Chuck Smith (pastor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Ward "Chuck" Smith (born June 25, 1927) is the founder of Calvary Chapel and is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Smith was born in Ventura, California to Charles and Maude Smith. His wife, Kay, directs Costa Mesa's women's ministry, and his son Jeff works at The Word for Today and CSN International. Smith's other three children also work in the ministry.
[edit] Early career
He graduated from LIFE Bible College and was ordained as a pastor for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. After struggling as a pastor and being frustrated by church growth and recruitment techniques, he left his denomination and eventually moved to a church called Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana, California in December 1965. The church had begun with a small group of people in a mobile home park in 1962.[citation needed]
[edit] Calvary Chapel
In the late 60s and early 70s, Smith brought on staff pentecostal evangelist Lonnie Frisbee. He went out into community to reach the youth with the gospel during the early days of the Jesus Movement.
The church in Santa Ana grew, and as of 2006, 35,000 people attend. Over 1,000 churches have branched out from his church. Some of these churches are led by those who Smith discipled including Bob Coy, Greg Laurie, Jon Courson, Mike MacIntosh, Raul Ries, and Skip Heitzig.
Chuck Smith is the author and co-author of several books. Titles of his books include "Answers for Today," "Calvary Chapel Distinctives," "Calvinism, Arminianism & The Word of God," "Charisma vs. Charismania," "Comfort For Those Who Mourn," "Effective Prayer Life," "Harvest," "Living Water," "The Claims of Christ," "The Gospel According To Grace," "The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel," "Why Grace Changes Everything," and others.
