Spring Blessings – April 2004
Looking back, it’s hard for me to believe that three-and-a-half years have passed since we moved into – and began holding services in – what many of us still refer to as, “our new church home.” Our seventeen years in the wilderness of storefronts, high schools, veteran’s halls, community parks, and sharing other church’s facilities finally came to an end with our purchase of Movies Ten Theater Complex in September of 2000.
In these past few years, we’ve seen our adult congregation triple as hundreds have come to the Lord. Many new to our community, as well as those searching for a church home and family, have become a part of Calvary Chapel Chico. Our children’s ministries have more than quadrupled in the same period of time. Last year we registered 800 children (babies thru sixth grade). Two hundred children made first time commitments to Christ since last June. Our Junior High and High School ministries have seen explosive growth and our Sunday evening young adult outreach and fellowship Worship Generation has grown steadily. Men’s and women’s ministries are flourishing and our home fellowships, Bible College, media ministries, bookstore, café, mercy ministries, and missionary outreaches continue to expand. We baptized seventy people at our March 2004 baptism.
As an evangelist my heart is overjoyed at seeing so many giving their lives to Jesus, and as a pastor-teacher I find tremendous satisfaction in seeing so many people growing deeper in their understanding of (and relationship to) our wonderful Lord and Savior. What a blessing it is to serve God and His people! And how wonderful it is to see so many joining those of us who like our Lord can now say “I come not to be served but to serve.” Our Lord’s faithfulness thus far suggests even greater opportunities ahead.
As I write this update, our permits for phase one of our remodel have been filed with the city, and materials are on order so that upon approval we can get right to work. Our Junior High ministry will be temporally displaced as we transform theater one into three large rooms by adding a second story. Upon completion, the Junior High group will have 2400 sq. feet of their own space upstairs.
Our preschoolers will move into the downstairs classrooms complete with everything needed to provide a safe, secure and inviting learning environment.
Our long-term plans include transforming five more theaters in the same manner – giving us an additional eight to ten thousand sq. feet of much-needed ministry space. Once we make room and necessary improvements for our younger populations, we will turn our attention to adding a larger sanctuary.
For those newer to Calvary and unaware of our history, I want you to know that we have believed, taught and lived by the precept “Where God guides – God provides.” As a result, no pledges or special offerings will be taken, no thermometer posted, and no pressure to give or to participate in the building process will ever be exerted. We will update you on our progress seasonally and welcome any and all contributions financially, materially and physically. If God moves you to give or to labor with us during any phase of our remodel, we look forward to working alongside you and preparing for our future together. We will continue to dedicate our worship services to worshiping our Lord, studying His word and proclaiming the gospel.
Until we see Him in glory… Your friend in JESUS…
Pastor Sam