WHO WE ARE

Calvary Chapel Escondido is a venture in faith...

ABOUT US
Calvary Chapel Escondido began in May 2021 under the call and direction of the Holy Spirit. We are committed to simply teaching the Bible simply, going verse by verse through the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation (Acts 20:27), and uphold the principle that Jesus will build His Church (Matt 16:18). Through loving Christian fellowship, we seek to stimulate one another towards righteousness, acknowledging that our highest goal is the glory of God. We are so blessed to be on mission with Him making disciples, relying on Him to build His church here in Escondido and throughout the world (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

OUR AFFILIATION
Calvary Chapel Escondido is part of the Calvary Chapel Association (CCA) of over 1,800 churches worldwide, which grew out of the ‘Jesus movement’ in California in the late 1960s. Calvary Chapel is not a denomination, but a fellowship of independent churches who share a common doctrine and a distinct philosophy of ministry.

OUR HISTORY
Calvary Chapel Escondido is a new church plant that has been birthed out of the ministry that Pastor Rick Greene started in Encinitas back in 2009.  For over 12 years, Rick was the founder and Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Encinitas until the Lord led him to move the ministry back to his hometown Escondido in 2021 where we are now planting.

We had our first Bible study on May 13, 2021 at Pastor Rick's house having Thursday night Bible studies. During the next couple months, Rick met Pastor Andy and Tracie Dominguez from Calvary Chapel Valley Center, and the Lord really knit their hearts together. As they shared in fellowship together, Andy and Tracie began to share how that the Lord was calling them to move to Missouri, and through much prayer, it was apparent to them that the Lord was leading them to merge with us as we began our new church plant here in Escondido. So, on July 4, 2021, we had our first Sunday morning gathering as "Calvary Chapel Escondido" in Andy and Tracie's home, and it was the first Sunday CC Valley Center officially merged with us. Then, on September 5, 2021, we had our first service at the East Valley Community Center (EVCC), where we met for 2 years on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Our Sunday gatherings outgrew EVCC, so we moved our Sunday morning services to Orange Glen High School on September 3, 2023, where we currently meet, yet we still have our midweek study at EVCC. It is so exciting to see how the Lord is working and how the church is growing!

We believe that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Zech 4:6), and that Jesus will fulfill His promise of building His Church (Matt 16:18). We look forward to all the Lord will do in this community and throughout the world for His glory.

The History of Calvary Chapel

In 1965, Pastor Chuck Smith began his ministry in a small, non-denominational church called Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, with just twenty-five people. From the beginning, Pastor Chuck welcomed all, young and old, without judgment, placing his emphasis on the teaching of the Word of God. His simple, yet sound, expositional Biblical approach has helped millions better understand God’s Word.

With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck and Kay Smith made room in the church and their home for a generation of hippies and surfers, generating a movement of the Holy Spirit that spread from the West Coast to the East Coast, and now, throughout the world. What began as a small local church has now grown into an international ministry of over 1,800 churches throughout the world, all in the last 50 years. For more info, visit pastorchuck.org and calvarycca.org.