Bio

My name is Chris Synesael, I have been a Christian since I was 16 years old, and have been serving Jesus faithfully since 19.  I am the husband of Kellee, and the father of Tyler, Jacob, and Emilee.  We have lived in Victoria, British Columbia since 2008 and we adore this city!  It is a wonderful city that has much to offer.  It is a great place to raise a family, and we anticipate being here for a very long time.

In 2007 God began birthing a dream in Kellee and I.  The idea of church planting was placed as a small seed in our hearts.  Knowing that we would one day pursue it we continued to serve God in the context of Youth Ministry.  For the next 3.5 years the calling of church planting followed us around like a stray cat.  I really wasn’t sure that we wanted it, but every time I looked over my shoulder it was there nonetheless.  God would not allow it to be forgotten.  Then in late 2009, while on a prayer retreat it was evident that we were to begin moving in the direction of planting a church, and doing so in the city of Victoria.

After almost a year of testing that call through friends and mentors, Church Planting Assessment, and the leadership of Saanich Baptist Church we are finally ready to step out in this new venture.  Saanich Baptist Church released us in early 2011 to begin the pre-launch preparation for “WEST VILLAGE”.  SBC continues to actively support us as we begin the birth of this new church.

We were/are scared.  We were/are excited.  We were/are trusting God!

THE LATEST:

John 17:3, ‘Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’

West Village Church exists to bring glory to God by transforming the Westshore of Victoria and the people in it by introducing them to Jesus.

Everything that West Village Church does is about introducing people to Jesus.  We believe that Jesus is not just a nice idea among the marketplace but that He was actually God incarnate (with skin on) and that he came to earth to rescue us and restore our relationship with God.

The command for every church is to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-19), and the mission of West Village Church is to compel as many people as possible to become followers of Jesus.  But knowing Jesus is not merely an evangelistic act, it is also an act of discipleship.  Not only do unbelievers need the Gospel, but so do believers.  Our hearts have a proclivity towards placing our hope in other things.  Knowing Jesus and believing the Gospel reminds believers that Jesus is to be central to all things.

Everyone needs to be introduced to Jesus.