How it all started...
Calvary Chapel San Jose did not start out like most Calvary Chapels. Our unique beginning started in 1991 as a result of a struggling congregation desiring God to do a new work. At this time, the body of believers had been a well established church for around sixty years! In the 1970’s Calvary witnessed a tremendous moving of the Lord’s Spirit, as many churches did during the Jesus Movement, and the church grew in remarkable ways. During this time of blessing, the church grew and purchased new property and undertook various building projects. In the years to follow, as the church dwindled, they became encumbered by debt that was assumed during the eighties and endured many hardships as a result.
It was during this time that Chuck Smith, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, loaned Calvary Community Church money to pay their debts. With the payment of the debt Pastor Chuck Smith committed to send a Pastor to establish a Calvary Chapel in Northern California. In 1991, Pastor Don McClure moved his family from Redlands to San Jose to minister to the congregation and restore health and balance to the hurting flock.
Restoring health and balance to Calvary was a difficult challenge as the congregation was saddled with tremendous debt and had dwindled to few congregants. God was faithful and He used Pastor Don mightily during this time to lead Calvary Chapel San Jose to be a healthy flock of believers. During the years of faithfully teaching God’s word, Pastor Don McClure was instrumental in raising up Pastors and establishing Calvary Chapels in Northern California, which include Fremont, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, Gilroy and San Mateo.
After serving this body of believers loyally for 11 years, in 2003 Pastor Don was called on to minister to Calvary Chapels throughout the country, while his son, Mike McClure, became the Senior Pastor.
Pastor Michael McClure was twenty-seven when he began teaching the body of believers at Calvary! His love for Christ and commitment to His word has been evident in his teachings, which are centered upon the power of the cross in ones life and the dependency we must be upon the Holy Spirit!
In the years following, God has amazed us with all He has done: He furnished the way for the debt (held since that initial purchase in the 1940s) to be paid in full, orchestrated the birth of a new mission in Africa that Calvary has been able to help start and partner with, and He has shown Himself faithful in ways too numerous to count, including the opening of Calvary Christian Academy.
Now, as this body of believers enters its ninth decade, God continues to lead us in new directions and is pouring out a fresh vision, and we know He will continue to faithfully shepherd and minister to this flock as we continue to “love Jesus and make His love known”
It was during this time that Chuck Smith, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, loaned Calvary Community Church money to pay their debts. With the payment of the debt Pastor Chuck Smith committed to send a Pastor to establish a Calvary Chapel in Northern California. In 1991, Pastor Don McClure moved his family from Redlands to San Jose to minister to the congregation and restore health and balance to the hurting flock.
Restoring health and balance to Calvary was a difficult challenge as the congregation was saddled with tremendous debt and had dwindled to few congregants. God was faithful and He used Pastor Don mightily during this time to lead Calvary Chapel San Jose to be a healthy flock of believers. During the years of faithfully teaching God’s word, Pastor Don McClure was instrumental in raising up Pastors and establishing Calvary Chapels in Northern California, which include Fremont, Santa Cruz, Mountain View, Gilroy and San Mateo.
After serving this body of believers loyally for 11 years, in 2003 Pastor Don was called on to minister to Calvary Chapels throughout the country, while his son, Mike McClure, became the Senior Pastor.
Pastor Michael McClure was twenty-seven when he began teaching the body of believers at Calvary! His love for Christ and commitment to His word has been evident in his teachings, which are centered upon the power of the cross in ones life and the dependency we must be upon the Holy Spirit!
In the years following, God has amazed us with all He has done: He furnished the way for the debt (held since that initial purchase in the 1940s) to be paid in full, orchestrated the birth of a new mission in Africa that Calvary has been able to help start and partner with, and He has shown Himself faithful in ways too numerous to count, including the opening of Calvary Christian Academy.
Now, as this body of believers enters its ninth decade, God continues to lead us in new directions and is pouring out a fresh vision, and we know He will continue to faithfully shepherd and minister to this flock as we continue to “love Jesus and make His love known”