We recently connected with Stephon & Christina Chaney and have shared our conversation below.

Stephon & Christina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Activate Ministries is a non-profit, 501c3 compliant entity focused on the spiritual wellbeing of individuals, families and communities by sharing the good news of Jesus. Knowing we live in a world that questions its purpose and whether or not God is real, my husband and I have both experienced the power of God in a real and tangible way that has dramatically changed our lives.
Our mission is to create a safe space for people to build healthy community, grow in their faith, and encounter God…Which is exactly what’s happening!
We are seeing relationships and businesses being built as well as hearts being healed. We’re not interested in playing “church” that produces a hypocritical lifestyle, but an environment for healing to take place and for every individual to grow in their own relationship with God.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My husband and I were ordained on September 19,2019 by our pastors Touré Roberts & Sarah Jakes Roberts…something we were never seeking. Since then, we have been counseling individuals as well as engaged and newly wed couples.

Stephon and I have a passion to see people, marriages and families overcome that which has been our downfall for decades… the lack of a real relationship with God.
In the fall of 2022, we began hosting Wednesday- night Bible studies in our basement for some of our friends and on the second night, the owners of the space we are in now ( Reserve 116 ) said “this is bigger than your basement…please use our event space!” We took that as a sign to step out on faith, which is never easy, and trust where God was taking us. Our first Sunday service was on Father’s Day of 2022. We are small and intimate, yet mighty and intentional.

We don’t promote perfection but vulnerability… a space for people to heal, transform and be activated in their faith.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2011, I (Christina) was signed to Universal Republic as well as an indie label, and stardom was inevitable. I had worked with the biggest artists, my songs were being played on the radio, and shows. While everything on the outside looked promising, I was hurting inside; trying to fill a void with careless relationships, substances, and a fast growing music career. I heard the call of God and had to respond. After leaving that world behind me, I felt a huge weight lift off of me and a clarity that no words could describe. I just knew that I couldn’t go back to living life the way I was, without a real relationship with God. It eventually led to a Pastoral ordination after being entrusted to lead a group of women bi weekly through my church. It was such a rewarding experience to share what God had done in my life and guide others to trust in Jesus… the real Jesus, not the one depicted in hollywood, or hate filled dictators. My husband and I want to share the love of Jesus in a refreshing, creative way by building healthy community and connecting with other talented individuals to bring wholesome content to individuals and families.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My husband, Stephon, could depict this story better than I but we met back in 2013 at a nonprofit event that was raising money to save trafficked women and children. Stephon had recently made a shift in his lifestyle after crashing his car into a building due to drinking and driving. After 6 months of dating, he proposed to me and were married 7 months later. We now have 3 boys (Luke 6, Ezra 5, Micah 3) and are coming up on year 9 of marriage. We’ve come to realize our desire to have a healthy and thriving marriage isn’t just for us, but for all desiring companionship. Which is why we started Activate Ministries; to cultivate a healthy environment using biblical principles and practices to aid in the development of a healthy relationship with first God and then people. We are already seeing beautiful friendships being birthed and healing taking place in the lives of those who attend. What’s so awesome about this is we take no credit, but direct all the attention and focus back to Jesus.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.activateministries.org
• Instagram: @activate.thechurch
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActivateMinistriesInc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/activate-ministries
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@activateministries?si=EDCoa2-QLZrqxmcQ
• Other: IG @Christina_Chaney @Stephon.Chaney

Image Credits
Eric Ryles