Texas
megachurch pastor Matt Chandler returned to the Pulpit of The Village Church on
Sunday after more than three months following his leave of absence to deal with
‘some challenges that arose’.

In
August this year, he reportedly exchanged multiple inappropriate Instagram
direct messages with a woman who was not his wife. Following that, he accepted a decision by the elder board for him to take a leave of
absence.

In an email sent to congregants this
week, elders at the Village Church in Flower Mound announced Chandler’s return
to preaching for the Church’s 20th anniversary.

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Who is Matt Chandler?

Matt Chandler is an American pastor born on June 20, 1974, in Seattle, Washington. Since his father was in the
military, he had to move around the States throughout his childhood.

After graduating high school, he
acquired his first job as a janitor at Pine Drive Christian School in Texas. He
was offered a job as a youth minister at a small Baptist church at the age of
18. He then attended Bible studies at the Hardin Simmons University during
which he also began to lead the weekly Grace Bible Study at the Paramount
Theatre.

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In 2002, Chandler was appointed at the
Highland Village First Baptist Church despite conflicting beliefs. He
became an elder and lead pastor of teaching at the Village Church on a single campus called Flower Mound. He was named the President of
Acts 29 Network in 2012.

Chandler was diagnosed with anaplastic oligodendroglioma in 2009,
a malignant brain tumor after he suffered a seizure at his home. In late 2010,
he was given a clean bill of health from the hospital. He stated that he
believed God had cured his cancer.

He has authored three
books: The Explicit Gospel (2012), Creature
of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church (2012) and Take Heart: Christian Courage
in the Age of Unbelief (2018).

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In August 2022, Chandler took a leave of
absence after he confessed to an inappropriate online relationship with a woman
who was not his wife. After investigation, the church stated that the messages
were not sexual or romantic. His leave however, was called ‘developmental and
disciplinary’ by the church elders.

Chandler married his wife, Lauren in
1999. They have three children, Audrey, Reid, and Norah.