Pastor Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll
Founders
Pastor Chuck and Cynthia Swindoll have been on what they call “an amazing ride together.” Neither could ever have predicted how amazing it was going to be. Little did they know when they married in June 1955 all of the places God would use them.
Following Chuck’s tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps—which included 16 months on Okinawa while Cynthia remained in the U.S.—they were led to Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) for four years of training, learning, growing, being mentored, and starting their family together . Both agree, “Those were great years!”
Then came more productive years together serving churches in Massachusetts, Texas, and California while raising their children.
In 1977, Chuck’s first book, For Those Who Hurt, was published.
After hearing Chuck preach at his church in California, a Christian radio producer urged Chuck to edit the sermons into radio programs. Chuck was initially reluctant until a few months of test programming on 18 stations received an overwhelmingly positive response. Insight for Living began broadcasting in 1979 with Cynthia serving as executive director.
They were called back to Texas in 1994, where Chuck served DTS, his alma mater, as president; then he founded Stonebriar Community Church in 1998—“More great years!”
Cynthia built and led Insight for Living from the very beginning. Watching God move hearts to support the ministry fueled her faith and determination to ensure the broadcast would glorify God and bless others. In those early days, she would personally thank each person for his or her gift to the ministry. In 2023, she stepped down as president and CEO to serve as cofounder and ministry advisor alongside Chuck who continues to serve as chairman of the board.
Currently, Insight for Living is heard around the world, and Chuck has now published more than 100 books, including the 15-volume Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary Series, The Swindoll Study Bible, and The Grace Awakening. His book Searching the Scriptures has been translated by IFL’s international pastors for training local church leaders in how to study the Bible and deliver expositional messages.
Chuck and Cynthia are still loving every day . . . laughing, planning, and dreaming new dreams together. They live in the Dallas area and enjoy their family of four adult kids, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandkids.
The words of the late, great missionary Jim Elliot best describe their enthusiastic, nonstop life together: “Wherever you are, be all there; live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
