CHAPEL
JOIN US for CHAPEL WEDNESDAYS AT 10:50AM
Spring 2025 Chapels will take place in the Event Center
SPRING CHAPEL SCHEDULE 2025
Christian Unified chapels are unique. We begin each session with worship, but this is not church. We fill each session with information, but our goal is not so much education as it is motivation. Many of our students and their families are facing incredible challenges in their lives, and we want to send a strong message about the power of Jesus Christ to invade any environment and to change any circumstance.
Each semester we hear from a number of inspiring speakers. Chapel guests have included a finalist on ABC’s The Voice, the first blind active duty officer in military history, a world famous magician, and an emergency-room doctor who finds time to feed people in Syria.
Our chapel guests all have this in common: they have worked very hard to get where they are, and they have determined to live for Jesus Christ no matter what it takes. For our students, chapel is an incredible opportunity to be motivated, inspired, and changed.
Todd Durkin, MA, is an internationally recognized strength and conditioning coach, sought-after keynote motivational speaker, and best-selling author who motivates, educates, and inspires people worldwide. He is the mindset coach and trainer behind some of the world’s best athletes, including NFL MVPs, Super Bowl Champions, Heisman Trophy Winners, Olympic and X-Game Gold Medalists, and many other champion athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
Megan is an Emmy®-nominated national TV Host, and 3x best-selling Author of the books “Faith in the Spotlight”, “One More Hug” and “The Magic of a Small Town Christmas”. She is a special correspondent for the nationally syndicated TV show “Inside Edition”. Previously, Megan was a Special Correspondent for CBS Television covering “Thursday Night Football.” She has her own production company that produces various media projects including the holiday travel show she hosts called “Small Town Christmas” on UPtv.
Matt Hammitt is a singer, songwriter, author, and speaker. Matt was the lead singer for the band Sanctus Real from 1996-2016. He has been the recipient of three Dove Awards and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, for his work with Sanctus Real. Matt has written over fifteen chart topping songs, performed by Sanctus Real and other musical artists. An Ohio native, Matt now lives in Nashville with his wife, Sarah, and their four children.
Ben Zobrist is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs. Zobrist played in three World Series and won the last two, becoming a two-time World Series champion in consecutive seasons of 2015 with the Royals and 2016 with the Cubs. He was the World Series MVP in 2016. Since his time as a Major League Baseball player, Ben Zobrist has become a passionate advocate for mental and emotional health, youth mentorship, and faith. In 2023, Zobrist launched Champion Forward, an initiative aimed at addressing the mental and emotional health challenges faced by young athletes, their caretakers, and coaches.
Curb Records recording artist/songwriter Hannah Kerr has been on Christian radio since she was just eighteen years old. Hannah is creating new music for a new time with her single “Changed” and more from her newest album “As I Am”. The new music comes from a place of discovery. “It’s taken me a long time to realize that God isn’t going to ever give up on me. He’s so patient with my brokenness and so loving even when I don’t feel lovable.” Kerr, who has toured with fellow Christian artists like for KING + COUNTRY, and Casting Crowns brings this revelation to audiences wherever she plays, inviting people into relationship with the One who loves them.
Algernon Tennyson is the founder and president of Awaken International Ministries. He is a dynamic and passionate evangelist with a heart for today’s young people.
Kevin Conover is the chairman of the Bible Department at Christian High and serves on the Senior Leadership Team. His Senior class on apologetics helps prepare students for the challenges of the secular college campus. He also hosts, Educate for Life, a weekly program on radio and YouTube.
David Akers is a former kicker in the National Football League for 16 seasons, primarily with the Philadelphia Eagles. During his career, Akers was named to six Pro Bowls and twice received first-team All-Pro honors. He also tied the then-NFL record for the longest successful field goal. Akers is an inductee of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and a member of the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team, along with being named to the second-team of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
Grant Todd serves as the high school pastor at Shadow Mountain Community Church. He is passionate about building up disciples through the local church and preaching biblical truth at high schools and universities across the country.
Dr. Jimmy Sites is a professional speaker, best-selling author, and award-winning television producer and host. His current television series, Spiritual Outdoor Adventures with Jimmy Sites, has garnered numerous awards and is entering its 17th season. Jimmy has been named American Outdoor Sportsman of the Year by the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.
Miles McPherson is the pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, former defensive back for the San Diego Chargers, author, actor, motivational speaker, and founder of DoSomethingChurch.org. Miles is a unifier who makes the hope of the gospel real, relevant, and accessible to empower people to make a difference in the world.
Megan Almon, a former University of Georgia gymnast, was a part of UGA’s 2002 SEC Championship team. She worked as an award-winning journalist until 2008, when she decided to pursue a career speaking and teaching about Christian apologetics. She joined Life Training Institute in 2009 and was awarded an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Biola University in 2011. Megan and her husband, Tripp (Director of Programs and Summit Semester for Summit Ministries) have been married since 2003 and have two children, Neely and Rogan. Megan enjoys spending time with her family at home in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and is still known to practice handstands in her kitchen.
D.A. Horton, PhD serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of the Intercultural Studies program at California Baptist University. He is also blessed to serve as an Associate Teaching Pastor at The Grove Community Church. He has authored many books including G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace. He and his wife of 13 years, Elicia, co-wrote a book on marriage titled Enter the Ring: Fighting Together for a Gospel-Saturated Marriage.
RECENT CHAPELS:
Spiritual Emphasis Week 2025
At Christian Jr/Sr High School, Spiritual Emphasis Week is always a powerful time of renewal, reflection, and worship, and this year was no exception. From February 18-21, guest speaker Algernon Tennyson led students through a transformative journey centered on the theme “Rise Up” AWAKEN for Kingdom Impact. Each day, students gathered in chapel for four sessions filled with dynamic messages, heartfelt worship, and intentional time in God’s Word. Algernon’s powerful teaching challenged students to deepen their faith, live boldly for Christ, and embrace their calling to make an impact for the Kingdom. With notebooks open and hearts engaged, students eagerly took notes, absorbing biblical truth and practical wisdom for their daily lives.
Kevin Conover Chapel
On Wednesday, January 18th, Kevin Conover, the head of the Christian High Bible department, spoke at Chapel about how dinosaurs fit in with the timeline of the Earth prescribed by the Bible. Since evolutionists generally believe that dinosaurs evolved 230 million years ago and went extinct 65 million years ago, there may be a problem with dinosaurs existing within a time span that began roughly 6,000 years ago. However, from a Christian perspective since by the sixth day of creation God “made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them” (Exodus 20:11 NKJV), then it must come to reason that dinosaurs existed alongside Adam and Eve as well.
Spiritual Emphasis Week with Algernon Tennyson
This February, Christian High had its first Spiritual Emphasis week since the Covid pandemic. Algernon Tennyson (nicknamed “Big Al”), founder and president of Awaken International Ministries, spoke throughout the week at each chapel. The overarching theme of his chapel messages was taking the next steps in one’s walk with God.
Kyle Mann Chapel
On February 29th 2024, Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief of notable Christian satirical news site: The
Babylon Bee, came to speak to us about how he started working at The Babylon Bee and how
comedy has the power to spread truth.
