Chuck and Emily’s story is truly inspiring! As you read, notice the
handiwork of God even before Chuck and Emily met each other and
before they met Jesus. From their distinction of character and
quality of family life to their business and ministerial success,
Pastor Chuck & Emily are a rare find in this 21st century!
As a child, Chuck picked up many of the business principles and work
ethic that would carry him into a lively future of tremendous success
When his family purchased Walnut Hills Campground when he was just
twelve years old, Chuck became their most productive employee as he
took on loads of responsibilities, including reservations, store
management, grounds and maintenance, and everything else that
encompassed running a business of this size!
Unfortunately, Chuck picked up more than business skills during this
time. An early marriage due to the pregnancy of his
seventeen-year-old girlfriend and a lifestyle of drug use and alcohol
addiction drove Chuck and his new wife Emily down into the gutter!
With nowhere else to turn and no knowledge of God, they decided to
try “religion…” and after many weeks of seeking for truth… Sunday
night, Feb 17th, 1991, at 10:45pm while on the phone with an old
high school friend, Chuck and Emily turned their lives over to Jesus
Christ!
This newfound faith supercharged Chuck’s entrepreneurial mind,
giving him and Emily the desire to make a legendary difference with
their lives! At the age of 23, Chuck went into business as a real
estate agent in Staunton, VA. By the end of their second, full year
in real estate, Chuck and Emily had already achieved a six digit
income… and it didn’t stop there!
Through one-on-one coaching with the number-one real estate coach in
the nation, they developed one of the most powerful and profitable
residential real estate offices in America! By year four, the
Balsamos were enjoying income near $250K. In year five, at the
height of his success—when the business was on track to close 160
sales and earn more than $400K—Chuck took a giant leap of faith out
of business into full-time ministry!
Over the past seven years, Chuck and Emily have been to India,
Uganda, Ukraine, Dominica, Mexico, and many other parts of the world,
where thousands have been transformed at their meetings and
festivals!
Emily’s unique compassion for the millions of orphans across the
world is certain to have them planting numerous orphanages in the
future! Emily plans to make these orphanages so much more than a
place to house the neglected. Her vision to establish training
centers that build identity and develop advanced leadership qualities
in the lives of these precious children is truly exciting!
And what about their family, you ask? They have a son, Coree (16),
and a daughter, Heaven (15)… both love Jesus with all their hearts
and both have promising futures! Coree and Heaven are loads of fun,
big pranksters, and huge dreamers… they love to laugh! The Balsamo’s
are far from perfect, though. Just like any other family, they have
their share of challenges and growing pains… so don’t saint them yet!
Let’s not forget their two dogs, a chihuahua named Chica and a pug
named Ming Mi… and an assortment of Koi fish!
Today, Chuck and Emily pastor Destiny Family Center, a vibrant,
victorious church in Stuarts Draft, VA. In just a few years, DFC has
become a solid force of local and regional influence, impacting more
than 300 people every Sunday morning.
Chuck leads and instructs the Destiny Campus of Life Christian
University currently enrolling thirty-two students and offering full
accreditation through the Doctorate level. Chuck currently holds his
Master’s Degree with LCU and hopes to earn his Ph. D. over the next
few years! He is currently working on his first book, Make Me a
Legend, which should go to print by spring of 2008.
