Chad Lunsford’s latest book is a call for people to live bigger. But this book doesn’t read like a typical self-help book. It comes from Lunsford’s own life experiences, risks and all. “Made For More” recently hit number one on two Amazon bestseller lists twice.
“This book is really a guidebook to show what it looks like to have a purpose, to live a great story, and then what to do when you hit obstacles,” Lunsford said. “I don’t just want to inspire them; I want to guide them through those obstacles.”
Lunsford grew up in Indiana and considers himself a Hoosier. He is a pastor by trade, having planted a church on the west side of Indianapolis. After living on various coasts of the United States, he noticed a stark difference in the cultures of the east and west coasts versus Indiana. He decided he wanted to inspire people, particularly Hoosiers, to live with more purpose.
“People living in places like L.A. or North Carolina have a sense they were made for more and for going after their dreams,” Lunsford said. “It seems like Hoosiers have an innate sense that we’re supposed to play it safe and dream small, blend in more and settle for less. What I want to do is change those lies we believe.”
But Lunsford isn’t just sharing inspirational quips in his book. He writes from a place of having made major moves in his own life.
In 2008 he and his family were leading a church in Terre Haute. They developed a vision for something new in their lives, and he decided to take a ministry residency in Los Angeles and attend graduate school at the same time. After two years and completing both endeavors, he and his family moved to North Carolina for a post-graduate opportunity at Duke University. After completing the postgrad work at Duke, Lunsford was invited to lead the largest church in Mississippi. While they loved it there, they then felt called to start a new church in Indy and sold their dream home.
The constant reassessing, changing and moving showed Lunsford that there is so much life and growth that comes from embracing new things.
“It was trust beyond comfort,” Lunsford said. “It helped me asked the question, ‘How far are you willing to trust?’ God gave us such good gifts. We said we’d gladly give it back and run after what he had for our lives.”
Lunsford went on to plant a church on the west side of Indianapolis that eventually merged with Connection Pointe Christian Church to launch the Avon Campus.
Lunsford feels his book stands out among self-help books for a few reasons, one being its accessibility.
“The book comes out of the reality of my own challenges,” Lunsford said. “I grew up in the Midwest, farmlands all around me and the biggest city being Terre Haute. Everything around me screamed play it safe, risk less and dream smaller. But as I followed God, everything in me was saying I was made for a purpose.”
The book is also highly story driven. Lunsford truly feels he has walked the walk that he is asking others to do, and he wants people to know they aren’t alone.
“My hope is that people find themselves in the story,” Lunsford said. “I want them to think, ‘Yes, I’ve had those feelings, thoughts, experiences, and I get it.’”
This book isn’t just for people of faith; it’s for all people. Lunsford himself did not grow up in the church, so he understands why some may be hesitant to pick the book up.
“If you feel defeated, like you don’t belong and don’t fit in, welcome to the club,” Lunsford said. “For years I assumed that I couldn’t relate to people in the Bible. Then I realized I was missing the point. They were imperfect just like me, and God still met them where they were and wrote a great story with their lives. God does the same with each of us.”
One takeaway Lunsford drives home is to step out of the comparison game. Every single person is different, with unique gifts and dreams. Everyone’s story will take different twists and turns.
“I’m not writing this as someone who has arrived,” Lunsford said. “I’m just a fellow runner, running alongside you. Your purpose isn’t some mystical thing out in the future. If you live your life rightly today, you’re living your purpose. The only way God can build your character is through challenges. If you keep running away from those, you’ll never become who God wants you to be.”
