Important Update About Bellaire Campus Pastor, Chris DeArman

November 23rd, 2025
by Jason Bergstrom

Important Update About Bellaire Campus Pastor, Chris DeArman

Dear Church Family,

I want to share an important update regarding Pastor Chris DeArman and his role on our staff. As I do so, I'd like to share with you his words from his sermon today at our Bellaire campus.

Throughout this series, Moses has shown us that God speaks to us, that He pursues us, and that He invites us to join Him in what He’s doing. And when that invitation comes, we often feel inadequate, uncertain, and full of excuses. We hit those crisis-of-belief moments. We’ve said it over and over: you can’t stay where you are and go with God. Following Him always requires life adjustments—ones that can feel scary, unsettling, and unknown.

For the past eight-plus years, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the CityRise Team. And for the last two years, God has been pursuing me in a new way—speaking, stirring, nudging, even irritating me at times to get my attention. He’s been doing the same in Sonya’s heart. Together, we’ve been praying, listening, and seeking Him. And this summer in Colorado, God gave us what felt like our own burning bush moment. He made it clear that He’s inviting us into a new adventure.

Like Moses, we’re responding with some hesitation. There’s real fear in stepping out. But our answer to the Lord is yes. After an incredible season here, we’ll be stepping off the CityRise Team. The scary part is this: God is leading us into the unknown. He hasn’t yet revealed the next assignment or the next place. But we know this—we can’t stay where we are and go with God.

I’ll continue serving through the New Year, and my last day at CityRise will be January 18. We have a deep peace about this step. We believe God’s next chapter for us is still here in Houston—maybe in the marketplace, maybe something ministry-adjacent. We don’t know the details yet, but we’re excited. And we’re incredibly grateful for Roger and our leadership for their complete support as we follow God’s lead.

After much prayer and consideration, Pastor Chris believes that God is leading him into a new season of ministry, and he has decided to step away from his staff role here at CityRise. Over the past several months, he has kept us informed of what God has been stirring in his heart, and we have been working closely together on a healthy and honoring transition.

We have also kept our Executive Council and Personnel Committee informed throughout this process, and they are unified and supportive of these next steps as we walk through this next season together.

As we move forward, we are committed to putting good processes in place to

honor Pastor Chris and his family for their faithful service and investment in our church and community,
form a team to help us discern and prepare for our next campus leader at CityRise Bellaire, and
move thoughtfully and not rush decisions. We will wait until after the holidays before taking significant next steps in this transition.

Pastor Chris’s last day on staff will be January 18, 2026. Between now and then, he will continue to serve and lead with the same heart and integrity you have always seen from him.

Please be praying for Pastor Chris, Sonya, Emma, Charleigh, and Kiki, as they follow God’s leading. Please also pray for our church as we seek the Lord’s guidance for the future. We are confident that God is at work in all of this and that He will continue to shepherd our church family every step of the way.

Still Expectant,
Roger Patterson
Senior Pastor, CityRise Church