Chris Baucom, Senior Pastor

Pastor Chris Baucom was born on January 27th, 1966, to Mr. Donald Reid Baucom & Catherine Broadway Baucom.  After High School, Pastor Chris went to work for K & K Toys at Monroe Mall while working on a business degree at King’s College in Charlotte, NC.  The Toy industry became a career as he worked up the corporate ladder to eventually being a Regional Manager with Hasbro Toys overseeing North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.   Pastor Chris enjoyed the Toy industry and jokes about how he still ends up in the toy department when at Walmart!  During all this time, he was brought up in church at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail under the leadership of Pastor Earl Sossaman and then Dr. Mike Whitson.  Pastor Chris was also brought up in a singing family.  His parents had a gospel group called the Gospel Airs.  The traveled all over Union County singing in churches and often all-night singings where Pastor Chris and his brother Rodney would sleep on the church pews.  When Pastor Chris was in his early 20’s he like his parents became part of a singing group called the Revelation Quartet.  They traveled all over Union County and into Mecklenburg County singing praise to the Lord. 

In 1989 Chris met the woman that would become his wife.  Hurricane Hugo had just hit and some folks, Darren and Deanna Barbee, set up an opportunity for Deanna Harvey and Chris Baucom to meet after church.  The plan was to have Deanna ride with Chris to McDonalds in Matthews, where South 21 now sits.  Deanna was shy, but they did begin to talk.  When they arrived back at the church, they felt something for each other.  Later they found out when they got home that they told their parents that they had just met the person they were going to marry.  Sure enough, Chris proposed that December of 1989 and they were married the following year.  Together, God has blessed them with three amazing children, Chase, Ashton, and Carsyn.  They have two amazing sons-in-laws, Benny and Kevin, and 5 grandchildren, Ryle, Colton, Weston, Hudson, and Hayven.

In 2002, Chris felt the call of God upon his life.  He put a fleece out to the Lord to give him the feeling he had the day he was saved…which on that day was a pounding on his heart as if the Lord was knocking.  So, in November of that year, he was at church, in the choir loft, and Dr. Mike Whitson gave the altar call.  This altar call was different though.  For some reason, Dr. Whitson, said “If you feel like the Lord is calling you to full-time Christian Service, why don’t you surrender today?”  When that statement was made, Pastor’s Chris’ heart began to pound just like it did when he was saved.  So, after a few minutes of shock and gripping the rail in front of hm, he let go, walked through the orchestra pit, and came up behind Dr. Mike Whitson.  He surrendered to the call on his life but had lots of questions.  He knew it meant going back to school and he didn’t know how he would pay for his education.  However, God!  After talking with Pastor Mike, he was told that FBCIT would pay for his education, and they did…8 years! 

While in school, working on his Master’s degree in Theology, Preacher Mike called and said he wanted to recommend Chris to Oakview Baptist Church in High Point N.C.  Again, fear came because this meant quitting their jobs, selling their house, and moving to High Point.  However, God provided and blessed them with an amazing first ministry opportunity as the Minister of Education.  After about 3 years, the Lord opened an opportunity for Chris to serve at Sardis Baptist Church in Indian Trail as the Minister of Education.  This move was exciting because it was back home.  However, they knew this was God’s will.  After 5 years at Sardis, Chris was called to Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church in Monroe to be the Senior Pastor.  He has served BCR for going on 14 years.  God has blessed and the church is doing well.  However, the Lord had a new door for Chris to walk through.  After preaching revival at Mountain Springs Baptist Church, the Lord opened a door for Chris to be the Senior Pastor.  He and his wife and family are excited about this new opportunity to serve the Lord and will begin on January 1st, 2024.

Pastor’s Chris’ favorite verse in the Bible is Palms 46:10 “Be Still and Know that I am God!”  He has tried to live his life by this verse.  To stop during the chaos of the world and take a moment to realize that our Heavenly Father has everything under control.  To walk thru life as He directs our path.