New Life United Methodist Church

Christopher Yount

Before being called to New Life United Methodist, the Yount family called Warwick, New York their home, and from 2002 until 2012, Chris was the pastor of the Warwick United Methodist Church. Chris, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio gave his heart to Jesus at the age of 15, and found soon after that he had a calling on his life to bring other people to Jesus. In 1981 Chris transferred from Ohio State University (still an avid OSU fan, some would call it a “sickness”) to attend Nyack College in Rockland County, NY where he played basketball for three years. Chris met Liz at Nyack and they fell in love, “I first saw this beautiful blonde at the cafeteria salad bar, and I knew she was the gal for me”. They were married in 1983. After graduation and starting a family, Chris struggled with the calling to ministry that he had received back in 1980 at a youth conference in Estes Park, Colorado. 1986 brought the Yount family to Rock Hill NY where Chris and Liz both worked professionally and volunteered in the local Methodist church. In 1989 Chris pursued the pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church and was appointed as a part time pastor at a small Methodist church in Modena, NY in July of 1990. While serving the good people in Modena, Chris also attended Drew Theological Seminary where he received his Masters of Divinity. About the time he was done with seminary the church had grown to a full time parish so the Yount’s were able to stay there a few more years. In 1997 Chris was appointed to Christ Church in Beacon, NY and it was here that he was involved with radio ministry. After a number of years, his one minute spots, “Good News with Pastor Chris” on a small AM station had grown to a weekly music and inspirational program, “Wake Up with Pastor Chris” on AM and FM stations, small and large from upstate all the way to Long Island. While serving in Beacon, Chris also started a new church in the little hamlet of Chelsea, bringing back to life a small but beautiful old Methodist church along the Hudson River. From around 1991 until 2005 Chris led the Snow Camp ministry (while serving as a pastor) which was a youth ministry that led retreats around the region. Hundreds of young people and adults were touched mightily by God through this exciting ministry. It was through Snow Camp that Chris developed many of his gifts in leading worship, singing and innovative methods to draw people closer to God. To stay sane PC lifts weights, hikes/backpacks, plays golf poorly, reads, fishes, hunts, camps and spends time with his beautiful wife Elizabeth, his great kids and granddaughter!