WINCHESTER YOUNG LIFE AREA DIRECTOR!
Originally from Tazewell in deep southwest Virginia, Chris and his family moved to Winchester in March of 2025 to begin work with Young Life in our area. Chris has been involved with Young Life since he was a middle school student and has either volunteered or served on Young Life staff in various roles since 2015.
Prior to starting the position as Area Director in Winchester and Frederick County, Chris served as the Dean of Students at Bluefield University. In his free time, Chris loves to hunt, fish, and garden - bragging that most of their family meals come from resources he has harvested and processed himself. He is also pursuing his Ph.D. in Biblical Counseling after having completed his master's degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in May of 2025.
Chris married his wife, Whitney in 2021 and they have two children together - Byrdie and Everett. The Johnson family is so grateful to be putting down roots in Winchester and Frederick County for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ being proclaimed to young people!
Next time you're on the walking mall near Boscawen Street stop in the Young Life office and say hi to Chris! If he's not there, you can probably catch him hanging out at James Wood High School or with SU students at Benny's or Sheetz - or perhaps enjoying a day off knee deep in a trout stream in Shenandoah National Park.
Who We Are
at a Glance
1941
Young Life begins in the USA
In a town in Texas, at the request of his pastor, a young associate pastor named Jim Raybrun began showing young people how much God cares about them by showing up in their world and sharing the message of God's love through Jesus in ways and words they could understand and relate to.
100+
Countries with Young Life staff and leaders
Today, Young Life is a global organization with local focus. You'll find Young Life leaders from diverse cultures, nationalities and backgrounds in over 100 countries around the world.
Two million
young people reached by Young Life staff and leaders
Whether it's in cities or villages, towns or tower blocks, in countries on every continent, Young Life leaders are working with over two million young people, right in their own neighborhoods.
348,000
KIDS INVOLVED WEEKLY
Since 1941, Young Life leaders have walked with kids and earned the right to be heard in an exhausting and exciting world. In 2018, 348,000 kids were involved every week all around the world.
