Chris Rappazini

Dr. Chris Rappazini serves as Associate Professor of Leadership at Anderson University's Center for Leadership and Organizations since 2022. Founder of Faithful Steps Forward leadership training, he bridges academic rigor with practical ministry through his "From the Door to the Core" teaching philosophy emphasizing student-focused engagement with biblical truths.

His academic credentials include:

• BA in Pastoral Ministry, Moody Bible Institute
• M.Th in Ethics, University of Edinburgh
• MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Truett Seminary, Baylor University
• Ph.D in Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University

Dr. Rappazini's research centers on Leadership Studies with specialized focus on Servant Leadership and Homiletics. His work explores effective communication in multi-generational workplaces, preaching methodology, and theological foundations for church leadership. He addresses critical gaps where Christian leaders either lack substantive content or effective delivery mechanisms, creating resources for both non-profit and for-profit sectors.

His 2021-2024 publications reveal concentrated scholarship in biblical leadership application and homiletical theory, with significant contributions to Preaching Today and The Journal of the Evangelical Homiletics Society. These works consistently integrate scriptural exegesis with practical leadership development across diverse organizational contexts.

Key recognitions include:

• Postdoctoral Researcher Scholarship (Truett Seminary)
• Ph.D. Educational Scholarship (Moody Bible Institute)
• CCCU Leadership Development Institute Fellowship
• Parish Pulpit Scholarship
• Blanton Preaching Scholarship (twice)
• Billy Graham Scholarship

With extensive mentoring experience from his Moody Bible Institute tenure, Dr. Rappazini continues developing leaders through classroom instruction and Faithful Steps Forward initiatives. His research on "Moving Forward After Messing Up" (2024) demonstrates ongoing commitment to practical leadership formation, while regular contributions to Today in the Word reach over 950,000 global readers.