kirk posts; issued public apology |
| 2021 | Published Out of the Cave |
| 2023 | Hillsong payment to Hodges mentioned in Australian Parliament |
| 2023 | Published Pray First |
| 2025 (Feb) | Stepped down as lead pastor; named chancellor of Highlands College; Mark Pettus became lead pastor |
Chris Hodges Net Worth
Estimates of Chris Hodges’ net worth vary widely across different sources, ranging from around $1 million to $5 million. A commonly cited figure puts it at approximately $3 million, with income derived from book sales, speaking engagements, conference fees, and his role at Church of the Highlands.
The church itself does not publicly disclose its compensation structure in detail, and Hodges has not made specific salary information public. For comparison, Joel Osteen stopped drawing a salary from Lakewood Church in 2005, funding his lifestyle primarily through book revenue. Whether Hodges follows a similar model is not confirmed.
Given the controversy surrounding pastoral compensation at churches like the one Hodges helped investigate (Hillsong), the lack of public financial disclosure from Church of the Highlands has drawn some outside criticism, though there is no public evidence of impropriety in Hodges’ personal finances. The net worth figures cited online should be treated as estimates only.
Awards and Recognition
| Recognition | Details |
|---|---|
| Outreach Magazine — Largest U.S. Churches | Church of the Highlands consistently ranked top 10 nationally |
| PBS Feature Interview | Featured on Side by Side with Nido Qubein, 2024 |
| Amazon Author Recognition | Recognized as one of the most-followed Christian authors on the platform |
| Conference Influence | 4,000+ pastors attend Hodges-led conferences annually across four continents |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Chris Hodges?
Chris Hodges was born on June 21, 1964, which makes him 62 years old as of 2026. He is sometimes confused with Nigerian pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who is a different person entirely. Searches asking “How old is Pastor Chris now?” often relate to Oyakhilome, not Hodges.
Who is Chris Hodges’ wife?
Tammy Hodges (formerly Tammy Hornsby) is Chris Hodges’ wife. They married in 1986 and have been together for 40 years. Tammy maintains a low public profile. The two live in Birmingham, Alabama, and have five children together.
Did Pastor Chris Hodges leave his wife?
No. Chris and Tammy Hodges remain married. The search query “Why did Pastor Chris leave his wife?” appears to be a confusion with Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Nigeria, who went through a widely publicized divorce in 2016. The two men are not the same person and have no connection.
How many children does Chris Hodges have?
Chris Hodges has five children: Sarah, Michael, David, Jonathan, and Joseph. He and Tammy also had ten grandchildren as of 2024.
What happened to Chris Hodges’ son David?
David Hodges served as college pastor at Church of the Highlands before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 to work as a youth minister at Hillsong Church. He later left Hillsong and, according to Chris Hodges’ own sermons, relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he became part of a church there. David has not been the subject of any public moral failing or scandal.
What is Chris Hodges’ net worth?
Estimates vary, but most sources put Chris Hodges’ net worth at between $3 million and $5 million. His income comes from books, speaking engagements, and church compensation. Exact figures have not been publicly disclosed by Hodges or his church.
What books has Chris Hodges written?
Chris Hodges has written six books: Fresh Air (2013), Four Cups (2014), The Daniel Dilemma (2017), What’s Next? (2019), Out of the Cave (2021), and Pray First (2023). All are published by Tyndale House or Thomas Nelson.
Why did Chris Hodges step down from Church of the Highlands?
Hodges stepped down as lead pastor in February 2025 to become chancellor of Highlands College. He stated it was not a retirement and not related to any controversy — he wanted to focus on training the next generation of ministry leaders. Mark Pettus, a 20-year staff veteran, replaced him as lead pastor.
Is Chris Hodges the basketball player?
No. There is a separate basketball player named Chris Hodges — a 6’8″ small forward born in 2002, who plays for Montana State University. He is the son of Avery and Selicia Hodges and has no connection to Pastor Chris Hodges or Church of the Highlands.
Which tribe is Pastor Chris from?
This question is specific to Nigerian pastor Chris Oyakhilome, not Chris Hodges of Alabama. Chris Oyakhilome is from the Ika people of Delta State, Nigeria. Chris W. Hodges is an American from Baton Rouge, Louisiana — tribal affiliation is not a relevant category for his background.
What is the Chris Hodges State Department connection?
There is no confirmed public record linking Chris W. Hodges, the pastor, to a U.S. State Department role. This keyword may reflect a confusion with another person bearing a similar name. If new information becomes available, this page will be updated.
Where is Chris Hodges originally from?
Chris Hodges was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He lived and ministered in Baton Rouge and Colorado Springs before moving to Birmingham, Alabama, in 2000 to plant Church of the Highlands.
