Chris Beard has been the Lead Pastor of First Christian Assembly of God (FCA) in Cincinnati for 9 years giving him a total of 17 years on staff. He graduated from Evangel University in 1989 with a BA in Biblical Studies and received an MA in Christian Doctrine and Church History from Regent University in 1992.

He has been married to his wife Jan for 21 years and has 3 children (Alek, Elle, and Colette).

Upon being called to the ministry Chris first felt called to international missions, but God re-directed him to First Christian Assembly and birthed in him a heart to help build a church on Earth that is populated like Heaven. Inspired by John 17:20-23, Revelation 7, and Isaiah 61, Chris began to lead the church body in the vision of being "A Racially Reconciled, Generationally Rich, Life Giving Church, Thriving in the heart of the City."

The Holy Spirit planted in him a vision to see the American Church heal at its deepest wound, the Black and White divide, and as a result healing in that area the nations would also come, and the lost would see Jesus Christ for who He is, the Son of the living God. After 9 years, the church now represents 25 nations with the two majority being Black and White Americans. Additionally, through these years FCA has assisted in the starting of more than a dozen churches in the Cincinnati area, five of which are intentionally multiracial, and only 7 of which are part of the Assemblies of God network of churches. Chris deeply believes it is more important that the Kingdom of God grows than any one denomination.