Meet our Pastors.

Lead Pastors Shawn & Elisa Cooper

“You will plant a church.” That was the phrase God spoke to us in a cafeteria in Bible college. For 13 years, we carried that assignment in our hearts. During that season, God stretched our faith, brought clarity to our calling, grew us spiritually, and ignited a desire in our hearts to obey His will for our lives, no matter the cost. Fast forward—Vertical Chapel became a reality on February 23, 2014. We launched with nothing more than a promise from God, the support of ARC, and an incredible team of people with enough faith to believe in God for the impossible. To this day, we are still leading Vertical together, still watching God move, and still seeing lives changed. 

Our greatest ministry is our family. We believe that what happens at home is more important than what happens at church. For Vertical to be truly healthy, it starts first in our home. We have been married for 17 years and have three amazing kids— Layton, London, and Lola. We love family adventures, all things Dallas Cowboys, and doing life together. As a family church, our family is our ultimate legacy. 

This is home. Vertical exists to help you and your family follow Jesus, live free, grow deep, and serve others. Everyone who comes through our doors is important to us because each person, including you, is important to God. This is a home for broken people who need Jesus. We hope you’ll join us.

Moving Forward, 
Pastor Shawn & Elisa

Local Favorites:
Jack Allens | CARVE American Grille | Trattoria Lisina | Tarka | Blue Dahlia | Summermoon

Passions & Interests:
Family Time | Outdoors | Travel & Trips | Cowboy Nation

 Our beliefs.

  • We believe the Bible is God's Word. We embrace it as the final authority for our lives and doctrine. It is inspired by God, is alive and powerful, and is completely without error. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12; Proverbs 30:5; Romans 16:25-26

  • We believe the Church is the Body of Christ. God dwells in every Christian through the Holy Spirit and empowers His people to fulfill Jesus' mission on the earth. Every Christian is gifted, called to serve, and is an integral part of building His Kingdom. While there are many local fellowships around the world, God ultimately sees one Church, not thousands. All believers belong to Jesus and are called to live in the Spirit of unity and love. Matthew 28:16-20; Ephesians 1:22, 2:19-22; Hebrews 12:23; John 17:11, 20-23

  • We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was fully God and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for every person - and therefore - He paid [in full] the penalty for our sins through the shedding of His blood. On the third day, He rose from the dead and conquered death. He sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and will return again in power and glory. John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5

  • We believe there is one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and coeternal. 1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11

  • We believe in the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Given at Pentecost, it is the promise of the Father, sent by Jesus after His Ascension, to empower the Church to preach [and live out] the Gospel throughout the whole earth. Joel 2:28-29; Matthew 3:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 1:5, 2:1-4, 17, 38-39, 8:14-17, 10:38, 44-47, 11:15-17, 19:1-6

  • We believe all the spiritual gifts are still active today. These "grace gifts" are given by the Holy Spirit to build and sanctify His Church, prove Jesus' resurrection is real, and to confirm the power of His Gospel. These gifts are clearly outlined in the Bible and must always operate within biblical parameters. All Christians are commanded to earnestly desire and seek these gifts. Hebrews 2:4; Romans 1:11, 12: 4-8; Ephesians 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:5-16, 4:14; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, 14:1-40; 1 Peter 4:10

  • We believe we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is not a result of good works or of any human efforts but is the free, unmerited favor of God offered to all. John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22

  • We believe repentance is the commitment to turn from sin to God. When we surrender lordship to God, we receive forgiveness, are born again by regeneration of the Holy Spirit, and are made completely new in Jesus. Acts 2:21, 3:19; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • We believe Heaven and Hell are real places. Every person was created to live forever and will live either separated from God for eternity (due to sin) or secured in relationship with God (by receiving grace through faith in Jesus). To be separated from God is Hell. To be secured in relationship with Him is Heaven. John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15; John 6:35, 38-40

  • Marriage is sanctioned by God—joining one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union. God intends for sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. Any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one's sex, or disagreement with one's biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God. Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-33; Hebrews 13:4; Genesis 2:20-24; 2 Corinthians 6:14

  • We believe every Christian is commanded by God to be water baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water Baptism is an act of faith and obedience that symbolizes and publicly declares the Salvation that is found only in Jesus - through His death, burial, and resurrection. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48

  • We believe God desires to commune deeply with His children. Communion is a special time in the presence of God when the elements of bread [Jesus' broken body] and grape juice [Jesus' shed blood] are taken in remembrance of Jesus' love and sacrifice on the Cross. Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 11:23-25

  • We believe Jesus will soon return to earth to establish His Kingdom. This will occur at an undisclosed date. Until then, Jesus is building His Kingdom through the Church and is sanctifying His Bride for His return. Matthew 24:30, 26:63-64; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Revelation 19:7-9

 Our values.

  • TO THE WORD — We study God’s Word, grow in wisdom and obedience, and stand on Truth in love, no matter what.

    TO PRAYER — We build everything on prayer, pursue daily intimacy with God, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

    TO WORSHIP — We passionately give God our adoration, depend on His Presence, and worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

    TO FREEDOM — We choose to be known, loved and challenged in order to be privately healthy and publicly fruitful.

  • GOD FIRST — We live to glorify God, prioritize His Kingdom, and love others out of the overflow of His love.

    HIS CHURCH — We serve and honor each other above ourselves, celebrate diversity, and protect unity at all cost.

    THE GOSPEL — We are disciples on mission to make disciples. We live, share, and serve the Gospel.

  • OUR FAMILIES FIRST —We focus generationally, building homes and families around God’s peace and purpose.

    WITH GENEROSITY —We give wholeheartedly, love sacrificially, and serve with excellence to bring God our best.

    HIS KINGDOM —We are called to be a church for other churches, and our pastors are called to pastor other pastors.

Meet the team.

Meet the elders.