Today we’d like to introduce you to Chalis Henderson.
Hi Chalis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Warrenton, NC, and I often say that my foundation was built at the intersection of faith, education, and service. My mother was a school teacher and my father was a pastor, so I grew up watching leadership modeled in very practical ways inside the classroom and inside the church. I fell in love early with education, community service, and ministry. I was actively involved in programs, outreach efforts, and the day-to-day work of serving people.
I graduated from Warren County High School in 2007 and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for undergrad and later earned my master’s degree from Michigan State University. No matter where I lived, I immersed myself in the local community by volunteering, organizing programs, and building meaningful relationships. But my heart never disconnected from home. I always knew that the skills, exposure, and experiences I was gaining would one day circle back to serve my communities in North Carolina.
In 2018, when the opportunity opened for me to return home, I didn’t hesitate. I knew I was being called back. Today, I serve as the Executive Director of Turning Point Community Development Corporation and as part of the pastoral team at Oasis of Hope Ministries. Our work is deeply community-centered, focusing on education, health and wellness, workforce development, and meaningful community engagement.
On March 29th, my husband and I will be installed as Senior Pastors of Oasis. We are committed to teaching God’s Word while also developing programs and ministry opportunities that tangibly improve quality of life. For us, ministry is holistic. It is spiritual formation and community development working together so families are strengthened, young people are equipped, and our region continues to grow with purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road.
The greatest challenge of my journey was losing my father in 2019 due to health complications. As a daughter, that loss was deeply personal. As a leader, it was also transformative. He wasn’t just my father and friend, he was my pastor, my mentor, and the visionary who laid the foundation for everything we are building today.
His transition forced us into a new season of leadership much sooner than we anticipated. There was grief, responsibility, and the weight of legacy all at once. But in many ways, that difficult season clarified our assignment.
Everything people see today—the programs, the partnerships, the growth—is rooted in a vision he cast more than 25 years ago. He believed in holistic ministry before it was common language. He believed that serving God meant serving people in practical, measurable ways. Because of the foundation he laid, we are now able not only to continue that vision, but to expand it.
His passing strengthened our resolve to honor his heart for the community by building institutions that will outlive us all.
We’ve been impressed with Turning Point CDC and Oasis of Hope Ministries, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Oasis of Hope Ministries and Turning Point Community Development Corporation are sister organizations, both founded in 2001 out of a clear conviction: if you are called to serve people, you must care for both their spiritual and physical needs. What began as a vision in my father’s heart has continued because of God’s faithfulness and the commitment of many people who believe in serving our community well.
Oasis of Hope Ministries is a teaching ministry located in Henderson, NC. Our tagline is Ministry With Purpose. We are intentional about discipleship, faith-based teaching, spiritual growth, and authentic community. We strive to model the Acts 2 church—strong in doctrine, strong in fellowship, and committed to living out our faith in tangible ways. Everything we do centers on helping individuals grow into mature disciples of Christ who impact their families, workplaces, and communities.
Turning Point Community Development Corporation was birthed from Oasis to address the practical realities families face every day. Our work focuses on holistic community development, with a strong emphasis on education, health and wellness, workforce development, and community engagement. We operate a nonprofit preschool serving children ages 2–5, along with high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs for school-age youth. We also provide a food pantry, a makerspace that fosters creativity and positive mental health, and a Community Resource Center that connects families to essential services.
Workforce development is another key area of focus. Through our Launchpad and CareerLAUNCH initiatives, we equip youth and adults with career exposure, employability skills, and clear pathways toward economic stability. Our goal is not simply to offer programs, but to build pipelines for long-term success.
Community engagement is central to who we are. We host annual events to keep families connected, informed, and empowered. Collaboration strengthens our impact, and we are grateful to partner with Sledge Institute as a feeder school and out-of-school-time partner to ensure scholars and families receive consistent academic and developmental support.
What sets us apart is integration. We are not siloed or program-driven alone; we are faith-rooted, systems-minded, and deeply collaborative. We believe transformation happens when discipleship, education, workforce readiness, and community engagement operate together.
Brand-wise, what I am most proud of is our commitment to the mission and the calling God has given us. We have grown in scale and structure over the years, but the heart has remained the same: serve with purpose, strengthen families, develop leaders, and improve quality of life in our community.
I want readers to understand that our brand is Kingdom-based. We give God all the glory for what He has entrusted to us and for the strength to steward it well. We are simply committed to building opportunities that increase access to resources, experiences, and pathways that empower people and transform communities.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I truly stand on the shoulders of giants. Anything we have been able to build is the result of faithful people who poured into me long before I ever carried a title.
First, I honor my parents—my father, the late Apostle Alvin Sledge, and my mother, Pastor Catherine Humphrey. My father cast the vision more than 25 years ago. His heart for holistic ministry—serving both the spiritual and practical needs of people—remains the blueprint we still follow today. My mother is truly my she-ro. She has always been my teacher, mentor, and greatest example of strength, grace, and love. Her steadiness, wisdom, and resilience have guided me through every season of leadership and life. I am forever grateful for her mentorship.
My husband, Dr. Braxton Henderson, and our children, Silas, Aldon, and Owen, are my greatest support system. They empower me to serve in the capacity God has called me to. There is never complaint, only commitment. They are active participants in the vision and my biggest cheerleaders. Leadership can be demanding, and I could not do this without a family that believes in the assignment as deeply as I do.
Team Oasis are the real champions. The staff and volunteers who serve through Oasis and Turning Point work faithfully for our community. They show up every day with excellence and heart. It is truly an honor to serve alongside people who care so deeply about the mission.
I am also deeply grateful for my mentors, Drs. John and Cynthia Wallace, and the church family at Bible Center Church in Pittsburgh, PA. My time there expanded my vision and exposed me to new possibilities in ministry and community development. They shared wisdom generously and helped shape my leadership capacity in ways that continue to influence how we serve today. Their investment in me allowed me to return to North Carolina better equipped to serve.
Above all, I thank God for placing these people in my life. Every season, every lesson, and every relationship has prepared me to steward this work with humility and gratitude.
To God be the glory.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oasisofhopemin.org
- Other: https://www.turningpointcdc.org
