Calvary Chapel
Encyclopedia
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical
association of Christian churches
with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College
programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of churches" in contrast to a denomination
. Churches which affiliate with Calvary Chapel may use the name "Calvary Chapel" but need not do so.
Beginning in 1965 in Southern California
, this fellowship of churches grew out of Chuck Smith
's Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
. Doctrinally, Calvary Chapel is evangelical, dispensational
, pretribulationist
, and believes in the principle of sola scriptura
. Calvary Chapels place great importance in the practice of expository teaching
, a "verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book" approach to teaching the Bible
. However Chuck Smith will gloss over passages of scriptures if he feels it is controversial and may cause division or cause polarization on issues. Typically, Calvary Chapels operate under a senior pastor-led system of church government
, sometimes referred to as the "Moses" model; Chuck Smith's "Calvary Chapel Distinctives" summarizes the tenets for which Calvary Chapel stands.
was still a member of a denominational church, a prophecy came to him in which the Lord said to him that He was changing his name. His new name would mean "Shepherd" because the Lord was going to make him the shepherd of many flocks and the church would not be large enough to hold all of the people who would be flocking to hear the Word of God.
In December 1965, Chuck Smith
became the pastor of a 25-person congregation and in 1968 broke away from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
in Santa Ana, California
. Before Smith became their pastor, twelve of the 25 members attended a prayer
meeting about whether or not to close their church: they reported that "the Holy Spirit
spoke to them through prophecy
" and told them that Chuck would become their pastor, that he would want to elevate the platform area, that God
would bless the church, that it would go on the radio, that the church would become overcrowded, and that he would become known throughout the world.
An almost identical prophecy was recorded in Chuck Smith's book "Harvest" where the prophecy was delivered to 16 discouraged people ready to quit and throw in the towel.
In 1969, Calvary Chapel became an epicenter with what later became known as the Jesus Movement
when Smith's daughter introduced him to her boyfriend
John, a former hippie
who had become a Christian
. John then introduced Chuck to Lonnie Frisbee
, the "hippie evangelist" who became a key figure in the growth of both the Jesus Movement and in Calvary Chapel. Frisbee moved into Smith's home, and he would minister to the other hippies and counter-culture youth on the beaches. At night he would bring home new converts and soon Smith's house was full. Frisbee was put in charge of a new rental home for the steadily growing crowd of Christian hippies and he named the commune House of Miracles
, other House of Miracles would be set up throughout California and beyond. Through Frisbee's strong anoiting of the Holy Spirit and 'power evangelism
' and Smith's sense of running a church, Calvary grew exponentially. A tent was erected while a new building was under construction and Frisbee's Wednesday night Bible studies became wildly popular. Among Frisbee's converts were the musicians that had played on the beaches who now were writing music for praise and worship. This became the genesis for Jesus music
and Christian rock concerts. The musicians started forming groups and Maranatha Music was eventually formed to publish and promote the music. The services usually resembled rock concerts more than any worship services of the time. Frisbee was featured in national television news reports and magazines with images of him baptizing hundreds in the Pacific Ocean at a time. The network of House of Miracles communes/crash pad/coffee houses began doing outreach concerts with Smith or Frisbee preaching, Frisbee calling forth the Holy Spirit and the newly forming bands playing the music.
By the early 1970s Calvary Chapel was home to ten or more musical groups that were representative of the Jesus people movement.
In 1982, John Wimber
, a Calvary Chapel pastor, and the Calvary Chapel leadership mutually agreed to part ways. Tension had been mounting over Wimber's emphasis on spiritual manifestations leading Wimber to withdraw from Calvary Chapel and affiliate with a network of churches that would become the Association of Vineyard Churches
. Calvary Chapel has a documentary on their history called: A Venture In Faith, Documentary: Calvary Chapel Story, Run Time: 2 hours, 1 minute
and the Trinity
. Within evangelical Christianity, they say that they stand in the "middle ground between fundamentalism
and Pentecostalism
in modern Protestant theology". While they share with fundamentalism a belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, unlike fundamentalists, they accept spiritual gifts. However, they feel that Pentecostalism values experience at the expense of the word of God.
's and Arminianism
's conflicting views on salvation
. Calvary Chapels hold the following views on the five points of Calvinism:
, it does not recognize uninterpreted tongues spoken in a congregational setting as necessarily inspired (or at least directed) by the Holy Spirit
because of its understanding of . Calvary Chapel accepts that the Bible affirms interpreted tongues and modern prophecy
. Practicing tongues in private occurs more commonly. Calvary Chapel does not teach that the outward manifestation of every Christian counts as speaking in tongues. Instead, the movement's theologians regard speaking in tongues as one of the many gifts of the Spirit and see believers as blessed
as the Spirit moves.
Similar to other Pentecostal or Charismatic movements, Calvary Chapel holds that the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not take place during conversion, but is available as a second experience. It is their understanding that there are three distinct relationships with the Holy Spirit. The first is that which is experienced prior to conversion. In this relationship the Holy Spirit is convicting the person of his sin. In the second relationship the Holy Spirit indwells believers during conversion for the purpose of sanctification
. The third relationship is the baptism of the Holy Spirit which Calvary Chapel believes is for the purpose of being a Christian witness.
by immersion. Calvary Chapel does not regard baptism as necessary for salvation, but instead sees it as an outward sign of an inward change. As a result, the Chapels do not baptize infants
, although they may dedicate them to God. Calvary Chapel views Communion
in a symbolic way, with reference to .
views in their eschatology
(the study of the end times
). They believe that the rapture
of the Church will occur first, followed by a literal seven-year period of Great Tribulation
, followed by the second coming
of Jesus Christ, and then finally a literal thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth called the Millennial Kingdom
. Calvary Chapel also rejects supersessionism
and instead believes that the Jews remain God's chosen people and that Israel will play an important part in the end times
.
Interest in one event during the Tribulation
—the building of a Third Temple in Jerusalem
—led in the early 1980s to associations between some in Calvary Chapel (including Chuck Smith) and Jewish groups interested in seeing the temple rebuilt.
The reasoning had to do with the idea that the 7-year Tribulation would end in 1988, forty years after the establishment of the state of Israel. In his 1978 book, Chuck reasoned that Haley's Comet in 1986 would result in problems for those left behind: "The Lord said that towards the end of the Tribulation period the sun would scorch men who dwell upon the face of the earth (Rev. 16). The year 1986 would fit just about right! We’re getting close to the Tribulation and the return of Christ in glory. All the pieces of the puzzle are coming together."
Disappointment resulting from the prophecy not materializing in 1981 caused some to leave the church.
Calvary Chapels believe that most churches have a "dependent, highly organized, [and] structured" environment, but that most people want an "independent and casual way of life". Calvary churches typically have a casual and laid-back atmosphere. As a practical implication of this philosophy, people may wear street clothes to church. Praise
and worship
usually consists of upbeat contemporary Christian music
though many Calvarys also play hymns. The style of worship generally reflects the region and the specific make-up of the congregation.
Calvary Chapel does not have a formalized system of church membership. Calling a Calvary Chapel one's church usually means regularly attending church services and becoming involved in fellowship
with other "members" of the church.
practiced by Calvary Chapel does not conform to any of the three historical forms. They do not employ congregational polity, believing that God's people collectively made poor decisions in the Old Testament
, citing as an example. They also criticize presbyterian polity
because when "the pastor is hired by the board and can be fired by the board," they fear that "the pastor becomes a hireling". Although Calvary Chapel's governance shares a similarity with episcopal polity
in that the congregation has no direct authority over the pastor, it does not have the formal hierarchy characteristic of episcopal polity.
The majority of Calvary Chapels have adopted models of government based on their understanding of the theocracy that God established in the Old Testament they sometimes call the "Moses model". In this system, God was head of his people and under God's authority was Moses, who led the Israelites as God directed him. Moses also had a priesthood
and seventy elders
providing him support. Calvary Chapel has adapted this order believing their pastors have a role like Moses and their boards of elders function in supporting roles.
Calvary Chapels are independent and self governing churches. They do not have church membership apart from pastors recognized through their affiliate program. The Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship (CCOF) has the responsibility of affiliating churches with Calvary Chapel. A church that affiliates with Calvary Chapel often (but not always) uses the name "Calvary Chapel". Three requirements for becoming affiliated exist:
The requirements do not include a seminary
degree. In accordance with Calvary's interpretation and understanding of the Bible (see 1 Timothy 3:2 and 1 Timothy 3:12), Calvary Chapel does not ordain women or homosexuals
as pastors.
Regional lead pastors exercise a measure of accountability.
Since no legal or financial ties link the different Calvary Chapels, only disaffiliation
can serve as a disciplinary procedure.
during his time as an active participant in Calvary Chapel ministry. Chuck Smith has been criticized for drawing connections between disasters (e.g., earthquakes, the September 11 attacks) and divine wrath against homosexuality and abortion.
Calvary Chapel leaders, including Smith, are the subject of a currently pending lawsuit alleging that they knew or should have known that a minister named Anthony Iglesias was prone to sexual abuse when they moved him from ministry positions in Diamond Bar, California
, to Thailand
, to Post Falls, Idaho
. Iglesias was convicted of lewd conduct with two 14-year-old boys in California in 2004, and the current lawsuit stems from events in Idaho, but all alleged abuse occurred in or before 2003.
says that Smith's "Moses Model", in which senior pastors do not permit their authority to be challenged, can lead to churches that are often resistant to accountability. In response, Smith says he is following the authority structure that God used when Israel was under the rule of Moses.
According to one article, "Smith's book Calvary Chapel Distinctives teaches that senior pastors should be answerable to God, not to a denominational hierarchy or board of elders." "Critics say this 'Moses model' produces pastors who refuse to let their authority be challenged. Such pastors often resist accountability measures such as financial audits and providing detailed financial statements. Some curious Calvary Chapel attendees, who have sought financial information from their churches, say they were ostracized."
: Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC), located in Murrieta, California
. However, this school also has at least 50 affiliated campuses throughout the world.
Founded in 1975, it originally offered a "short, intensive study program",
but it subsequently became a two-year school which awards Certificates of Completion, Associate in Theology
degrees (for high-school graduates), and Bachelor of Biblical Studies
degrees (to students who have an Associate of Arts from an approved college).
The college as a whole does not have accreditation
, but students can transfer CCBC credits to some major accredited colleges such as Azusa Pacific
. The college does not seek accreditation,
as this allows Calvary Chapel to keep the cost of tuition lower and offer courses taught by pastors who do not have Master's degrees.
(a Calvary Chapel in Riverside, California
). They carry out an evangelistic ministry similar to Billy Graham
's. They meet in stadiums and have Christian music bands play followed by an evangelical message normally given by Greg Laurie
. They estimate three million people have attended since its inception in 1990.
In addition, the CSN International
(originally known as the "Calvary Satellite Network") and Effect Radio networks were founded by a Calvary Chapel in Twin Falls, Idaho
; though CSN still carries a significant number of programs from several Calvary Chapels, the networks and the church (now known by the name "The River Christian Fellowship") have all apparently severed their official ties with the Calvary Chapel.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
association of Christian churches
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College
Calvary Chapel Bible College
Calvary Chapel Bible College is a ministry of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. Its main campus is in Murrieta, California, which has an average attendance of approximately 400 full-time students, 50 part-time students, and 150 distance learning students. The mission statement of Calvary Chapel Bible...
programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of churches" in contrast to a denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. Churches which affiliate with Calvary Chapel may use the name "Calvary Chapel" but need not do so.
Beginning in 1965 in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, this fellowship of churches grew out of Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
's Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is a Christian church located near the boundary between the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana in Orange County. It is the original Calvary Chapel, having grown since 1965 from a handful of people led by Chuck Smith to become the "mother church" of over one thousand...
. Doctrinally, Calvary Chapel is evangelical, dispensational
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants.As a system,...
, pretribulationist
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
, and believes in the principle of sola scriptura
Sola scriptura
Sola scriptura is the doctrine that the Bible contains all knowledge necessary for salvation and holiness. Consequently, sola scriptura demands that only those doctrines are to be admitted or confessed that are found directly within or indirectly by using valid logical deduction or valid...
. Calvary Chapels place great importance in the practice of expository teaching
Expository preaching
Expository preaching is a form of preaching that throws light upon the meaning of a particular text or passage of Scripture. As "throwing light," this term is more general than exegesis, which is used for more technical and grammatical exposition, a careful drawing out of the exact meaning of a...
, a "verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book" approach to teaching the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. However Chuck Smith will gloss over passages of scriptures if he feels it is controversial and may cause division or cause polarization on issues. Typically, Calvary Chapels operate under a senior pastor-led system of church government
Ecclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches...
, sometimes referred to as the "Moses" model; Chuck Smith's "Calvary Chapel Distinctives" summarizes the tenets for which Calvary Chapel stands.
History
While Chuck SmithChuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
was still a member of a denominational church, a prophecy came to him in which the Lord said to him that He was changing his name. His new name would mean "Shepherd" because the Lord was going to make him the shepherd of many flocks and the church would not be large enough to hold all of the people who would be flocking to hear the Word of God.
In December 1965, Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
became the pastor of a 25-person congregation and in 1968 broke away from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
in Santa Ana, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Before Smith became their pastor, twelve of the 25 members attended a prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
meeting about whether or not to close their church: they reported that "the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
spoke to them through prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
" and told them that Chuck would become their pastor, that he would want to elevate the platform area, that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
would bless the church, that it would go on the radio, that the church would become overcrowded, and that he would become known throughout the world.
An almost identical prophecy was recorded in Chuck Smith's book "Harvest" where the prophecy was delivered to 16 discouraged people ready to quit and throw in the towel.
In 1969, Calvary Chapel became an epicenter with what later became known as the Jesus Movement
Jesus movement
The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s. It was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture,...
when Smith's daughter introduced him to her boyfriend
Boyfriend
A boyfriend is a person's regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship, although normally not in long-term committed relationships, where other titles A boyfriend is a person's regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship, although normally not in long-term committed...
John, a former hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
who had become a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. John then introduced Chuck to Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s...
, the "hippie evangelist" who became a key figure in the growth of both the Jesus Movement and in Calvary Chapel. Frisbee moved into Smith's home, and he would minister to the other hippies and counter-culture youth on the beaches. At night he would bring home new converts and soon Smith's house was full. Frisbee was put in charge of a new rental home for the steadily growing crowd of Christian hippies and he named the commune House of Miracles
House of Miracles
The House of Miracles was a series of Christian communal houses established during the early Jesus Movement under the auspices of Pastor Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA...
, other House of Miracles would be set up throughout California and beyond. Through Frisbee's strong anoiting of the Holy Spirit and 'power evangelism
Power Evangelism
Power Evangelism is the title of a book by Christian charismatic leader John Wimber. The term is also applied to the movement and the process described in the book...
' and Smith's sense of running a church, Calvary grew exponentially. A tent was erected while a new building was under construction and Frisbee's Wednesday night Bible studies became wildly popular. Among Frisbee's converts were the musicians that had played on the beaches who now were writing music for praise and worship. This became the genesis for Jesus music
Jesus music
Jesus music, known as gospel beat music in the United Kingdom, is a style of Christian music which originated on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This musical genre developed in parallel to the Jesus movement...
and Christian rock concerts. The musicians started forming groups and Maranatha Music was eventually formed to publish and promote the music. The services usually resembled rock concerts more than any worship services of the time. Frisbee was featured in national television news reports and magazines with images of him baptizing hundreds in the Pacific Ocean at a time. The network of House of Miracles communes/crash pad/coffee houses began doing outreach concerts with Smith or Frisbee preaching, Frisbee calling forth the Holy Spirit and the newly forming bands playing the music.
By the early 1970s Calvary Chapel was home to ten or more musical groups that were representative of the Jesus people movement.
In 1982, John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
, a Calvary Chapel pastor, and the Calvary Chapel leadership mutually agreed to part ways. Tension had been mounting over Wimber's emphasis on spiritual manifestations leading Wimber to withdraw from Calvary Chapel and affiliate with a network of churches that would become the Association of Vineyard Churches
Association of Vineyard Churches
The Association of Vineyard Churches, also known as the Vineyard Movement, is a neocharismatic evangelical Christian denomination with over 1,500 affiliated churches worldwide....
. Calvary Chapel has a documentary on their history called: A Venture In Faith, Documentary: Calvary Chapel Story, Run Time: 2 hours, 1 minute
Doctrine
Affiliates of Calvary Chapel believe in the fundamental doctrines of evangelical Christianity, which include the inerrancy of the BibleBiblical inerrancy
Biblical inerrancy is the doctrinal position that the Bible is accurate and totally free of error, that "Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact." Some equate inerrancy with infallibility; others do not.Conservative Christians generally believe that...
and the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
. Within evangelical Christianity, they say that they stand in the "middle ground between fundamentalism
Fundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
and Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
in modern Protestant theology". While they share with fundamentalism a belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, unlike fundamentalists, they accept spiritual gifts. However, they feel that Pentecostalism values experience at the expense of the word of God.
Calvinism and Arminianism
According to Calvary Chapel literature, the association strives to "strik[e] a balance between extremes" when it comes to controversial theological issues such as CalvinismCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
's and Arminianism
Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants...
's conflicting views on salvation
Salvation
Within religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
. Calvary Chapels hold the following views on the five points of Calvinism:
- Regarding total depravityTotal depravityTotal depravity is a theological doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concept of original sin...
, Calvary Chapel affirms that "apart from God's grace, no one can be saved," and that "mankind is clearly fallen and lost in sin." - Regarding unconditional electionUnconditional electionUnconditional election is the Calvinist teaching that before God created the world, he chose to save some people according to his own purposes and apart from any conditions related to those persons...
, Calvary Chapel affirms that God, "based on his foreknowledge, has predestined the believer," and that "God clearly does choose, but man must also accept God's invitation to salvation." - Regarding limited atonementLimited atonementLimited atonement is a doctrine in Christian theology which is particularly associated with the Reformed tradition and is one of the five points of Calvinism...
, Calvary Chapel affirms that Jesus died "for the whole world" and that the "atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was clearly sufficient to save the entire human race." - Regarding irresistible graceIrresistible graceIrresistible Grace is a doctrine in Christian theology particularly associated with Calvinism, which teaches that the saving grace of God is effectually applied to those whom he has determined to save and, in God's timing, overcomes their resistance to obeying the call of the gospel, bringing...
, Calvary Chapel affirms that "God's grace can either be resisted or received by the exercise of human free willFree will"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
". - Calvary Chapels "believe in the perseverance of the saintsPerseverance of the saintsPerseverance of the saints, as well as the corollary—though distinct—doctrine known as "Once Saved, Always Saved", is a Calvinist teaching that once persons are truly saved they can never lose their salvation....
(true believers) but are deeply concerned about sinful lifestyles and rebellious hearts among those who call themselves 'Christians'."
Spiritual gifts
Although Calvary Chapel believes in the continuing efficacy of the gift of tonguesGlossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
, it does not recognize uninterpreted tongues spoken in a congregational setting as necessarily inspired (or at least directed) by the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
because of its understanding of . Calvary Chapel accepts that the Bible affirms interpreted tongues and modern prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
. Practicing tongues in private occurs more commonly. Calvary Chapel does not teach that the outward manifestation of every Christian counts as speaking in tongues. Instead, the movement's theologians regard speaking in tongues as one of the many gifts of the Spirit and see believers as blessed
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
as the Spirit moves.
Similar to other Pentecostal or Charismatic movements, Calvary Chapel holds that the baptism of the Holy Spirit does not take place during conversion, but is available as a second experience. It is their understanding that there are three distinct relationships with the Holy Spirit. The first is that which is experienced prior to conversion. In this relationship the Holy Spirit is convicting the person of his sin. In the second relationship the Holy Spirit indwells believers during conversion for the purpose of sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
. The third relationship is the baptism of the Holy Spirit which Calvary Chapel believes is for the purpose of being a Christian witness.
Baptism and Communion
Calvary Chapels practice believer's baptismBeliever's baptism
Believer's baptism is the Christian practice of baptism as this is understood by many Protestant churches, particularly those that descend from the Anabaptist tradition...
by immersion. Calvary Chapel does not regard baptism as necessary for salvation, but instead sees it as an outward sign of an inward change. As a result, the Chapels do not baptize infants
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
, although they may dedicate them to God. Calvary Chapel views Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
in a symbolic way, with reference to .
Eschatology
Calvary Chapels strongly espouse pretribulationist and premillennialistPremillennialism
Premillennialism in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’ physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration...
views in their eschatology
Christian eschatology
Christian eschatology is a major branch of study within Christian theology. Eschatology, from two Greek words meaning last and study , is the study of the end of things, whether the end of an individual life, the end of the age, or the end of the world...
(the study of the end times
End times
The end time, end times, or end of days is a time period described in the eschatological writings in the three Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios in various other non-Abrahamic religions...
). They believe that the rapture
Rapture
The rapture is a reference to the "being caught up" referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, when the "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord"....
of the Church will occur first, followed by a literal seven-year period of Great Tribulation
Tribulation
The Great Tribulation refers to tumultuous events that are described during the "signs of the times", first mentioned by Jesus in the Olivet discourse...
, followed by the second coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
of Jesus Christ, and then finally a literal thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ on earth called the Millennial Kingdom
Millennialism
Millennialism , or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state...
. Calvary Chapel also rejects supersessionism
Supersessionism
Supersessionism is a term for the dominant Christian view of the Old Covenant, also called fulfillment theology and replacement theology, though the latter term is disputed...
and instead believes that the Jews remain God's chosen people and that Israel will play an important part in the end times
End times
The end time, end times, or end of days is a time period described in the eschatological writings in the three Abrahamic religions and in doomsday scenarios in various other non-Abrahamic religions...
.
Interest in one event during the Tribulation
Tribulation
The Great Tribulation refers to tumultuous events that are described during the "signs of the times", first mentioned by Jesus in the Olivet discourse...
—the building of a Third Temple in Jerusalem
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
—led in the early 1980s to associations between some in Calvary Chapel (including Chuck Smith) and Jewish groups interested in seeing the temple rebuilt.
Return of Christ in 1981
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Chuck Smith wrote and published a prophetic timeline that declared:- I believe that the generation of 1948 is the last generation. Since a generation of judgment is forty years and the Tribulation period lasts seven years, I believe the Lord could come back for His Church any time before the Tribulation starts, which would mean any time before 1981.
The reasoning had to do with the idea that the 7-year Tribulation would end in 1988, forty years after the establishment of the state of Israel. In his 1978 book, Chuck reasoned that Haley's Comet in 1986 would result in problems for those left behind: "The Lord said that towards the end of the Tribulation period the sun would scorch men who dwell upon the face of the earth (Rev. 16). The year 1986 would fit just about right! We’re getting close to the Tribulation and the return of Christ in glory. All the pieces of the puzzle are coming together."
Disappointment resulting from the prophecy not materializing in 1981 caused some to leave the church.
"Generation" living in 1948
In another book titled "Snatched Away," Chuck proclaimed that the "generation that was living in May of 1948 shall not pass until the second coming of Jesus Christ takes place and the kingdom of God be established upon the earth."Practices
Calvary Chapel pastors tend to prefer expositional sermons rather than topical ones, and they will often give their sermons sequentially from the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. They believe that expository preaching allows the congregation to learn how all parts of the Bible address issues as opposed to topical sermons which they see as allowing preachers to emphasize certain issues more than others. Another advantage, they say, is that it makes difficult topics easier to address because members of the congregation won't feel like they are being singled out. It sees expository teaching as providing consistent teaching that, over time, brings the "perfecting of the saints" which is part of their general philosophy for the Church. In teaching expositorily through scripture sequentially, Calvary Chapel believes God sets the agenda, not the pastor.Calvary Chapels believe that most churches have a "dependent, highly organized, [and] structured" environment, but that most people want an "independent and casual way of life". Calvary churches typically have a casual and laid-back atmosphere. As a practical implication of this philosophy, people may wear street clothes to church. Praise
Praise song
Contemporary worship music is a loosely defined genre of Christian music used in contemporary worship. It has developed over the past sixty years and is stylistically similar to pop music. The songs are frequently referred to as "praise songs" or "worship songs" and are typically led by a "worship...
and worship
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
usually consists of upbeat contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
though many Calvarys also play hymns. The style of worship generally reflects the region and the specific make-up of the congregation.
Calvary Chapel does not have a formalized system of church membership. Calling a Calvary Chapel one's church usually means regularly attending church services and becoming involved in fellowship
Communion (Christian)
The term communion is derived from Latin communio . The corresponding term in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as "fellowship". In Christianity, the basic meaning of the term communion is an especially close relationship of Christians, as individuals or as a Church, with God and with...
with other "members" of the church.
Organization
The form of church governmentEcclesiastical polity
Ecclesiastical polity is the operational and governance structure of a church or Christian denomination. It also denotes the ministerial structure of the church and the authority relationships between churches...
practiced by Calvary Chapel does not conform to any of the three historical forms. They do not employ congregational polity, believing that God's people collectively made poor decisions in the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
, citing as an example. They also criticize presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
because when "the pastor is hired by the board and can be fired by the board," they fear that "the pastor becomes a hireling". Although Calvary Chapel's governance shares a similarity with episcopal polity
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
in that the congregation has no direct authority over the pastor, it does not have the formal hierarchy characteristic of episcopal polity.
The majority of Calvary Chapels have adopted models of government based on their understanding of the theocracy that God established in the Old Testament they sometimes call the "Moses model". In this system, God was head of his people and under God's authority was Moses, who led the Israelites as God directed him. Moses also had a priesthood
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
and seventy elders
Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel made of 71 members...
providing him support. Calvary Chapel has adapted this order believing their pastors have a role like Moses and their boards of elders function in supporting roles.
Calvary Chapels are independent and self governing churches. They do not have church membership apart from pastors recognized through their affiliate program. The Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship (CCOF) has the responsibility of affiliating churches with Calvary Chapel. A church that affiliates with Calvary Chapel often (but not always) uses the name "Calvary Chapel". Three requirements for becoming affiliated exist:
- the pastor must "embrace the characteristics of the Calvary Chapel movement as described in Calvary Chapel Distinctives"
- the church must have the characteristics of a church (as opposed to a less-developed home fellowship)
- an applicant must express willingness to spend the time to fellowshipCommunion (Christian)The term communion is derived from Latin communio . The corresponding term in Greek is κοινωνία, which is often translated as "fellowship". In Christianity, the basic meaning of the term communion is an especially close relationship of Christians, as individuals or as a Church, with God and with...
with other Calvary Chapels
The requirements do not include a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
degree. In accordance with Calvary's interpretation and understanding of the Bible (see 1 Timothy 3:2 and 1 Timothy 3:12), Calvary Chapel does not ordain women or homosexuals
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
as pastors.
Regional lead pastors exercise a measure of accountability.
Since no legal or financial ties link the different Calvary Chapels, only disaffiliation
Religious disaffiliation
Religious disaffiliation means leaving a faith, or a religious group or community. It is in many respects the reverse of religious conversion...
can serve as a disciplinary procedure.
Criticisms
Various criticisms of the organization and of the pastorate role in the organization exist. For example, journalist David Templeton described intense peer pressurePeer pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member , or a social clique...
during his time as an active participant in Calvary Chapel ministry. Chuck Smith has been criticized for drawing connections between disasters (e.g., earthquakes, the September 11 attacks) and divine wrath against homosexuality and abortion.
Calvary Chapel leaders, including Smith, are the subject of a currently pending lawsuit alleging that they knew or should have known that a minister named Anthony Iglesias was prone to sexual abuse when they moved him from ministry positions in Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar, California
Diamond Bar is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 55,544 at the 2010 census, down from 56,287 at the 2000 census. It is named after the "diamond over a bar" branding iron registered in 1918 by ranch owner Frederick E...
, to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, to Post Falls, Idaho
Post Falls, Idaho
Post Falls is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States near the Idaho state line between Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The population was 17,247 at the 2000 census, and grew to 27,574 people by the 2010 census, making it Idaho's tenth largest city.-History:Post Falls is...
. Iglesias was convicted of lewd conduct with two 14-year-old boys in California in 2004, and the current lawsuit stems from events in Idaho, but all alleged abuse occurred in or before 2003.
Accountability of the pastorate system
As a result of what he saw as micromanaging church elders and board members, Chuck Smith used "an independent board of elders" when he took the senior pastor role at Calvary Chapel. Smith subsequently wrote that "senior pastors should be answerable to God, not to a denominational hierarchy or board of elders". Christianity TodayChristianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
says that Smith's "Moses Model", in which senior pastors do not permit their authority to be challenged, can lead to churches that are often resistant to accountability. In response, Smith says he is following the authority structure that God used when Israel was under the rule of Moses.
According to one article, "Smith's book Calvary Chapel Distinctives teaches that senior pastors should be answerable to God, not to a denominational hierarchy or board of elders." "Critics say this 'Moses model' produces pastors who refuse to let their authority be challenged. Such pastors often resist accountability measures such as financial audits and providing detailed financial statements. Some curious Calvary Chapel attendees, who have sought financial information from their churches, say they were ostracized."
Bible college
Technically, Calvary Chapel has only one Bible collegeBible college
Bible colleges are institutions of higher education that specialize in biblical studies. Curriculum is Bible-based and differs from that of liberal arts colleges or research universities. Bible colleges generally exclude the study of philosophy, unlike seminaries and theological colleges...
: Calvary Chapel Bible College (CCBC), located in Murrieta, California
Murrieta, California
Murrieta has a Mediterranean climate or Dry-Summer Subtropical . Murrieta has plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 263 sunshine days and 35 days with measurable precipitation annually....
. However, this school also has at least 50 affiliated campuses throughout the world.
Founded in 1975, it originally offered a "short, intensive study program",
but it subsequently became a two-year school which awards Certificates of Completion, Associate in Theology
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
degrees (for high-school graduates), and Bachelor of Biblical Studies
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
degrees (to students who have an Associate of Arts from an approved college).
The college as a whole does not have accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
, but students can transfer CCBC credits to some major accredited colleges such as Azusa Pacific
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa Pacific University is a private, inter-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles in suburban Azusa, California. It was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900 in Whittier, California. It began offering degrees in 1939...
. The college does not seek accreditation,
as this allows Calvary Chapel to keep the cost of tuition lower and offer courses taught by pastors who do not have Master's degrees.
Harvest Crusades
Harvest Crusades operate as a ministry of Harvest Christian FellowshipHarvest Christian Fellowship
Harvest Christian Fellowship was founded in 1979 by Greg Laurie in Riverside, CA. Laurie is currently the senior pastor of thirty years. Harvest is a megachurch with a congregation of 15,000 and growing. The eighth largest church in America and third largest in California, they are currently...
(a Calvary Chapel in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
). They carry out an evangelistic ministry similar to Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
's. They meet in stadiums and have Christian music bands play followed by an evangelical message normally given by Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie serves as the Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California.-Ministry:Laurie, who was born in Long Beach, California, became a Christian under the ministry of Pentecostal evangelist Lonnie Frisbee...
. They estimate three million people have attended since its inception in 1990.
Broadcasting
Several radio stations are operated by Calvary Chapel churches. These include:- KWVE-FM in San Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente, CaliforniaSan Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
(near Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
) - KLHT in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, HawaiiHonolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
- KLYTKLYTKLYT is a radio station broadcasting a Christian rock format. Licensed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, the station serves the New Mexico area. The station is currently owned by Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, Inc. Marketed as "Static Radio," the station's format targets listeners ranging from...
in Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As... - KQIP-LPKQIP-LPKQIP-LP is a radio station licensed to Chico, California, USA, the station serves the Chico area. The station is currently owned by Calvary Chapel of Chico....
in Chico, CaliforniaChico, CaliforniaChico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census... - KWTWKWTWKWTW is a radio station broadcasting a Christian Contemporary & Talk format, licensed to Bishop, California, USA. KWTW is known as The Living Proof Radio Network, which is a ministry of Calvary Chapel in Bishop...
in Bishop, CaliforniaBishop, CaliforniaBishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
(with its partners KWTMKWTMKWTM is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format, licensed to June Lake, California, USA. KWTM is a part of a quadrocast with KWTW in Bishop, California, KWTD in Ridgecrest, California, and KWTH in Barstow, California, known the Living Proof Radio Network, which is a ministry of Calvary...
, KWTHKWTHKWTH is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format, licensed to Barstow, California, serving the Barstow area, the Victor Valley area, and along the I-15 from the Cajon Pass to Baker and the I-40 to Essex.-History:...
, and KWTD) - WGES-FMWGES-FMWGES-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Cutler Bay, Florida, USA, the station serves Miami-Dade County and the upper Florida Keys. The station is currently owned by Grupo Génesis....
in Cutler Bay, FloridaCutler Bay, FloridaCutler Bay, historically called Cutler Ridge, is an incorporated town in Miami-Dade County, Florida from SW 184th Street east of US-1 to the coast, and north of Black Point Marina, at... - WJCXWJCXWJCX is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Pittsfield, Maine, USA, the station serves the Bangor area. The station is currently owned by Calvary Chapel of Bangor.-History:...
in Pittsfield, Maine - WRDRWRDRWRDR is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Freehold Township, New Jersey, it serves the New York area. The station is currently owned by Bridgelight, L.L.C.....
in Freehold Township, New JerseyFreehold Township, New JerseyFreehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
(near New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) - WREHWREHWREH is a 100,000-watt FM station, broadcasting on frequency 90.5MHz FM. Its city of license is Cypress Quarters in Okeechobee County, Florida. Reach Communications, ReachFM's parent company, was formed in association with Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, Florida...
in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010... - WTWTWTWTWTWT is a radio station broadcasting a Christian rock format. The station is licensed to Calvary Chapel of Russell, Pennsylvania, but its city of license is Bradford, Pennsylvania and its transmitter will be located in Allegany, New York...
in Russell, PennsylvaniaRussell, PennsylvaniaRussell is an unincorporated community in Pine Grove Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States. The community is due east of the similar hamlet of Lander and lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 62 and Pennsylvania Route 957. It is drained by Conewango Creek.Despite not being...
(in the Twin TiersTwin TiersThe Twin Tiers is a geographical term that refers to the collective counties that lie on the New York-Pennsylvania border adjacent to the 42nd parallel north....
of PA and NY)
In addition, the CSN International
CSN International
CSN International, broadcasting under the callsign KAWZ, is an FM radio station in Twin Falls, Idaho, operating on a frequency of 89.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW at 302 meters above average terrain....
(originally known as the "Calvary Satellite Network") and Effect Radio networks were founded by a Calvary Chapel in Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The population was 44,125 at the 2010 censusTwin Falls is the largest city of Idaho's Magic Valley region...
; though CSN still carries a significant number of programs from several Calvary Chapels, the networks and the church (now known by the name "The River Christian Fellowship") have all apparently severed their official ties with the Calvary Chapel.
Pastors
- Chuck SmithChuck Smith (pastor)Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
, founder of the calvary Chapel movement in the 1960s; senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa MesaCalvary Chapel Costa MesaCalvary Chapel Costa Mesa is a Christian church located near the boundary between the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana in Orange County. It is the original Calvary Chapel, having grown since 1965 from a handful of people led by Chuck Smith to become the "mother church" of over one thousand...
in Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States.... - Lonnie FrisbeeLonnie FrisbeeLonnie Frisbee was an American Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s...
(died 1993), hippie evangelist in the 1960s, the key figure of the Jesus Movement: "The first Jesus freak". Pastor in Calvary Chapel until 1971. - Mark BalmerMark BalmerMark Balmer is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Melbourne in West Melbourne, Florida.-Biography:He was a hospital pharmacy director for twenty-five years before building a new church in the Melbourne-Palm Bay area in 1992. Today more than eight thousand people come to worship each weekend on...
, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Melbourne in Melbourne, FloridaMelbourne, FloridaMelbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida... - Skip HeitzigSkip HeitzigSkip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor of Calvary of Albuquerque, a Calvary Chapel fellowship located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.- Personal :...
, senior pastor of Calvary of Albuquerque in Albuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoAlbuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
(to 2004 and from 2006) - Mike MacIntoshMike MacIntoshMike MacIntosh is the senior pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, California, and is a Protestant leader in the United States....
, pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... - Chuck MisslerChuck MisslerCharles "Chuck" Missler is an author, evangelical Christian, Bible teacher, former businessman and US Navy officer. He is the founder of the Koinonia House ministry based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.-Biography:...
, author and teacher - Malcolm WildMalcolm and AlwynMalcolm and Alwyn were a popular British gospel beat music group in the 1970s. They played Beatles-influenced rock music with lyrics reflecting their conversion to Christianity. The duo was composed of Malcolm Wild and Alwyn Wall, who had been performing together in a band called The Zodiacs prior...
, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Merritt Island in Merritt Island, FloridaMerritt Island, FloridaMerritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Musicians
- Dennis AgajanianDennis AgajanianDennis Agajanian is a Christian musician. Agajanian has played at countless churches across the world, plus he has been featured at the Harvest Crusades and Billy Graham's crusades. He is of Armenian origin. Dennis is a five time Musician of the year, and a three time Entertainer of the year CCMA...
, alumnus of the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the fastest flat-picker - Alejandro AlonsoAlejandro Alonso (musician)Alejandro Alonso is a Latin-American Christian guitar player, singer and composer.- Early years :Alejandro Alonso was born on August 14, 1952 in his grandfather's house in Querétaro, Mexico. He began his musical career at a very early age. During his teen years he was the lead guitarist in a...
, contemporary Christian-Latin artist - Jeremy CampJeremy CampJeremy Thomas Camp is a contemporary Christian musician from Lafayette, Indiana. Camp has released seven albums, four of them RIAA-certified as Gold and two are live albums, and 17 number-one hit songs...
, contemporary Christian artist - Holland DavisHolland DavisHolland Davis is a Calvary Chapel Christian worship leader, songwriter, pastor, Bible teacher and author based in San Juan Capistrano. He is most known for his song "Let It Rise", which was featured on the album WOW Worship: Blue.-Career:...
, worship leader and songwriter of "Let It Rise' - Richie FurayRichie FurayRichie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
, folk rockFolk rockFolk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
artist - Brian NixonBrian NixonBrian Charles Nixon is a television and radio host, author, minister, journalist, and former rock musician of the rock band, The Electra.- Life :...
, former rock musician with the bands The ElectraThe ElectraThe Electra is an underground rock group from the Bay Area California.Formed in 1985 by Brian Nixon and Jeff Carlson, and later joined by Chris Manak . The Electra influenced several musical artists, especially through the ongoing musical production of the various members of the group...
and Widow's Mite - P.O.D.P.O.D.Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
, alternative rock band - Tony StoneTony StoneTony Stone is an American music producer and project developer for Christian Hip-Hop artists. He has produced the music to hundreds of songs in the genre...
, Christian hip-hop producer - SwitchfootSwitchfootSwitchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
, alternative rock band - The Whosoevers, alternative Christian band
- Phil WickhamPhil WickhamPhil Wickham is a Contemporary Christian vocalist/songwriter and guitarist from San Diego, California. Wickham has released five CDs, Give You My World in 2003, a self-titled album in 2006, Cannons in 2007, singalong in 2008, and Heaven & Earth in 2009. His upcoming album "Response" is slated to...
, contemporary Christian artist
Notable congregations
- Calvary Chapel of Fort LauderdaleCalvary Chapel of Fort LauderdaleCalvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale is one of the largest evangelical churches in the United States. According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, it is the largest megachurch in Florida, with approximately 18,000 worshipers attending on average. Founded in 1985 by Bob Coy, it is...
, Florida - Calvary Chapel of Murrieta, CaliforniaMurrieta, CaliforniaMurrieta has a Mediterranean climate or Dry-Summer Subtropical . Murrieta has plenty of sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 263 sunshine days and 35 days with measurable precipitation annually....
, which operates Calvary Chapel Christian Schools MurrietaCalvary Chapel Christian Schools MurrietaCalvary Chapel Christian Schools Murrieta is a Pre School to 12th grade education system in Murrieta, California which was founded by the Calvary Chapel Church... - Harvest Christian FellowshipHarvest Christian FellowshipHarvest Christian Fellowship was founded in 1979 by Greg Laurie in Riverside, CA. Laurie is currently the senior pastor of thirty years. Harvest is a megachurch with a congregation of 15,000 and growing. The eighth largest church in America and third largest in California, they are currently...
, Riverside, CaliforniaRiverside, CaliforniaRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California... - The Packinghouse Christian FellowshipThe Packinghouse Christian FellowshipThe Packinghouse Christian Fellowship is a Christian church located in Redlands, California. It was established in 1979. The fellowship also includes a Christian school called Packinghouse Christian Academy. The church's former name was Calvary Chapel Redlands.The senior pastor of the church is Ed...
, Redlands, CaliforniaRedlands, CaliforniaRedlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
External links
- Calvary Chapel – Official Site
- Calvary Chapel Bible College
- Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Schools
- Calvary Chapel Magazine
- Calvary Chapel School of Ministry
- Calvary Chapel School of Worship
- Maranatha! Music
- Ocean's Edge School of Worship
- The Word for Today – Official Site