Q: iMessage crash and not functioning

I will get a notification upon receiving a iMessage and a notification on the icon, but when opening the iMessage app, it brings me to the screen as if I was sending a new message. From here I can attempt to add a name to send the message to. it will allow me to type a name and will start to filter thru contacts, but as soon as the contact is chosen, the app will crash.

the other function I can do is hit the cancel off of the message screen and it takes me to the message list. there are no messages displayed and no other options for me to choose, other than draft a new message, which crashes when one attempts to choose a recipient.

restarts of the phone, changing settings and everything else I have tried has not worked

IOS 9.2.1 on a iPhone 6sPlus