Calvary Chapel
The Calvary Chapel Logo
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Disclaimer:- I am not a paid member of staff for Calvary Chapel and have no official affiliation with Calvary Chapel apart from about 4 years attendance between two distinctly different Calvary Chapel’s in two different countries and two different continents. The only official works I do for Calvary Chapel is teach a small New Believers Bible Study in Exeter, California Called “Agape”.
This is the page dedicated to the church that is Calvary Chapel. This is a portal which means this is the page that is the front page for this particular part of the site.
Calvary Chapel was founded by Chuck Smith Senior in 1965 in Southern California. Chuck is currently the Senior Pastor at “Big Calvary” at Costa Mesa. Calvary Chapel came out of the “Jesus Movement” in the 60’s.
Chuck started off in the foursquare church and broke away in 1968. Prior to Chuck arriving at the church, the members had debated closing the church and they reported that The Holy Spirit advised them that their church would become known worldwide and be on the radio. How true that vision was!
In the early days Calvary Chapel ministered to hippies and the lost children of the 60’s generation. This generation was known as the “Jesus Freak” generation. Calvary Chapel began to grow in Southern California and eventually throughout the USA.
In the USA the churches are linked as “official Calvary Chapels” by the CCOF. (Calvary Chapel Outreach Fellowship) They have the responsibility of affiliating churches. In order to do that the pastor must agree to the following.
- The pastor must embrace the characteristics of a Calvary Chapel (In the Calvary Chapel Distinctives)
- The church must have the characteristics or a church (as opposed to a home fellowship)
- An applicant must desire to spend time with other Calvary Chapels
Brian Broderson had a vision. After a missions trip to Russia, he had a vision to bring Calvary Chapel to the United Kingdom. He went to London and began the momentum that would lead to many others starting Calvary Chapels in the UK. Having spoken to Brian personally (at the 2009 Misisons conference) he still has a great heart for the mission field.
I came from one of those churches in Glasgow. (I plan to write an article regarding this church as a recommendation to go there) If you have a heart for missions work then I would recommend Glasgow as there is certainly a need there!
Calvary Chapel believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and teaches directly through the Bible as opposed to teaching topically. Calvary Chapel has the philosophy of “teaching the Word of God” rather than “preaching the Word of God”
Calvary Chapel practices baptism by full immersion, although Calvary Chapel does not see it as a necessary for salvation. It is viewed as at outward sign of an inward change in a person’s life. We do not baptize infants, but some Calvary’s offer a “baby dedication”
Calvary Chapel operates its Bible College from Murrieta, in Riverside County, California. It has over 70 extension schools in the USA and 20 campuses outside the USA. (Including York, England and Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe) This was founded in 1975 and they offer both an Associate in theology and a bachelor of Biblical studies. For more info please see the link provided on this website.
The Calvary Chapel movement today is in all parts of the world and is an active missionary sending church. Most missionaries are sponsored by a home church (or churches) as many missionary churches do not generate enough income to sustain the missionary as well as run the church also.
If you have any questions about Calvary Chapel then please feel free to either contact myself or any of the Calvary Chapel staff on any of the Calvary Chapel links.
God bless
