Pastor Darrell and Margaret Chatraw

Darrell Chatraw, our Senior Pastor, was born and raised in Bainbridge, Georgia.  After graduating from Bainbridge High School in 1969, he attended the University of Georgia where he met and married his wife, Margaret.  He received a bachelor’s degree in math education and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force on June 8, 1973.

Darrell’s Air Force career spanned 9 years.  During that time he served as an Instructor Pilot in the T-37 and flew the A-10 Warthog in Europe.  It was then that he felt a definite call to ministry and was ordained into ministry by Friendship Baptist Church in Melton, England.  After separating from the Air Force, Darrell and Margaret eventually settled in Orangeburg, SC where they planted and pastored New Covenant Church.  They served there 13 years, and then moved to Americus, GA and pastored Cornerstone Church for 7 years.  In August of 2004, Darrell resigned as pastor of Cornerstone Church and moved to Milton, Florida, to plant a new Vineyard Church in the Milton/Pace area.

Margaret is the Youth Services Coordinator for the Santa Rosa County Library System.

Darrell and Margaret have three children.  Their oldest son, Jason, is President of Ampelon Publishing, a Christian publishing company.  Jason and his wife, Janel, have two daughters and a son, Faith, Julia, and Elijah and live in Boise, Idaho.  Aaron, their middle child, recently separated from the USAF after more than nine years of service.  He flew KC-135s out of McConnell AFB in Wichita, Kansas and Robins AFB in Warner Robins, Georgia.  Their daughter, Malinda is a former AF Captain and now stay at home mom. Her husband, Tim Billings, is a Captain in the USAF and stationed at Tyndall AFB in Panama City, Florida.  They have a daughter, Caroline and Son, Tyler.