J. Christopher McMichael

J. Christopher (Chris) McMichael resides in Cookeville, Tennessee, where he pastors the congregation of Engrafted Word Church. He is the creator of PodSchool™️, a free online Bible study resource, and the host of the podcast Theology, Things & Stuff™️. Chris is also the author of several published works, including Building Sound Doctrine (mini); Fat, Broke & Crazy; Parachutes for Sheep; Parachutes for Sheep (mini); Samson: Secrets to Destroying Your Life and Ministry; and Redemptive Botany of the Bible.

Chris has attended church his entire life and is grateful to his parents for raising him in a Christian home. He surrendered his life to the Lord as a child at a summer Baptist youth camp in the mountains of Tennessee. As a teenager on his first mission trip, he began to recognize God’s call to ministry. After earning a degree in Earth Sciences from Tennessee Tech University, Chris moved to Indianapolis in 2004 to attend Bible college. There, he met his wife, Manda, while they attended the same church.

In 2007, Chris became the pastor of Engrafted Word Church (formerly Cookeville Christian Fellowship). His first year of pastoring was spent as a bi-vocational minister while also working full-time as a resource geologist at a local zinc mine. He eventually stepped away from full-time geology to focus on the pastorate, though he continued occasional consulting work until 2020. Today, his focus is solely on the church and on world missions, and his scientific background continues to shape his biblical studies and teaching style behind the pulpit.

Chris and Manda have three children they are raising in Cookeville. Their family is active in sports, fitness, and outdoor activities. Chris enjoys backpacking and is an avid caver.