Pastor N. Chris Jordan

Norman Christopher Jordan (Chris) was born to Berry and Bettye Jordan on December 7, 1952, in Honolulu, Hawaii.  At the age of six, he moved to Richmond, CA where he went to Coronado Elementary School.  He was the eldest of six children.

His family later moved to Hayward, CA in 1965 where he attended Rancho Arroyo Junior High and, thereafter, Mt. Eden High School where he was an All American in his senior year and was named Football Defensive Player of the Year. Upon graduation in 1971, he received numerous scholarships to many prestigious universities, but the prodding of his father targeted his choice to the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York where he met life-long friends and the love of his life, Ruth Sherron Price (Sherron) through his friend Willie Thigpen and her friend Audrey Drake.  It was through Sherron and her mother Georgia Price, that Chris was introduced to Jesus Christ and accepted salvation in January of 1975.  He graduated West Point as a 2nd Lieutenant on June 4, 1975. 

On June 7, 1975, Chris married Sherron and so began the start of their beautiful love story.  The newlyweds settled in Fort Huachuca, Arizona where Chris began his military career. Chris and Sherron moved to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana where their first child, Crishon, was born. With their baby in tow, they moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma and there Chris answered the call to minister the gospel.  He resigned his Commission, received an honorable discharge, and he and his family moved to Orange, NJ where he worked as a process engineer for Mobile Chemical and Corning Glassware.  It was during those years that Chris and Sherron welcomed two more daughters, Tiffany and Katrina.  

While in New Jersey and under the leadership of Pastor Herb Green of Newark Gospel Tabernacle, Chris’ fire to serve Christ grew.  He sought out every opportunity he could to assist his pastor and grow in the things of God.  Under an organization called Ambassadors for Christ, Chris, Pastor Green and Chris’ family friend Thomas Tucker (Tom) united, patrolling the streets of Newark, NJ to win souls for the glory of God.  

It was not long after, that Chris and Tom felt burdened for the south.  Chris and Tom prayed individually to confirm their assignment in the south and jointly agreed God was directing them to North Carolina.  In 1980, Chris, with the very hesitant agreement of his wife, moved to Rocky Mount, NC where he and Tom worked for a short period at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

As Chris became acclimated with the city, he sought ways to share the love of Jesus in any way he could.  He founded Unity of Faith Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the gospel across the city, in schools, hospitals, and prisons.  He was on the radio, in boardrooms, held rallies….anywhere he could go, he went to proclaim the Word of God.  

Soon after settling in Rocky Mount, Chris and his family joined the family of Manna Christian Fellowship, later called Grace Covenant Church. In 1981, Chris and Sherron had their son, Jason, the boy he had proclaimed each time Sherron was pregnant.  He used to joke that he had to come to the south to get his boy.  

Chris served in various capacities while living in Rocky Mount.  He was on various boards and worked as principal of Covenant Christian School, assistant pastor of Grace Covenant Church, director of United Community Ministries and served as a chaplain at the Rocky Mount Police Department.

In 1988, Chris felt the nudging of God once again to step out on faith.  He started Unity of Faith Family Worship Center and pastored there until God called him home.  

Chris’ life in ministry included cherished relationships with numerous ministry vessels.  He served Pastor Herb Green, Bishop Valeriano Melendez, Bishop Nate Holcomb and Pastor Valerie Holcomb.  He cherished his membership with Covenant Connections International and was happy to be called brother and friend to so many. 

Chris loved his wife, his kids and adored his grandkids.  He considered Zaria his 5th child and cherished walks and counseling sessions with her.  He loved his sons-in-love and daughter-in-love.  He boasted about his family every chance he could get, calling them his life’s greatest asset.  He loved them fiercely and they loved him.  In the days before he went to be with the Lord, he talked about how blessed he was to have his family.  

Chris loved his mother, four sisters, and brother.  He loved his extended family and loved ones.  He loved his nieces and nephews.  

 Chris loved the body of Christ.  He loved the members of Unity of Faith.  He loved his brothers and sisters in Christ and his friends in ministry.  He kept long-standing friendships from childhood, West Point and adulthood.  

Chris loved souls.  He loved talking to anyone who would listen about the love of God.  Chris loved to tell the world how God transformed Dirty Red to Pastor Chris. He touched thousands of lives for the glory of God.

He enjoyed all the messages and calls he received while in the hospital, including one from his former classmate and current U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Alston and another from Dawn Staley, coach of the 2022 Women’s NCAA Champion South Carolina Gamecocks.

Chris embodied love, love for people and love for food.  If you knew Chris, you know he loved, loved, loved to eat... and people loved to feed him. He ate anything.  If he thought it was good, he ate it.  He used to boast that he was Mikey because he would eat anything.  

For Chris, the water was life-giving. He loved to just exist near water. He would say it was because he grew up near the Bay Area in California. He would travel to sit near rivers, lakes, dams, oceans, wherever he could find a body of water, he’d find tranquility.

Chris loved eagles. He liked to watch them soar. He liked to observe them. He liked to learn of them. He believed the eagle exhibited characteristics that sons and daughters of God should exemplify, using the turbulence of life’s storms to climb above life’s challenges.  His life was richly blessed. 

Chris was proceeded in death by his father, Berry and maternal grandmother, Dollie Wilkerson.  Cherishing his legacy are his wife, Sherron; three daughters, Crishon Jordan Johnson (Jamie), Tiffany Jordan Lary (Shelby) and Katrina Jordan Blunt (Andre); one son, Jason Jordan (Blair); eight grandchildren, Zaria Jordan, Allana Johnson, Kylie Blunt, Arianna Jordan, Camden Johnson, Livie Jordan, Lexie Jordan and Jordan Lary; his mother, Bettye L. Jordan; four sisters, Deborah Reed (David, Jr.), Lori Jefferson, Sharon Coleman and Jacqueline Smith; one brother, Barry Joseph Jordan (Twa); his mother-in-love, Georgia Price; two sisters-in-love, LaVerne Alexander (Derrick) and Diane Hicks (James); and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, family and friends. 

Chris’ favorite verse was Psalms 84:12 which reads “Oh Lord of Hosts blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts in you [leaning and believing on You, committing all and confidently looking to You, and that without fear or misgiving].”

Oh Lord of Hosts, Blessed is Chris Jordan!  We know that, with him oh Lord, you are well-pleased.  We thank you for him, a life well-lived. 

A viewing and visitation will be held on Tuesday October 4, 2022 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Rise Church.  A service of celebration for a wonderful Husband, Father and Pastor will take place on Wednesday October 5, 2022 at 12:00 noon at Rise Church.  Pastor Jordan's final resting place will be at Rocky Mount Memorial Park.

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