Stephen Chandler: Biography, Union Church, Wife & Net Worth

Stephen Chandler (born 1985) is an American pastor, author, and speaker best known as co-senior pastor, alongside his wife Zai Chandler, of Union Church, a rapidly growing multisite congregation based in Maryland. What started as a fifty-person church plant grew into one of the fastest-growing churches in America, according to Outreach Magazine, and Chandler’s story of merging two congregations into one movement has made him a widely followed voice among younger church planters.

[IMAGE: Pastor Stephen Chandler preaching at Union Church]

At a Glance

Early Life and Background

Stephen Chandler was born in 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, into a family already rooted in ministry. His father, Ron Chandler, was a bivocational pastor who ran a medical courier business while founding and leading New Life International Fellowship. Chandler grew up around the church his father built and often describes himself as a “church boy,” noting that his mother gave birth to him on a Sunday while his father was preaching. He grew up with siblings in Maryland, though detailed public information about his extended family life remains limited.

Around 2010, Chandler’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis prompted his father to step back from full-time pastoral work to care for her, and Ron Chandler handed leadership of the church to his son, then in his mid-twenties. Chandler eventually renamed the congregation Destiny Harvest Church.

Education

Chandler earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, between 2005 and 2008. Public records and professional profiles list this economics degree as his primary academic credential; there is no verified record of an MBA or other graduate business degree.

Ministry Journey

Destiny Harvest Church

In 2011, Chandler became Senior Pastor of what became Destiny Harvest Church in Woodlawn, Maryland, building on the congregation his father started. Over the following decade, the church grew steadily, reaching an average attendance in the thousands by the late 2010s.

The Merger That Formed Union Church

Chandler’s path crossed with Pastor Jimmy Rollins, who led the nearby i5 City Church, at an Association of Related Churches conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The two pastors, whose churches were only about 20 minutes apart, became friends over their shared interest in golf and seafood. Years later, in September 2020, their conversations turned serious. Rollins felt a growing burden to focus on marriage ministry alongside his wife, Irene, and the two pastors began exploring what it would look like to combine their congregations.

[IMAGE: Union Church congregation gathered for a worship service]

By December 2020, Chandler and Rollins had sat down with Dino Rizzo, executive director of the Association of Related Churches, to plan the merger. On April 4, 2021, Destiny Church and i5 City Church officially merged to form Union Church, drawing on Psalm 133:1 as their founding vision verse. Chandler and his wife took on the role of senior pastors, while Jimmy and Irene Rollins became apostolic pastors, continuing to preach and mentor pastors within Union’s growing network.

Rapid Multisite Growth

Union Church expanded quickly after the merger. A Baltimore County campus launched in February 2020, followed by a Bowie, Maryland campus in 2022. In 2023, Union launched its first locations outside Maryland, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Falls Church, Virginia, with the Charlotte campus formally launched under pastors Brian and Karen Bullock in 2024. The church has been recognized by Outreach Magazine as one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, and in 2023 alone reported more than 5,100 conversions.

The Builders Network

In 2021, Chandler founded The Builders Network, also known as BLDRS, a community aimed at supporting purpose-driven pastors and ministry leaders. Drawing on his own experience growing a church from around fifty members into a multisite movement, Chandler uses the network to coach other church leaders through common growth barriers.

Books and Publications

Chandler is the author of Stop Waiting for Permission: Harness Your Gift, Find Your Purpose, and Unleash Your Personal Genius, published through Penguin Random House. The book draws on his own leadership journey and focuses on helping readers identify their purpose without waiting for external validation. He’s also a sought-after international speaker on church leadership, culture, and systems.

Personal Life

Chandler is married to Zai Chandler, who leads Union Church alongside him as co-senior pastor. Zai came to faith through a missionary in her home country of Sierra Leone before eventually settling in the United States. The couple has been married for close to a decade and have three children together: Zoe, Roman, and Jade. The family resides in Bowie, Maryland.

Theology and Ministry Philosophy

Union Church is non-denominational and evangelical, affiliated with the Association of Related Churches, a network focused on planting and resourcing new congregations. Chandler has described his ministry priority as making disciples rather than simply counting converts, telling ARC that “converts add to your church, but disciples multiply a church.” His preaching style leans practical and culturally engaged, and he’s been compared by some commentators to fellow young megachurch pastor Mike Todd of Transformation Church for his energetic, younger-skewing communication approach.

Influence and Legacy

Union Church’s growth, from a fifty-person congregation to a multisite movement recognized as one of the fastest-growing churches in America, has made Chandler a frequently cited example within church-planting circles, particularly through his relationship with the Association of Related Churches. His public partnership with Jimmy Rollins to merge two congregations, rather than compete for the same city, has also been highlighted within ARC as an unusually collaborative model for church growth.

Criticism and Controversies

There is no documented record of significant public controversy involving Stephen Chandler at the time of writing. Most available commentary on his ministry centers on his rapid church growth and leadership approach rather than any personal or doctrinal scandal.

Net Worth and Financial Information

No verified net worth figure exists for Stephen Chandler. Online estimates vary widely, from unconfirmed figures with no public disclosure to speculative multimillion-dollar claims, but none are backed by any confirmed financial filing or church-issued statement. Union Church does not publicly disclose individual pastoral salaries, so any specific dollar figure circulating online should be treated as unverified speculation rather than fact.

Interesting Facts

• Chandler’s mother gave birth to him on a Sunday while his father was mid-sermon, which is why he often calls himself a “church boy.”
• He took over his father’s church in his mid-twenties after his mother’s cancer diagnosis prompted his father to step back from ministry.
• Union Church was born from a merger between two congregations whose pastors met on the golf course at an Association of Related Churches conference.
• He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, not an MBA, despite his frequent business and leadership-focused teaching content.

Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is pastor Stephen Chandler?

Stephen Chandler is the Senior Pastor of Union Church, a multisite congregation based in Maryland that he leads alongside his wife, Zai Chandler.

Where is Pastor Stephen Chandler from?

Stephen Chandler was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and continues to lead ministry based in the state.

What religion is Stephen Chandler?

Chandler is an evangelical, non-denominational Christian pastor. Union Church is affiliated with the Association of Related Churches, a network focused on church planting.

Who is Pastor Stephen Chandler’s wife?

His wife is Zai Chandler, who serves as co-senior pastor of Union Church alongside him. She came to faith through a missionary in her home country of Sierra Leone.

What is Stephen Chandler known for?

He’s known for leading Union Church from a small congregation into one of the fastest-growing multisite churches in America, largely through a widely discussed 2021 merger with Jimmy Rollins’s i5 City Church.

What is Pastor Stephen Chandler’s net worth?

No verified net worth figure is publicly available. Union Church does not disclose individual pastoral compensation, and online estimates are unconfirmed.

Have you attended a service at Union Church or read Stephen Chandler’s book? Share your experience in the comments below.

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About the author: This biography was researched and written by the Flicxa editorial team, dedicated to accurate, well-sourced profiles of pastors, ministry leaders, and gospel artists.