Chip's Story
A Salvation Story
Hi, I’m Chip Pendleton, and this is my story.
I was fortunate to grow up with loving, caring parents who did everything they could to take care of me. We weren’t at church every Sunday, but we did attend regularly. My grandfather, who was deeply devoted to the church, often shared Bible stories with me and as a young child, I loved hearing stories like Elijah and the prophets on Mount Carmel or David and Goliath.
When my family moved to Oldham County in fourth grade, we began attending church more regularly. I grew up believing in God, reading my Bible, and being interested in what it had to say. By ninth grade, I realized I needed to make a personal commitment to Christ. It wasn’t enough to just go to church or be involved in the youth group. It was about making a personal decision to follow Jesus.
One Sunday night, I walked down the aisle, professed my belief in Jesus, invited Him into my life, and decided to be baptized. That moment marked the beginning of my faith journey.
While I sometimes wished for a dramatic testimony, I realized my story was one we should hear more often—children raised by loving parents who led them to Christ. What really prompted my decision was Sunday school, where excellent teachers helped me understand salvation.
After my baptism, I didn’t feel any different, but I gained a deep confidence that I was saved and heading to heaven. I became more involved in church. In college, things began to shift further. The pastor asked me to join a small group to learn how to lead Bible studies, and eventually, I began teaching the high school Bible class. That experience was life-changing and led me toward ministry.
When our youth minister resigned, I was asked to lead the youth group for the summer. I also taught the high school Sunday school class. As I got more involved, I felt a clear calling to full-time ministry. By the time I graduated, I had no doubt that God was leading me in that direction. I went down front again to tell my church about my calling, and after graduation, I started seminary.
Looking back, I realize how much my life has been shaped by my godly parents who took me to church, supported me, and were deeply involved in my spiritual life. I encourage young parents to be active in their children’s lives, as their involvement in church has a tremendous impact. I also had great mentors and ministers who cared about me and pushed me to get involved, which was incredibly important.
I’ve been the lead pastor here at Westport Road Baptist Church for the last 20 years, and this is my story.
I was fortunate to grow up with loving, caring parents who did everything they could to take care of me. We weren’t at church every Sunday, but we did attend regularly. My grandfather, who was deeply devoted to the church, often shared Bible stories with me and as a young child, I loved hearing stories like Elijah and the prophets on Mount Carmel or David and Goliath.
When my family moved to Oldham County in fourth grade, we began attending church more regularly. I grew up believing in God, reading my Bible, and being interested in what it had to say. By ninth grade, I realized I needed to make a personal commitment to Christ. It wasn’t enough to just go to church or be involved in the youth group. It was about making a personal decision to follow Jesus.
One Sunday night, I walked down the aisle, professed my belief in Jesus, invited Him into my life, and decided to be baptized. That moment marked the beginning of my faith journey.
While I sometimes wished for a dramatic testimony, I realized my story was one we should hear more often—children raised by loving parents who led them to Christ. What really prompted my decision was Sunday school, where excellent teachers helped me understand salvation.
After my baptism, I didn’t feel any different, but I gained a deep confidence that I was saved and heading to heaven. I became more involved in church. In college, things began to shift further. The pastor asked me to join a small group to learn how to lead Bible studies, and eventually, I began teaching the high school Bible class. That experience was life-changing and led me toward ministry.
When our youth minister resigned, I was asked to lead the youth group for the summer. I also taught the high school Sunday school class. As I got more involved, I felt a clear calling to full-time ministry. By the time I graduated, I had no doubt that God was leading me in that direction. I went down front again to tell my church about my calling, and after graduation, I started seminary.
Looking back, I realize how much my life has been shaped by my godly parents who took me to church, supported me, and were deeply involved in my spiritual life. I encourage young parents to be active in their children’s lives, as their involvement in church has a tremendous impact. I also had great mentors and ministers who cared about me and pushed me to get involved, which was incredibly important.
I’ve been the lead pastor here at Westport Road Baptist Church for the last 20 years, and this is my story.