About Us

<span style="font-weight: normal;">Lead Pastor</span>
Lead Pastor

Pastor Bobby Chandler

With a heart to awaken purpose and stir faith, Pastor Bobby challenges people to believe God for the impossible and walk boldly in their calling. 


Authentic was founded in 2012 by Pastor Bobby Chandler as an outreach ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2018, Pastor Bobby and his wife Christy moved their family of five to Matthews, North Carolina. God was placing it on their hearts to take the ministry in a new direction and they quickly launched Authentic Church in the backyard of their home.

As the church began to grow, their faith was tested when their little girl was diagnosed with a condition that required brain surgery. They questioned how they could care for her and still serve a growing ministry? They turned to God for the way and prayed, “If this is your will God, this will happen!”

The next day Pastor Bobby received a phone call that would change everything for the ministry and his family. He was asked to relocate his church plant to Hickory, North Carolina.
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​Together, they are passionate about building a legacy of faith, family, and revival.

Bobby Chandler Ministries

Our Prayer For You.

Authentic Church started as a crazy idea that seemed impossible, but we serve the God of the Impossible! This church has become a community of family determined to reach people for Jesus all over the world, and that’s what we are doing! We are celebrating you!

Because of our Crew leaders, people are welcomed into the presence of God and equipped to grow in Christ. Because of our Tribe leaders, big church gatherings have become a small group of new friendships that last a lifetime! Authentic is a culture of true worship so rare that people are traveling all over the world just to experience it!

All this has happened in only seven years! But the journey is not over! It’s time to believe God for the impossible again, so buckle up as God parts the waters and moves the mountains as we move into our future home! Thank you for loving this church as much as we do. We are forever grateful!

- Bobby and Christy Chandler

Get to know us a little more!

Authentic Church cares about one thing more than anything else, Jesus Christ. Authentic Church is a family of individuals that have found hope in Jesus, and simply want as many people as possible to experience that exact same freedom.

Authentic was founded in 2012 by Pastor Bobby Chandler as an outreach ministry in Shreveport, Louisiana. In 2018, Pastor Bobby and his wife Christy Chandler moved their family of 5 to Matthews, North Carolina. God was placing it on their hearts to take the ministry in a new direction and they quickly launched Authentic Church in the backyard of their home.

As the church began to grow, their faith was tested when their little girl was diagnosed with a condition that required brain surgery. They questioned how they could care for her and still serve a growing ministry? They turned to God for the way and prayed,“If this is your will God, this will happen!”

The next day Pastor Bobby received a phone call that would change everything for the ministry and his family. He was asked to relocate his church plant to Hickory, North Carolina.

Authentic Church continues to see lives changed by the saving and redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Our online presence allows us to not only reach our city, but also our county, state, country and even the entire world.

We want to impact people. We want to change culture. We want to glorify God in everything that we do.

Our story has been a journey of faith. Our hope is that you too will join us on our journey and call Authentic Church your home.ext

What does this mean for you? Most importantly, you're always welcome at Authentic Church. We're saving a seat for you. Wherever you're at in your faith journey, you'll always be accepted as part of the Authentic Family.

Beyond that, if you're ready to plan your first visit, click here. If you want to learn more about our beliefs as a church, click here. Or if you'd simply like to get in touch with a person on our lead team directly, click the button below.

Our Beliefs

Authentic Church's Statement Of Faith

THE HOLY BIBLE

We believe the Bible and only the Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God to all people. The Bible was written by human authors through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is the source of all doctrine, instruction, correction, and reproof. The Word of God is living and breathing and will change your life forever!

2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; Romans 15:4

THE HOLY TRINITY

We believe the Bible testifies there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Spirit. Each are fully and equally God in eternal relation with each other.

Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

GOD THE FATHER

God the Father is the creator of all things. He is in control of what happens with His creation. He is eternal, meaning He has always existed and always will. He has all power and knows all things.

Isaiah 64:8; Ephesians 4:6; Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus is the only Son of God. He came to Earth in human form, lived a sinless life, and died a sacrificial death for our sins. He was born of a virgin, healed the sick, cast out demons, died on a cross, and rose from the grave to forgive us of our sins. He now sits at the right hand of the Father and will return to Earth to establish his Kingdom forever.

John 3:16; John 14:6; John 10:30; 1 Timothy 3:16

THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God living inside of us today as believers in Jesus! The Holy Spirit helps us become more mature, convicts us of sins, comforts us, reveals the future, and empowers us to live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit speaks every day to give us guidance and direction. To know the Spirit of God was a gift given to all believers in Jesus on the Day of Pentecost out of the book of Acts.

John 16:13; John 14:26; Acts 3:39; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:1-4; Joel 2:28-29

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit will bring supernatural gifts into our lives to help build the church and reach people for the Kingdom of God. We believe miracles do happen today just like they did in the Bible. We encourage every believer to desire these gifts and for the opportunity to be used by God. The gifts of the Spirit are not weird and do not distract from what God is doing, but instead will bring comfort and peace. These gifts are available for you today.

Acts 1:4-5; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11;
Ephesians 4:16; Galatians 5:22-23

MANKIND

God made mankind (both men and women) in his spiritual image. Mankind was made to glorify God and have fellowship with God but became separated from God due to sinful disobedience. We need to be forgiven of our sins, and that is only possible by believing in Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for each of us!

Genesis 1:26-30; Genesis 5:1; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 3:23-24

ETERNITY

Mankind was created to exist forever. God gave us a spirit, and our spirit will live forever either in Heaven or in Hell. The choice is up to you, but going to Heaven doesn’t depend on whether you have been a “good person” or a “bad person." It only depends on whether or not you have asked Jesus to be your savior and forgive you of your sins.

John 6:40; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:24-25; Revelation 20:15

SALVATION

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only pathway to forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We also believe when you genuinely encounter Jesus your life is changed forever. The gift of salvation is a free gift received only by believing. Thank you, Jesus!

Acts 4:12; Matthew 1:21; Galatians 2:16; Romans 10:9-10; Hebrews 9:22

THE CHURCH

The church is the local community of believers united through faith in Jesus Christ. The church is committed to teaching Biblical principles and
seeking to impact the world with the Gospel. We will do whatever we can to bring millions into the Kingdom of God!

Acts 2:46-47; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 1:22; 1 Peter 5:1-4; 1 Timothy 4:14

WATER BAPTISM

Water baptism is an act of obedience declaring an individual's life has been transformed by salvation through Jesus Christ. It is not a substitution for salvation but a command by Jesus to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Water Baptism is a celebration of new life!

Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 28:19

MARRIAGE

We believe marriage is defined by the Bible as a covenant uniting one biological man and one biological woman. We also believe that sexual intimacy should only occur within the confines of marriage. Jesus must be the center of every marriage. Authentic Church may decline to host or perform a marriage that is contrary to Authentic Church’s Statement of Faith.

Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:31; Genesis 2:24-25

BIBLICAL SEXUALITY

Sexuality is defined by God. Before birth, God wonderfully and perfectly made us male or female. These two distinct genders together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological nature is rejecting the image in which God made that person.

Genesis 5:2; Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 1:5

TITHING

Tithing is one of the ways we show obedience to God and how we place Him first in our lives. We believe everything good comes from above, and when you give the first 10% to God, He will redeem and bless the 90%. Giving is active faith, declaring that you trust God because He is a faithful provider. Every time you give, you help us share the Gospel all over the world!

Genesis 4:4; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10

Our Core Values

The purpose of Authentic Church is to share the hope of Jesus Christ. We are Jesus people, not religious people. Methods will come and go, yet our message will remain the same.

We believe it when Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you!” The Holy Spirit is the comforter, advocate, counselor, strengthener and the list goes on. We believe the Holy Spirit will speak through us to change lives forever.

Our heart is for all people. All people are loved by Jesus and we will do whatever we can to reach all people far from God. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and it is our job to encourage them to give God all the pieces.

Burnout is real! There is a reason God gave us a commandment for rest. Reaching the world does not mean exhausting yourself every day without rest. We are able to have a rest day because we trust God can do what we cannot. So work hard and rest hard too!

Generosity is about giving more than what is required. We see generosity as a privilege. We’re generous with our time, talents, and treasure. We go first in our giving. God has blessed us and it is our honor to give back to Him. ….IT’S ALL HIS ANYWAY.

Where the spirit of the LORD is there is freedom! The Bible tells us that the gates of heaven open up when we enter with thanksgiving and praise. Wherever we are with our groups we will worship God and praise Him for all that He is doing.

We didn’t get here today by lack of faith, but by taking giant leaps of faith. We believe when God speaks it, it will happen. Our God is bigger than our circumstances. Keep believing the impossible and watch God work!

Email

info@authenticchurch.com

Call Us

828-855-0608

Find Us

2416 N Center Street. Hickory, NC 28601

© 2026 Authentic Church

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