Hey, I’m Chris.
Welcome to my corner of the internet, where faith meets real life, and where broken stories learn how to rise again.
I’m a husband, dad, storyteller, and living proof that no story is too broken for God to redeem. I’ve been married to my best friend, Sandy, for over 23 years. Together, we’ve built a life anchored in faith, grit, and an unshakable hope that’s carried us through some of the darkest valleys.
Our story started like a movie, the kind nobody would believe if it wasn’t true.
On February 2, 2002, I met Sandy on a Christian singles site. We got engaged just a few weeks later without ever meeting in person. Wild? Yep. But God was writing something only He could pull off. That leap of faith became the foundation of our greatest adventure, one filled with storms, miracles, and a love rooted in purpose, not perfection.
From Addiction to Freedom
Before Sandy, my life was buried in ruins.
Nineteen years addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Nineteen years of shame, anger, and believing I’d wasted my purpose.
One night, at the end of myself, I asked God to take it, the cravings, the chaos, the self-destruction. He whispered back:
“Give Me 30 days.”
I thought I was losing my mind. But obedience became my lifeline. Near the end of that 30-day stretch, the desire was gone. Completely. Miraculously.
I’ve been sober since December 26, 2007.
That’s the day I stopped simply surviving… and started rebuilding.
My life is living proof:
God still restores. God still redeems. God still rescues.
Rising from the RUINS
Today, I’m writing the most important work of my life
Rising from the RUINS: A Story of Addiction, Redemption, and Unshakable Hope.
This isn’t just a book, it’s my heart on paper.
It’s about the lies we believe, the shame we bury, and the God who calls us out of the rubble by name. It’s for the broken, the hurting, the ones who feel stuck in the middle of their story.
If that’s you, you’re why I’m writing this.
Because I believe every ruin can rise again.
A Journey We Didn’t See Coming
In 2020 — right before the COVID shutdown, Sandy and I launched The Chris & Sandy Show with nothing but a dream and a desire to share real stories.
No big network.
No celebrity connections.
Just a microphone and faith.
Since then, we’ve interviewed more than 600 artists, actors, authors, and entertainment voices, including celebrities with stories worth telling.
That little spark became a fire.
Then Came The Customized Ride
In late 2022, we accidentally wandered into a whole new world, the custom automotive space. We started a simple social brand called The Customized Ride.
No followers.
No backing.
Just passion and curiosity.
It exploded.
Today, The Customized Ride has grown to:
✅ 500k+ followers
✅ 250M+ video views (and counting)
We spotlight the builders, dreamers, and gear-turners who keep custom culture alive. Raw. Real. Community-driven.
It’s an honor to tell their stories.
Why This Site Exists
MrChrisBenton.com is where everything comes together.
This is home base, the hub for:
- Faith + hope content
- Speaking + storytelling
- Marriage + family insights
- Updates on the book
- Articles + devotionals
- Behind-the-scenes stories
- Resources for rebuilding your life
Whether you’re fighting for your marriage…
Trying to rebuild after addiction…
Or simply searching for purpose…
This space is for you.
Because your ruins aren’t the end
they’re the beginning of what God wants to build next.
If You’re in the Fire…
I’ve been where you are.
Hopeless. Ashamed. Convinced the story was over.
But here’s the truth:
Hope is real.
Healing is possible.
Grace is still in the business of rebuilding lives.
You don’t have to walk this road alone. I’d be honored to walk it with you.
Let’s rise, together.
— Chris