What We Are About
Our church is a group of believers that desire to know Jesus better, live by the power of the Holy Spirit and to make God known to others. The focus is intentionally simple (Simply Jesus). We seek to impact people with the outrageous, life-changing grace of Jesus one life at a time.
Pastor Jeff Christianson
Our Pastor was called to Glenwood Springs in 2010. His motto is “Simply Jesus” and is known for his engaging verse-by-verse studies through the Bible.
Our Guiding Scripture
Col. 1:28
“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
We exist to Know Jesus, Live in Christ Jesus, and Make Him Known to a lost and dying world. That goal requires maturity!
Spiritual maturity is one of the heavenly blessings that is ours “in Christ Jesus.” Our heavenly Father desires that all of His children develop in this blessing of maturity: “that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus.” As God’s people are being built up, the goal is that “we all come…to a perfect [mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children…but… may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15). Jesus is our standard of spiritual maturity. The Lord wants us to be maturing into the likeness of the character of Christ.
For God’s people to mature in Christ requires the proclamation of Christ. “Him we preach… that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is the message that matures the people of God. “Him we preach.” We need to know who the Lord is, what He has done, and what He wants to do in our lives, that we might trust in Him as our source for growth: “from whom all the body… grows with the increase that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).
What is the History of the Calvary Chapel Movement?
The Calvary Chapel family of churches had it’s beginning during the Jesus People Movement in Southern California. In 1965, Pastor Chuck Smith began his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa 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 and expositional biblical approach have 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 1600 fellowships throughout the world, all in the last 40 years.
To read Pastor Chuck’s personal telling of the history of Calvary Chapel click here.
How Did Calvary Glenwood Begin?
In 2010, a group of Bible College students launched out to share Christ in the Roaring Fork Valley. As a result, Calvary Glenwood was birthed. A new church can be likened to giving birth to a baby. First, there is prayer about becoming pregnant – the vision for a church. Second, there is getting pregnant – the commitment. Third, there is the birth – the church is launched. Fourth, there is the nurturing of the newborn – the growth. Fifth, there is the toddler stage – when a lot of attention to foundations are given. And so on. You get the point.
We are in the stage of building a healthy, unified church family. Unity is unique because it relies on the Holy Spirit. While uniformity is built upon the preference of the individual, unity is built on the foundation of Christ. The same Lord that dwells in my soul is the same Lord that dwells in your soul, and the Spirit of God will literally agree with itself inside two believers when we put aside personal preferences and insignificant differences. God is doing this in and among our church family in 2018 and beyond!
How is Calvary Glenwood Supported?
Calvary Glenwood is supported through contributions from local members of our church family. We are a small fellowship with generous people who make this ministry possible. If you consider Calvary your home church, we count on God (through you) to support this work financially. We thank the Lord for His faithful provision, as it has enabled us to become established in this mountain region to share God’s truth and make disciples.
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
How can we Pray of Calvary Glenwood?
There are many ways and opportunities that the body of Christ can pray for Calvary Glenwood:
1) The Lord’s enabling grace in the overall day to day ministry opportunities , deadlines and responsibilities.
2) God’s all-sufficient grace to rest upon the Calvary Glenwood church family and ministry staff.
3) God’s guidance and wisdom in the formatting of Pastor Jeff’s teachings into multimedia for ministry school, radio and web.
4) The Spirit of God to work mightily through His Word, as He continues to bless and equip the saints through Pastor Jeff’s teachings at church, through our website, and the radio station.
5) For the Lord to greatly bless those who regularly pray and support the work of the ministry here at Calvary Glenwood.