WCNC News Anchor Chris Justice is leaving job to become Full-time Baptist Pastor

WCNC News Anchor Christ Justice is going to leave the station in April to become a full-time Baptist preacher at a church in Monroe. I can remember when he was a co-host on WFNZ's PRIMETIME pimping his deep allegiance to OHIO State . . . ERRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr T-H-E OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. He made a smooth transition from the sports to the news anchor chair a few years ago also. I'm going to miss him on the air . . .


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WCNC anchor quits to be Baptist pastor

MARK WASHBURN
TV/Radio Writer

WCNC anchorman Chris Justice announced Wednesday he is giving up his high-profile TV job to become a full-time pastor.

Since arriving as part-time pastor of Lee Park Baptist Church in Monroe two years ago, the church has grown rapidly. Now the church needs a full-time pastor, he says, and the station needs an anchor who is solely dedicated to the job.

Justice, 39, a father of four, says he decided in September to make the move. He has agreed to remain at WCNC until April 4, getting the station through the February sweeps and another month so a successor can be found.

"I realized in September I was a full-time anchor, a part-time pastor, a part-time husband and a part-time dad," says Justice.

"I thought I could juggle it. But it grew and grew. I can't see my kids as much and I've got to see my kids."

During a vacation in September to his native Ohio, he talked with his wife, Becky, about the pace of their lives. With his contract at WCNC coming up for renewal, he says, it seemed like the right time to make the switch.

He gave his notice to the station when he returned, telling no one else there except his co-anchor Sonja Gantt.

"I wasn't really surprised," says Gantt, who had been to the church to hear him preach. "I remember seeing him up there and thinking he is so comfortable and so at home up there."

His is the latest in a string of high-profile departures at WCNC, which has seen chief meteorologist Terri Bennett and anchor John Snyder leave the NBC affiliate since summer.

"It's a blow," says Mary Alvarez, news director. "But I can't compete with God."

Justice came to WCNC from a station in New Bern in 1996 as weekend sports anchor. He was on the air doing his sports report on May 20, 2000, when word came in about the walkway collapse at Lowes Motor Speedway.

For nearly two hours, he took over anchoring as details came in from then-sports director Chuck Howard at the track. CNN picked up the station's signal and broadcast it nationally.

Alvarez says his calm, steady handling of the chaotic situation made executives realize he was cut out for bigger things.

Soon he became a news anchor on the station's morning show and in 2004, moved into the key 6 and 11 p.m. spots with Gantt.

 

good for chris. he and i both came to charlotte in 1996. both came for sports, then switched to news.

 

I wonder if him getting robbed had anything to do with his strong faith now.

I hope he does well, I always liked him on air.

 

He used to do a morning radio segment that I would listen to on the way to work every morning. This was back in the late 90s. I thought he did a good job and was glad when he moved up. He seems like a good guy although I know nothing about his ministry.

 

he seems like such a nice guy....i'll miss seeing him on the morning news.