Chris Plekenpol

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About Chris Plekenpol

Chris Plekenpol traveled much as a child, growing up in Illinois, Texas, California, and Japan. He earned his mechanical engineering degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999. It was in December of 1999, that Chris put his trust in Christ at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. During the seven years he spent in the U.S. Army, Plekenpol quickly rose to command. Following his qualification for Airborne, Jumpmaster, Air Assault, and Ranger, Plekenpol joined the 82nd Airborne Division. As a lieutenant, he led an Airborne Cavalry Scout Platoon, was promoted to be the executive officer of that same troop and was chosen to represent the 82nd Airborne Division in the 2001 Best Ranger Competition. After being selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course, CPT Plekenpol turned down the offer to pursue ministry. Although, he planned to leave the Army in 2004, Plekenpol was given the chance to command a tank company in May of 2004 responsible for being part of the Defense of South Korea. However, twelve days after taking the Guidon as Commander of Apache Company, 2-72 Armor, Plekenpol was chosen to lead his company in Iraq. As a combat company commander, he was responsible for one hundred men, six of whom he would eventually lose, and a total of $85 million worth of military equipment. His men played a key role in assisting the 1st Marine Division in taking Fallujah in November 2004, played a large part in the first free elections in Iraq in January of 2005, and had the responsibility of securing and capturing terrorists along the highway that connected Fallujah and Ramadi

Plekenpol began writing Christian Devotionals in Korea a year before being deployed to Iraq. While in Iraq he continued his devotional writing aimed at offering insight into the war to U.S. supporters, and to be used as a preparatory tool for his future seminary work. But when his email devotional list quickly grew to hundreds of people requesting his writings, he began compiling his works into a full-length release chronicling his time in Iraq. The resulting books, Faith in the Fog of War and Faith in the Fog of War II, offers readers a firsthand account of the Iraqi war and the unshakable faith that saw Plekenpol through the battles raging both on the ground and in his heart. Plekenpol resigned from the Army in August 06, and graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in May of 2010 with a ThM. While in seminary, Chris wrote two books, Stumbling Souls and Is Love Wrong?. In Stumbling Souls, he chronicled the true story of inviting a homeless, homosexual, hurricane Katrina victim into his home. Is Love Wrong? described his encounter with a Gay Activist and the response of the Christian and Gay communities. Chris joined the staff of I am Second in 2009 where he serves as an I am Second Ambassador representing I am Second around the world at churches, conferences, and events. Chris wrote his latest book, Dating Basic Training, as an instructional tool for young adults trying to navigate the difficult waters of relationships. Chris is now the Lead Pastor of Wells Branch Community Church. He continues to speak at conferences, churches, businesses, and venues around the world encouraging people to live for more. Chris is married to his beautiful wife Adrienne, a graduate of Abilene Christian University, a former high school Spanish Teacher, and his best friend.

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