Chuck Smith (pastor)
Encyclopedia
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, (born June 25, 1927), is the senior pastor
of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
and the founder of the Calvary Chapel
movement. Beginning with the 25-person Costa Mesa congregation in 1965, Smith's influence now extends to thousands of congregations worldwide, some of which are among the largest churches in the United States
.
to Charles and Maude Smith.
Smith graduated from LIFE Bible College
and was ordained as a pastor for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
. In the late 1950s, Smith was the campaign manager and worship director for healing evangelist Paul Cain
. After being a pastor for a different denomination, he left his denomination to pastor a non-denominational church plant in Corona, California
, and eventually moved to a church called Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California
in December 1965. It was the only church on Church Street in Costa Mesa, and had been planted by Pastor Floyd Nelson as a ministry to shut-ins; it had begun with a small group of people in a mobile home park, populated mainly by senior citizens in 1962. From there, they moved to a Girl Scout building and eventually to Church Street, which is where the church was meeting when Chuck Smith was hired as the "pulpit pastor."
Lonnie Frisbee
with his wife Connie. Chuck Smith paired him up with John Higgins who already had a Bible study going for youth; they started a Christian commune called "The House of Miracles
." John and Lonnie went out into the community to reach its 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 have attended it. Over 1,000 churches have branched out from his church; some of these churches are led by those whom Smith discipled, including: Jon Courson, Don McClure, Joe Focht, Skip Heitzig
, Bil Gallatin, Greg Laurie
, Mike MacIntosh
, Raul Ries, Xavier Ries, Malcolm Wild and Bob Coy.
At its beginning, Calvary Chapel operated as a cross-cultural missions organization that bridged the "generation gap" as it existed during the Vietnam War period. Calvary Chapel was a hub of the "Jesus People" phenomenon that existed at that time and was featured in Time Magazine for its success among "hippies" and young people. Calvary Chapel pioneered a less formal and contemporary approach in its worship and public meetings; for example, it did outreaches on the beach, and baptisms in the Pacific Ocean. Much of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has it roots in Calvary Chapel worship music. Calvary Chapel's rolling commentary-style of preaching kept the Calvary Chapels close to the text of the Bible and was readily understandable by many hearers. Calvary Chapel developed its own internal training early for multiplication of church leaders and pastors; by pioneering a more informal and contemporary style in its church practices, Calvary Chapel reached large numbers in Costa Mesa, CA and expanded easily by adding many pastors and new congregations in many locations. The impact of Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel on evangelical Christianity is profound, widespread, and largely unheralded. Rather than being a teacher of systems and methods of growing large churches (elements of which frustrated him in his denominational experience), Chuck Smith teaches the Bible at pastors' conferences modeling in word and deed what he feels is the critical core of Calvary Chapels.
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; Love: The More Excellent Way; The Final Act; and others.
Smith supported his convictions again in his 1980 manuscript "Future Survival," postulating that from his "understanding of biblical prophecies... [I am] convinced that the Lord [will come] for His Church before the end of 1981." He identified that he "could be wrong" but continued in the same sentence that "it’s a deep conviction in my heart, and all my plans are predicated upon that belief."
Smith has also been criticized publicly with allegations that he has tolerated financial and sexual improprieties within the Calvary Chapel movement.
In 2006, Smith was instrumental in removing his son, Chuck Smith Jr., from ministry in the Calvary Chapel movement. The Los Angeles Times reported that Smith Jr. was dismissed when he raised questions about his father's theological beliefs and philosophy of ministry.
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa is a Christian church located near the boundary between the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana in Orange County. It is the original Calvary Chapel, having grown since 1965 from a handful of people led by Chuck Smith to become the "mother church" of over one thousand...
and the founder of the Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
movement. Beginning with the 25-person Costa Mesa congregation in 1965, Smith's influence now extends to thousands of congregations worldwide, some of which are among the largest churches in the United States
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
.
Early life and career
Smith was born in Ventura, CaliforniaVentura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
to Charles and Maude Smith.
Smith graduated from LIFE Bible College
Life Pacific College
Life Pacific College was founded in Echo Park, Los Angeles, California, in 1923 as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute by Aimee Semple McPherson. Its name was changed to LIFE Bible College, LIFE standing for "Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism", in 1926 when it...
and was ordained as a pastor for the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
. In the late 1950s, Smith was the campaign manager and worship director for healing evangelist Paul Cain
Paul Cain (minister)
Paul Cain is a Pentecostal Christian minister involved with both neo-charismatic churches and the Charismatic Movement. As a young man he was one of the Voice of Healing revivalists of the 50s. Cain currently resides in California and ministers monthly at a local church in Santa...
. After being a pastor for a different denomination, he left his denomination to pastor a non-denominational church plant in Corona, California
Corona, California
Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...
, and eventually moved to a church called Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
in December 1965. It was the only church on Church Street in Costa Mesa, and had been planted by Pastor Floyd Nelson as a ministry to shut-ins; it had begun with a small group of people in a mobile home park, populated mainly by senior citizens in 1962. From there, they moved to a Girl Scout building and eventually to Church Street, which is where the church was meeting when Chuck Smith was hired as the "pulpit pastor."
Calvary Chapel
In March 1968, Smith brought into his home the then-18-year-old pentecostal evangelistEvangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s...
with his wife Connie. Chuck Smith paired him up with John Higgins who already had a Bible study going for youth; they started a Christian commune called "The House of Miracles
House of Miracles
The House of Miracles was a series of Christian communal houses established during the early Jesus Movement under the auspices of Pastor Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA...
." John and Lonnie went out into the community to reach its youth with the gospel during the early days of the Jesus movement
Jesus movement
The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s. It was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture,...
.
The church in Santa Ana grew and, as of 2006, 35,000 people have attended it. Over 1,000 churches have branched out from his church; some of these churches are led by those whom Smith discipled, including: Jon Courson, Don McClure, Joe Focht, Skip Heitzig
Skip Heitzig
Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor of Calvary of Albuquerque, a Calvary Chapel fellowship located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.- Personal :...
, Bil Gallatin, Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie
Greg Laurie serves as the Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California.-Ministry:Laurie, who was born in Long Beach, California, became a Christian under the ministry of Pentecostal evangelist Lonnie Frisbee...
, Mike MacIntosh
Mike MacIntosh
Mike MacIntosh is the senior pastor of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, California, and is a Protestant leader in the United States....
, Raul Ries, Xavier Ries, Malcolm Wild and Bob Coy.
At its beginning, Calvary Chapel operated as a cross-cultural missions organization that bridged the "generation gap" as it existed during the Vietnam War period. Calvary Chapel was a hub of the "Jesus People" phenomenon that existed at that time and was featured in Time Magazine for its success among "hippies" and young people. Calvary Chapel pioneered a less formal and contemporary approach in its worship and public meetings; for example, it did outreaches on the beach, and baptisms in the Pacific Ocean. Much of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has it roots in Calvary Chapel worship music. Calvary Chapel's rolling commentary-style of preaching kept the Calvary Chapels close to the text of the Bible and was readily understandable by many hearers. Calvary Chapel developed its own internal training early for multiplication of church leaders and pastors; by pioneering a more informal and contemporary style in its church practices, Calvary Chapel reached large numbers in Costa Mesa, CA and expanded easily by adding many pastors and new congregations in many locations. The impact of Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel on evangelical Christianity is profound, widespread, and largely unheralded. Rather than being a teacher of systems and methods of growing large churches (elements of which frustrated him in his denominational experience), Chuck Smith teaches the Bible at pastors' conferences modeling in word and deed what he feels is the critical core of Calvary Chapels.
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; Love: The More Excellent Way; The Final Act; and others.
Eschatology
In 1978, Chuck Smith wrote to his followers that he believed that "man has come to the end of his time." Smith postulated, "If I understand scripture correctly... I believe that the generation of 1948 is the last generation.... I believe the Lord could come back for His Church any time before the Tribulation starts, which would mean any time before 1981."Smith supported his convictions again in his 1980 manuscript "Future Survival," postulating that from his "understanding of biblical prophecies... [I am] convinced that the Lord [will come] for His Church before the end of 1981." He identified that he "could be wrong" but continued in the same sentence that "it’s a deep conviction in my heart, and all my plans are predicated upon that belief."
Controversy
Smith attracted criticism for drawing connections between disasters such as the September 11 attacks and divine wrath against homosexuality and abortion.Smith has also been criticized publicly with allegations that he has tolerated financial and sexual improprieties within the Calvary Chapel movement.
In 2006, Smith was instrumental in removing his son, Chuck Smith Jr., from ministry in the Calvary Chapel movement. The Los Angeles Times reported that Smith Jr. was dismissed when he raised questions about his father's theological beliefs and philosophy of ministry.