Service Times: 
Satement of Faith:
Fellowship with Jesus
Calvary Chapel has been formed as a fellowship of believers under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our supreme desire is to know Christ and to be conformed into His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Non-Denominational
We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their overemphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.
We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ's love (Agape) , which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians.
Worship of God
We believe worship of God should be spiritual. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.
We believe worship of God should be inspirational. Therefore, we give great place to music in our worship.
We believe worship of God should be intelligent. Therefore, our services are designed with great emphasis upon the teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.
We believe worship of God should be fruitful. Therefore, we look for His love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have been truly worshipping Him.
Distinctives
Calvary Chapel began in the late 1960's as a small non-denominational church of 25 members pastored by Chuck Smith. Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa is home to some 30,000 believers, The Word for Today publishes Bible study books and tapes all over the world, KWVE broadcasts God's Word to all of Southern California, and Calvary Chapel's Bible College provides Bible education to thousands at its home campus in Twin Peaks, California and at over 20 extension campuses world wide.
Here in the New York / New Jersey metropolitan area, The Bridge FM is a ministry of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, New Nersey which plays teachings and music twenty-four hours a day. Visit their website to find your local station or listen online!
Because of its size and influence, many Christians have asked exactly what Calvary Chapel believes, what are its distinctiveness, what sets it apart from other Christian groups. At Calvary Chapel, we have always been hesitant to try and answer those questions, not because we are unsure of our beliefs, but because we are cautious to avoid division within the Body of Christ. After all, what really matters is what we have in common as Christians: the "essential" doctrines of the infallibility of God's Word, the virgin birth of Christ, His sinless life, death for our sins, bodily resurrection. Ascension to glory, and personal return to rule the earth. These are the essence of Christianity, and agreed upon by virtually all born again believers.
When we move away from the essential doctrines to those that are less essential we risk setting barriers up in the church, something we at Calvary Chapel have no desire to do. Still, Calvary Chapel is distinct from denominational churches and other Protestant groups and people want to know what those distinctions are.
It is not our purpose to cause division or discord in the Body of Christ, conversely, we long for unity among God's people of all persuasions, and we allow for a great deal of flexibility even within our own ranks. Calvary Chapel pastors are not clones who all believe exactly the same thing. Still, there are distinctives that make Calvary Chapel unique and which define our mission.
The Balance
In a broad general sense, Calvary Chapel is the middle ground between fundamentalism and Pentecostalism in modern Protestant theology. In fact, we believe that this is at least part of the reason why God has raised up this ministry.
Fundamentalism is that portion of Protestantism, which holds to the literal interpretation of the Scriptures, believing that they are divinely inspired and inerrant. Hence, the "fundamentals" of the faith are emphasized. Although the modern news media and the liberal church scorn fundamentalists as backwards and stupid, the truth is that fundamentalism has preserved the integrity of God's Word and held on to the essential doctrines of the orthodox faith. Pentecostalism as a modern movement grew out of the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles at the turn of the 20th century, and spawned denominations that emphasize the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the exercise of spiritual and Scriptural gifts of the Spirit, which had fallen dormant in the main line churches. Also criticized by the liberal church and news media as being emotionally driven, Pentecostalism restored to the church the importance of gifts of the Spirit and the power of God for the believer today.
Over the years, however, fundamentalism, while it clung to the integrity of God's Word, tended to become rigid, legalistic, and unaccepting of spiritual gifts. Similarly, Pentecostalism became enthusiastic and emotional at the expense of the teaching of God's Word.
Calvary Chapel is the balance between the two. At Calvary Chapel we believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible, and we encourage their exercise, but always decently and in order, and with the primary emphasis on the Word of God, which we look to as our primary rule of faith.
To quote Pastor Chuck Smith:
We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Scriptures, and that they are valid for today if they are exercised within the Scriptural guidelines. We as believers are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love that the whole Body of Christ might be edified. We believe that love is more important than the most spectacular gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.
Because of this balance, Calvary Chapel services are designed to be centered around the verse by verse teaching of God's Word, and special "after glow" services are provided where the gifts of the Holy Spirit can operate freely under the leadership of mature Christians. Many Pentecostals think Calvary Chapel is not emotional enough, and many fundamentalists think Calvary Chapel is too emotional. That balance is indication, in my opinion, that we are right where God wants us to be.
Church Government
Calvary Chapel also differs from most mainline churches in its style of church government. Most denominational churches maintain either a congregational form of church government, a Presbyterian form, or an Episcopal form of running their churches. These three terms should not be confused with the denominations that bear the same names because other churches of different names share the same styles of government.
The congregational form of church government is an American invention and appeals to our American sense of democracy. Basically, the congregation as a whole makes all decisions in these churches by voting on matters of importance and appointing committees from its ranks to run the daily operation of the church. Most Congregational, Baptist, Pentecostal, Brethren, and non-denominational churches are organized in this fashion. The congregation votes on hiring a pastor, votes on how to spend the money, and on anything else of importance. Although democratic people like the idea, congregational forms of church government often wind up at best causing the pastor to be directed by the sheep he is supposed to lead, and at worst reducing the pastor to a hireling.
The Episcopal form of church government, used by Episcopalian, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, and Methodist churches (to name a few) is controlled by a church hierarchy, which may have differing names. Basically, there is a bishop, or someone of similar stature if called by a different name, who oversees the churches, appoints pastors to pulpits, sets policy, and guides the vision of the local congregations. Unfortunately, this style of government, which grew out of European monarchies, leaves little freedom for the local pastor or congregation to follow the leading of the Spirit.
The Presbyterian form of church government, which is typical in Presbyterian and Reformed churches, puts the decisions of church polity in the hands of a select group of elders (the "presbytery") who are appointed in various different ways, depending on the church. These elders are over the pastor, who in turn is over the congregation. The problem here too is that this system puts the God-appointed leader, the pastor, under some of those he is supposed to lead.
Calvary Chapels are organized differently. Church government at Calvary Chapel is very simple, not a complex bureaucracy, committees and sub-committees are essentially non-existent. Basically, at Calvary Chapel we believe that the pastor is responsible for the church, responsible to hear from God, and responsible to feed and love His people faithfully. Elders are appointed in the larger churches to help the pastor care for the spiritual needs of the congregation, as are deacons to help the pastor care for the material needs of the church.
In addition, our churches have church boards as required by most states which vary in size depending on the size of the church, and which usually are made up of mature Christian businessmen who can advise the pastor with respect to the business operations and decisions of the church such as property management and investments. At Calvary Chapel, church organization is de-emphasized, and only the organization that is needed to run the church is instituted. The pastor guides the church as he is lead by the Holy Spirit, and we trust God to put pastors where He wants them to be.
Church Doctrine:
Fundamental
At Calvary Chapel we believe in all the fundamental doctrines of the evangelical Protestant church. For example, we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God.
Trinity
We believe that God is eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God the father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign creator of all things.
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.
The Holy Spirit
After He ascended to Heaven, Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today.
Sin
We believe that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness of sin are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord.
Spiritual Gifts
As we previously mentioned, we believe in the proper Scriptural exercise of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, the greatest gift of all being God's love.
Rapture
At Calvary Chapel, we await the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Calvary Chapel is strongly committed to a belief that the church will be raptured before the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation chapters 6 through 18. We recognize that other believers hold a different view, but this is the way we see the Scripture's teaching on this subject.
Second-Coming of Christ
We believe that the second coming of Jesus Christ with His saints to rule on the earth will be personal, pre-millennial, and visible. This motivates us to heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God's Word, regular fellowship with other Christians, and participation in both adult baptism by immersion and in Holy Communion.
Calvary Chapel rejects the teaching of "amillenialism" which spiritualizes Scripture and denies the literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth as described in Revelation Chapter 20.
CCOC Beginnings
From Pastor Owen,
As I begin to write down how God has begun this new work in New York, I am reminded of a verse,
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 1:6
As I look back on the events that led up to the Ridgeley family leaving sunny south Florida and heading to New York to teach the word of God to a few men, I am humbled and amazed at the things God has provided and accomplished so far.
It all began in March of 2001. I was in New York to do a eulogy for my grandfather's funeral. Just four months earlier I had performed a funeral for my best friend, Gary Cook, and two months after that I was in Washington state to perform my father-in-law's funeral. It was the day after my grandfather’s funeral that I visited his grave and was taken back when I looked down at his headstone and saw my name. I was named after my father and grandfather and a very surreal feeling set in me as I saw my name on that headstone. As I started to pray and walk, I ended up in a familiar park — Smith Clove park in Monroe NY. It was there I was crying out to the Lord for direction in my life. Everything was going great back in Florida; I was the youth pastor at a great and growing church — Calvary Chapel FT. Lauderdale. We had just bought a house and my two little ones loved church and the beach. My beautiful wife was doing a great job as a mother and was helpful to me in the ministry. There was no reason for me to think about leaving the great life I had in Florida, but as I was praying I remember saying to the Lord,
If you want me to do something else in my life, please show me a sign.
I am not usually one to pray for signs but I was so determined to be obedient to whatever God would ask of me. At that moment my phone rang and it was my friend in California — Wally Kurcz, a youth pastor at Horizon Christian Fellowship. It was 6am his time and 9am New York time. That is a miracle in itself that a youth pastor would be up that early, but Wally said he was concerned for me and the Lord impressed it on his heart to call me. He then asked me, “What is going on?” I told him I would get back to him but just pray for me.
That phone call began a long series of prayers that would last four months. During those four months I was serving at Calvary Ft. Lauderdale and the ministry was thriving. I did not share with anyone what was going on in my heart because I was not sure what was going on. I had an idea that maybe the Lord was calling me back to my hometown to start a Calvary Chapel. My problem was, God needed to share that with my wife without my help. Then it happened, 9/11.
I remember it like it was yesterday. One of the youth called my house (John Mayor) and was crying and saying, “Did you see it on TV?” As I turned on the TV, I saw the horrific site of the Twin Towers on fire. My heart broke and I started to cry.
I knew that the Lord wanted me there but I did not know how He would get me there.
Two days later Mike Martelli, a good friend of mine and a former volunteer in the youth ministry called me. Mike had left Florida to go back to Queens and help his parents in July of 2001. Mike informed me that he was working at the morgue in NYC and that I needed to come up as soon as possible. Mike shared with me that God had placed me on his heart and I needed to be there. One week later Senior Pastor of Calvary Ft. Lauderdale Bob Coy had a special pastors meeting to discuss how our church could be involved in helping the people of NYC. At this meeting we were told someone had to go to NYC and see how we could be involved. Then Pastor Bob turned to me and said, “You’re the man.” I could not believe how God was opening the doors for me to go to NY. The next week I was on a flight heading to NYC. As I stepped off the plane, Pastor Ed Seponosky greeted me and hurried me into a police cruiser. We then sped off to Ground Zero.
I cannot put into words what I experienced as we drove into the city. It was like a war zone, police and military police where everywhere. Roads were blocked off and there seemed to be no civilians anywhere. The police car pulled right next to the “pit” and let me out. The smell of death and destruction was everywhere. The silence in the air was deafening. The pain of those who were there was tangible. As I stood in the middle of the street I remember saying
OK God, now what?
Just then a hand touched my shoulder — it was Mike Martelli. We embraced and then headed for the gate that would lead us into the “pit”. As we waited some important officials gathered around and pastors from all over the country filed in line. I noticed Benjamin Netanyahu and his guards standing a few feet away from me. As we were led in to the “pit,” Mr. Netanyahu and I walked shoulder to shoulder. I kept asking God “Why me?” When we were all in side, the full effect of the destruction hit us like a tidal wave. We all broke down in tears and I just kept saying to the Lord “Here I am Lord, send me.” I did not fully understand all that I was praying at that moment, but God had my full attention.
Moments later all the pastors met with a man named Carlos Aviles who was given the job to offer spiritual counseling to the emergency workers as they came out of the “pit.” Carlos was an NYPD detective and president of Police Officers for Christ. He shared with us his vision to turn a Catholic prayer chapel into a house of ministry and meals for the men and women working at Ground Zero. He shared that his need was for people to work around the clock in this facility. I approached him and asked about how many people he needed, he said as many as I could get. After that meeting Mike Martelli and I headed back to the pit and then to meet some friends of his that were working with the CIA. Before that, we made a trip to the morgue where there were eight tractor-trailers that were filled with pieces of loved ones found at the site.
This was a makeshift morgue and a place of extreme solitude.
Just standing there in between those trailers was overwhelming for me. All I could do was cry.
There are so many other stories I could share about that experience, but I would like to move on to how God made it clear that we were to leave Florida and come to NY to start a Calvary Chapel. Mike drove me upstate to my parents' house the next night and I began to pray and plan how Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale could be involved in the relief outreach. I flew back to Florida on a Sunday and met with Pastor Bob the following Friday. As I shared the events of the trip and told him about the relief center being run by Police Officers for Christ, Pastor Bob asked me to lead the first trip up to NYC. The following week I was back in NYC with 50 volunteers who slept on the floor of a church in Manhattan and worked eight-hour shifts around the clock at the Relief Center. The stories are endless from that experience, but it was during that first trip that God confirmed in my heart that I was to leave Florida and move to NY.
One night Carlos and I were talking about the people I brought, how great they were and how they served so wholeheartedly. He then expressed to me that he needed to head upstate to his home to pick up some materials that were sent there for the relief center. He needed a person to drive the van in the middle of the night and someone who might know the area. I asked him where was he going and his response was
Orange County.
My mouthed dropped open and I said, “I am from Monroe.” That was the beginning of our conversation on how Orange County was in need of a Calvary Chapel style ministry. I made several trips to NY from November through February that year. Lynnette and I spent Christmas in NY with my family and that is when we met Carlos’ family and the Pinero family. They asked us how serious we were about coming to NY to start a church and I said “very” but Lynnette said, “It’s cold.”
As we made our way back to Florida, I prayed that God would make it real clear to Lynnette that He was calling us to NY. One day in March I was playing golf with a friend and Lynnette called me and said, “Did you tell anybody about selling our house and moving to NY?” At this point only Pastor Bob and his assistant pastors knew, we had not told the congregation or the youth ministry yet, so I said “No, why?” Lynnette then informed me that a woman was outside praying and said to her,
Whatever you want for the house I am willing to pay.
So, with no signs or real estate agents, we sold our house in April and packed all our stuff into moving vans and headed for NY.
Upon arriving to NY we needed a place to live, so we spent the first four months living with my parents in Monroe. We also needed a place to have church. Carlos told me that his barber had given him the keys to his shop and we could hold the service in the waiting room. That lasted about a month before my wife informed me to find another place or she wasn’t coming back until we did. God has blessed my wife with incredible insight and the ability to cut through all the nonsense and speak directly to my heart. We prayed and two weeks later we were in our own place above a dental office. Our first service was Fathers Day, June 15, 2002. God has blessed us with a great group of people and we have enjoyed some awesome times of worship, teaching from the word and outreaches. Our first Christmas Eve Celebration was in December 2002 and over 150 people came to it. Since then God has provided a worship team, children’s and youth volunteers and some wonderful families and singles to our ever-growing church. We eventually moved Sunday service to the Goshen School District. We were been able to use this school for four to five years and it has been a blessing to see the physical and spiritual growth of our church. In the spring and summer of 2008 we were given the opportunity to build-out 10,000 square feet in the Eastgate Complex in Goshen. Our first service was held in the new sanctuary on September 14, 2008.
We would love to have you come and visit us and maybe you can be a part of this growing family of believers, right here in Orange County NY.