Chris Bartlett

Hometown: Round Rock, Texas

Role at Ablaze: Vice President of Ablaze, Team Captain of Ablaze Families

Contact Info: chris@ablaze.us

Education:

  • MA Theology, St. Mary University-San Antonio
  • BA Theology with Religious Education Concentration, Franciscan University of Steubenville
  • BA Business, Marketing, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Ministry Background:

It was the spring of my 8th-grade year on a retreat where my relationship with Christ and His Church became personal and real. Since that time, God has been gently calling my gifts into ministry. I served on retreat teams in High School & College and was blessed by an amazing internship in youth ministry. After graduation, I was hired as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas in College Station. It was an amazing season of growth. In 2008, I become the Director of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry at the Diocese of Austin. This is where ministry leadership became a professional passion. In 2011, I returned to parish ministry as the Director of Youth Ministry at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock and have been there since. 

Passions and Interests:  I delight in my family and love playing with my kids. I enjoy guitar, soccer, and Monday Night Game Night (ask me about it). I’m a bit of a nerd and my board game collection continues to grow.

How did you become involved with Ablaze/why are you involved? Next Level Ministry was founded along the way as the desire to share the vision of ministry broadened beyond my parish position. I see so many ministry leaders suffering and some leaving the church. This had to change. Next Level Ministry has been building ministry leaders and fostering excellence throughout the country for over 6 years! Next Level encountered Ablaze a couple of years after it’s founding. Ablaze desired to pour more intentionally into ministry leaders and choose to partner, not compete. This partnership has grown into the 360 approach of Youth Ministry that makes Ablaze Ministries so successful. I am humbled and honored to stand with the amazing ministry leaders in the Ablaze Ministries family.

Favorite Quotes/Bible Verses:

The Hemorrhaging Woman (Mark’s account) and the Road to Emmaus in Luke can rock my spiritual world.

“Apathy is a bigger threat to the church today than heresy” – Chris Bartlett