The History of Calvary Chapel Golden Valley, Canyon Country with Pastor Jim

Our History

Calvary Chapel as a church movement began in 1965, when Pastor Chuck Smith started his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. There were only 25 people at his church then, but he saw God bless his simple, yet consistent style of teaching straight through the Bible.

Today Calvary Chapel has grown to over 1,500 churches worldwide. Pastor Chuck has a genuine heart for the lost and made room in his ministry for a generation of hippies, surfers, and drug addicts. This generated a stirring of the Holy Spirit, which spread from the California coast to the Atlantic and beyond. This movement was instrumental in bringing thousands of young people to Jesus Christ during the 60s and 70s in what was known as the Jesus People Movement.

As God expanded his ministry, Pastor Chuck's visionary leadership saw the birth of other ministries such as The Word for Today, a publishing/radio broadcasting ministry which is heard worldwide. A noted speaker and the author of over 25 books, Pastor Chuck can be heard daily on television, radio, and webcasts throughout the world.