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We would love to welcome you to consider joining our staff in any area of our organization as we pursue Jesus renewal together.
How We Got Here
Our church was established in 1961, growing from a trailer park prayer meeting, moving across Costa Mesa and into Santa Ana. We have seen the Lord work in tremendous ways heard round the world and in quiet whispers of unbelievable beauty. We continually invest in the unchanging plan to be a community of people formed by Jesus, joining God on his mission.
A History of God’s Faithfulness
In 1961, the ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa began with just twenty-five people in a trailer park.
1960s
“The Beginning
Calvary Chapel begins by gathering in a recreation room of a trailer park located on Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa, California. Reverend Floyd Nelson is invited to start an informal non-denominational fellowship. After three weeks, the 25-member congregation moves to the Girls Club on Plummer Street in Costa Mesa.”
“The articles of incorporation of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa are filed.”
“Calvary Chapel purchases the old Church of Christ building on Church Street in Costa Mesa.”
“Reverend Nelson invites Chuck Smith to speak at Calvary Chapel.”
“The church votes for Chuck Smith to become the assistant/teaching pastor of Calvary Chapel.”
“Chuck Smith gives his first official Sunday sermon, with 50 people in attendance. Beginning in Genesis, the congregation reads 10 chapters each week. Sunday morning sermons are topical messages from those chapters. The Sunday evening study is a verse-by-verse study of those same chapters.”
“Pastor Chuck Smith becomes the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel.”
The Jesus People Movement
What a shock it was to the conservative, middle-class congregation when the hippies arrived! Parents were deeply concerned about the hippie influence on their children and the criticism of their neighbors and other churches in the area.
But the hippies’ passion for Jesus and their love for their neighbors broke through. The church kept growing out of its buildings until the property on Sunflower and Fairview in Santa Ana was purchased and a circus tent erected that expanded to fit the 2,000+ people in attendance.
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During the “Summer of Love,” Chuck and Kay Smith reach out to the hippies. The ministry rapidly grows, and Chuck finds himself carrying out mass baptisms—sometimes 500 at a time—in the Pacific Ocean at Pirates Cove in Corona del Mar.”
“At first, congregants are concerned the hippies will negatively influence their children. In addition, they fear neighbors will criticize Calvary Chapel for allowing hippies to attend the church and the home Bible studies.”
“An Unexpected Co-Laborer
Chuck Smith invites Lonnie Frisbee to be a part of the House of Miracles commune. Lonnie becomes a popular speaker at Calvary Chapel, with hundreds of young people crowding his weekly studies at the church.”
1970s
“A New Location
Calvary Chapel purchases the Greenville School at the corner of Greenville and Sunflower in Santa Ana for $55,050. The congregation, plus the hippies, recycle old materials to build the new sanctuary.”
“The Calvary Chapel cassette tape ministry begins. Chuck Smith’s teachings are recorded, duplicated, and sold.”
“The Property on Sunflower and Fairview
Calvary Chapel purchases the property on the corner of Sunflower and Fairview. The whole loan is paid off when the corner lot is sold to the Shell Oil Company.”
“The Tent Revivals
Calvary Chapel moves into a circus tent that Chuck Smith found. The congregation grows from 800 to over 2,000.”
“First trip to Israel with 46 people from Calvary Chapel.”
“Women’s Ministry
Kay Smith and friends begin the women’s ministry at Calvary Chapel, calling it Joyful Life.”
“Maranatha Christian Academy opens to four hundred elementary students.”
“The First Bible College
The Calvary Chapel Bible College meets on the grounds for 20 years until the college relocates to Murrieta Hot Springs in 1996.
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The Holy Spirit and Global Ministry
Through the 80’s and the 90’s Calvary Chapel saw a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit as the work of the ministry exploded from Orange County and began reaching around the world.
1980s
“The purchase of KWVE Radio. The teaching of Scripture has been heard across Orange County on KWVE 107.9 FM since 1985.”
“The Tuesday School of the Bible expands”
1990s
“In the winter of 1994, the Tuesday School of the Bible hosted 33 courses for Spiritual Formation.
See the Courses”
“Murrieta Bible College and Conference Center is purchased.”
“Calvary Chapel begins the eighth time going through the Bible verse by verse
with Chuck Smith.”
Discipleship and the Pursuit of Jesus
Discipleship took many forms at Calvary Chapel in the 2000’s. Evangelistic gatherings are happening weekly, new music is coming out, and much more!
2000s
2010s
“Chuck Smith speaks at all three Sunday morning services for his last time.”
“Chuck Smith enters eternity at the age of 86.”
A Jesus Formed Community on Mission
Information to come!
Present
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The Wednesday Night Bible Study returned to the structure of courses, launching “The Gathering” with 7 courses.”
“ KWVE aqcuires AM 1110”