pastor dan chengrian
pastor of high school & college ministries
His office is an eclectic mix of Jesus, pop culture, and the Chicago bears. His shelves are packed with books ranging from baseball to Christian doctrine. A boisterous pastor with a tender heart for students, this guy is the real deal.
Responsibility
Team leader for student ministries, which includes junior high through college age students. Dan's role includes casting vision and overseeing ministries and activities. He is also responsible for encouraging and developing volunteer leaders within these areas.
Q: What's your favorite part of your job?
A: Seeing kid's lives get better because God has become an important part of their world.
Q: What's the most challenging part of your job?
A: It's difficult to see the brokenness of students; I feel their pain deeply. The reality is that I can't fix them but I can point them to Jesus and that gives me hope.
Career Highlights
- Joined Northwest in February 2010
- Clovis Hills - Jr. High Pastor
- Bible Study fellowship children's teacher
- Licensed contract landscaper for 10 years
- Commercial nursery developer
- Retail and wholesale nursery sales and growing
- Junior college Ornamental Horticultural AA
Family life
I met my wife Linda at the nursery I was working at. We've been married for 25 years. We love to cook together, play board games and cards. We love to travel even if it's just going up to Oakhurst to get away for a night. We have two grown daughters. Jami is married and Amanda who is going to graduate from CSUF.
Fun things to know about Dan
Q: What's your favorite sport?
A: I like to watch football and baseball. But hunting is my sport. I love hunting.
Q: Can you tell me more?
A: I hunt dove, quail, pheasant, ducks, and geese with my hunting dog Hezekiah. It's loads of fun. I like the solitude of being in nature at sunrise to see the world wake up. And there's a challenge to be integrated with nature and not get a shot.
Q: Are you a good shot?
A: I'm a very good caller and I hide well so I don't have to be a good shot.
Q: What's something that would surprise people to know about you?
A: I speak fluent Spanish.
Q: If you were a super hero, who would you be and why?
A: I can't help but say Batman because there's a smoldering anger against wrong and he battles with that line in himself. I am no goodie tooshie Superman.
Q: Who do you most related to in the Bible?
A: Peter because his spontaneous response and zeal sometimes went too far. I always error on the side of zeal because that's the way God wired me and I feel called to action.
Favorites
Q: Season?
A: Fall
Q: TV show?
A: Survivor
Q: Restaurant?
A: Little Peking (Chinese Food)
Q: What's your coffee drink?
A: Espresso shots over ice. Dutch Brothers is the best.
