Born in 1971 in Santa Barbara County, California, during the height of the hippie movement, Crystal Krachunis endured a chaotic and traumatic childhood marked by abandonment, abuse, and addiction. Her young adult life eventually led her into the bodybuilding and rock-and-roll scene of the 1980s, where she embraced the promiscuous lifestyle that often accompanied it. During this season she encountered Jesus Christ in an unexpected way and completely surrendered her life to the Lord in 1994. A few years after moving to Texas, where she reunited with her once-estranged mother (now also born again), Crystal met Matt Krachunis, who was serving in the armed forces. After a brief, supernatural, (and humorous) courtship, the two were married six months later. Recognizing God’s call to ministry, the Krachunises returned to Matt’s hometown in 2003 to pioneer Faith and Victory Church (FVC) together in a suburb of Seattle, Washington.

Crystal’s powerful testimony of God’s transformative work continues to inspire many. In 2017, she authored her story in a book and companion devotional entitled, Run Your Race. Today she devotes her time to discipling the saints of FVC, loving and supporting her husband in his pastorate, building the Kingdom alongside her grown children—Faith and Gabe (and his wife, Delaney)—and delighting in her first grandson, Paul.