Our Mission
“We shepherd the creative community of faith, equipping them to be expressive witnesses in our world and in our churches, experiencing love and greater alignment with God. We do that by inviting them into community through coffees, dinners & creative gatherings.“
The challenge: Far too many of today’s churches are not equipped or focused to shepherd the uniqueness of the creative community of faith. Usually only a small percentage of musicians get to serve. And their time at church is made up of preparation (rehearsal) and performance (service). Little or no investment intentionally goes toward their spiritual lives or their personal creative work.
The evidence: Last year close to 50% of creatives in worship ministry considered leaving. They feel isolated and alone, insecure and inadequate, or exhausted and weary.
Loving the creative community by setting a table where they belong, speaking identity into their hearts, and inspiring them in their imaginations.
Through ThirdChair, these men & women are lovingly equipped to share the Good News creatively throughout their areas of influence both in the church and out in culture. Because artists influence everything.
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Roy & Chris Cochran
founding pastors & executive directors
As a pastor to the Creative Community of Faith, Roy mentors, counsels and prays with some of the most influential worship leaders and artists both Nationally and throughout Southern California. After serving people, churches and organizations through the Arts for decades, He and his wife Christine lead a ministry called ThirdChair. Third Chair is all about helping people pull up a Chair at the Table of their own life to invite God into their everyday rhythms and into their creative expression.
For over 30 years, Roy & Christine have led at influential churches throughout So. Cal as a Worship Pastor. Roy has served for years with Worship Foundations International as the Director of the Worship Mentor Network and with The Grove Center for the Arts & Media as a pastor to artists. Roy & Christine also have served as Ambassadors for David’s Tent, a 72 hour non-stop Worship Festival in the Uk and USA. In 2017, Roy & Christine began Third Chair Ministries.
These days, Roy & Christine are in their sweet spot, living and loving through their ministry, Third Chair. As a couple, both Roy & Christine bring nurture, care, wisdom and experience to the creative community. Christine sets an inspiring table & environment for each of our gatherings. She also guides our Painting with God sessions with so much care & heart. In addition to shepherding and curating ThirdChair Gatherings, Roy meets weekly with creatives for coffee and conversation. He is a guest speaker at conferences, retreats & gatherings. He has also collaborated in creatively bringing the love of God to audiences through a theatrical Cirque du Soleil style production, through film, dance, songwriting and just about any artistic medium that can carry the mystery & love of the Gospel into people's hearts through the creativity of artists.
Roy and Christine live in Carlsbad, California. They have two sons, Trevor & Connor and a very friendly Golden Retriever named Murphy. They love to share their home for Gatherings and with visiting artists for times of refreshment, healing and laughter.