Chandler Petray

Hello, I am Chandler Petray

I was born and raised in the Northwest Arkansas area.  After graduating from high school in 2017, I went to school at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, studying electrical engineering for two years before switching my major to criminal justice.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in May of 2022. 

Being from the Southern United States, like most, I was raised Christian.  However, being raised in a Christian household in Christian community doesn’t mean you’re indoctrinated in the gospel.  I believed in the God of the Bible growing up, but I had no faith in God, and no deep love for God.  I was not alone in this mentality, for many of my peers were just like me; these “cultural Christians” that were raised in the Bible belt.  Praising and worshiping a God with empty words and going to church to mark it off a checklist.  It was not until my sophomore year of college, when I was in a deep depression, my life falling apart, that someone who was a truly a Christian reached out to me.  She invited me to come to this community, a campus ministry that was full of people who love God, love/help others, and wanted to grow in their relationship with God.  Joining this group, Lion’s for Christ (LFC), turned my life around.  They taught me that I can now call myself a Christian because of Christ alone, by grace alone, because of my faith alone, and to the glory of God alone.

Over the next year, I got my life sorted out, changed my major, and became an active member of LFC.  The following years I got more and more involved in the campus ministry, by my final year becoming one of the main leaders: I was planning events, leading lessons, doing outreach, etc.  One of the main attributing factors to why I want to be a part of campus ministry is because of my personal story.  I know there are many students suffering, trying to fight the battle of life alone like me, that need God and a Godly community.

Before visiting Seattle this past May, my future wife and I had both never been to the Pacific Northwest.  Truthfully, we were a little nervous of what it would be like.  However, in that visit we felt the affirmation of God telling us this is the place to go.  Seattle and UW are certainly very different from where we were born and raised, but we look forward to the adventure and opportunity to widen our horizons!  Specifically, I look forward to the opportunity of vocational ministry at Sojourn, developing my skills/knowledge, and being a tool for God to make a change in the lives of the new people I meet.

Let’s meet up!

crpetray@gmail.com