Chris Shields shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Chris, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Christmas—and the small, quiet remedies it carries—has been bringing me joy lately.
In the darkest stretch of the year, there’s something grounding about noticing what still blooms. A poinsettia on the table. A handwritten card. A thoughtful, unexpected gesture. Simple things—but deeply meaningful.
These moments slow me down and pull me out of my own head. They remind me why people matter, and how the way we treat one another matters even more.
Joy hasn’t been loud or flashy—it’s been gentle, steady, and present.
Found in love given quietly,
in attention paid,and in meaning formed when no one’s watching. 🌺🎄
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Chris Shields is a leader, mentor, and storyteller rooted in one core belief: transformation happens through presence, consistency, and genuine connection. Serving in student ministry, athletics, and community leadership, Chris works daily at the intersection of faith, culture, and everyday life—walking alongside students, athletes, families, and leaders as they discover purpose, identity, and resilience.
What makes Chris’s work unique is his ability to blend depth with relatability. Whether coaching on the court, leading students in spiritual formation, or creating written and visual resources, his approach is intentional, grounded, and people-first. He believes growth doesn’t happen in isolated moments, but in rhythms—showing up, listening well, and doing the unseen work that builds trust and lasting impact.
Through teaching, writing, mentoring, and creative content, Chris is currently focused on building resources and experiences that help people stay rooted while rising into who they’re called to be. His brand is centered on clarity over noise, presence over performance, and legacy over hype—creating spaces where people feel seen, known, and empowered to live with purpose.
At the heart of everything he does is a simple commitment: to live the story God is writing, and to help others recognize the beauty and meaning in theirs.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
T R U S T
Transparency creates safety.
Reliability proves character.
Understanding builds connection.
Sustaining authenticity keeps trust alive.
Truth protects it.
Trust can be gained quickly, but it is maintained slowly.
Once broken, trust is difficult—but not impossible—to restore.
A life lived with transparency, consistency, authenticity, and truth doesn’t just build trust—it preserves it.
Trust isn’t built in moments.
It’s built in patterns.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that expansion is directly tied to endurance.
The greater the pain, the greater the capacity to grow.
It revealed the rhythm of seedtime and harvest—
a pattern God built into the earth
and into us.
Every seed matters.
Every season carries meaning.
Some of the most significant growth happens quietly,
underground, unseen,
long before anything ever appears.
Release is part of faith.
Waiting is part of trust.
Timing is neither rushed nor delayed.
And harvest?
It is always more than what was planted.
As long as the earth remains,
God’s process remains—
faithful,
consistent,
unchanging.
🌱🌾
Genesis 8:22 (TPT)
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
They believe they can do life with God
without truly depending on God.
God becomes a supplement instead of the source.
A concept instead of a presence.
A reference point instead of the foundation.
Scripture reveals a very different reality.
God is Jehovah Jireh — the Lord who provides.
Jehovah Rapha — the Lord who heals.
Yahweh — I AM, the self-existent, all-sufficient One.
Not a contributor to life,
but the One from whom life flows.
The mistake isn’t intelligence.
It’s independence.
In Acts 17:26–28, Paul reminds us that God:
made every nation from one man,
determined the exact times and boundaries of their lives, and did so so that people would seek Him and find Him.
Then he delivers the defining truth:
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Not with Him.
In Him.
Smart people get it wrong when they think:
“God supports my plans.”
Faith understands:
“My life exists because God sustains it.”
God is not an accessory to ambition.
He is not distant, abstract, or optional.
He is present.
He is intentional.
He is the source.
And when we stop trying to add God to our agenda and start submitting our agenda to God, clarity replaces control, and dependence becomes freedom.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes—because giving my best was never about being seen.
It was always about being faithful.
Psalm 73 reminds us that perspective changes in God’s presence. When He becomes the reference point, applause loses its power and obedience gains its place.
Living for the Audience of One realigns everything.
Faith deepens.
Holiness forms.
Righteousness settles in.
Joy overflows.
And grace carries me when strength runs thin.
Faith reaches for what God has promised.
Grace supplies what I could never earn.
Love gives others access to what God has freely given.
This is the life God designed.
This is the life I choose.
Not for recognition.
Not for reward.
Audience of One. Always.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hictherapper.bandcamp.com/album/being-myself
- Instagram: chrisshields_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-shields-607664280?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/chrisshields_94?s=21
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christopher.shields.460251?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC-wZVf6fVMmX8GN9RX5zx5Q?si=xUXsmBD3M1MFeiXz
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/ZQ0YkanKIwYCM8Rfzw
Image Credits
Photos created and inspired by Chris Shields
