About

At Calvary Chapel, we
win people to Jesus, train people in Jesus, and send people for Jesus.

Distinctives

Calvary Chapel has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not a denominational church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only to their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have historically led to division in the Body of Christ

We believe the only true basis of Christian fellowship is Christ’s (agape) love, which is greater than any differences we possess, and without which we have no right to call ourselves Christians.

WORSHIP

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 worshiped. We seek to teach the Word of God in such a way that its message can be applied to an individual’s life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ.

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.

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS

We believe in all the fundamental doctrines of orthodox evangelical Christianity.

We believe in the inerrancy of scripture, that the Bible, old and new testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God. The Bible is relevant for today and contains all the answers to the questions and problems we face in our lives.

We believe that God is eternally existent in three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign Creator of all things.

We believe that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his or her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord 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 atonement for 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. 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.

We believe all gifts mentioned in scripture are valid for today if exercised within scriptural guidelines. We as believers are to covet the best gifts, seeking to exercise them in love, so that the whole body of Christ might be edified. We believe that love is more important than all the gifts, and without this love all exercise of spiritual gifts is worthless.

We believe Jesus Christ is the head of the Body, His church, and that church government should be simplistic rather than complex and bureaucratic. We desire to be under the authority of the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit in all the ministry of the church.

We await the pre-tribulation rapture of the church, and we believe that at His Second Coming Christ will visibly establish His throne on earth to personally rule with His saints for 1000 years. This motivates us to holy living, heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God’s Word, regular fellowship, and participation in baptism by immersion and in Holy Communion.

We believe in an actual devil, called Satan, as well as fallen angels who are destined to spend eternity in hell. We believe they now seek to deceive people and defeat the work of God. However, they can be resisted by believers, as they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, protected by God, and interceded for by the Lord Jesus.

We believe that the nation of Israel has a special place in God’s plan and that all of God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled both now and at the second coming of Jesus Christ and His Millennial Kingdom. (Genesis 12:3, Psalms 122:1)

We believe the human race was created as male and female by a direct act of God to fully reveal His image. (Genesis 1:26-28)

We believe marriage is a sacred, covenantal union designed by God, between one man and one woman as God biologically created them male and female from conception. It is this covenant that limits sexual relations to monogamous, heterosexual marriage. (Genesis 2:24)

We believe that the solemnizing of a same sex marriage is contrary to the Word of God and is a sin before God.

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. For this reason, all human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death.

REJECTED BELIEFS

DEMON POSSESSION
We do not believe that a true Christian can be possessed by any demonic force. Although Satan is a powerful foe, Our God and Savior, Jesus Christ – Who indwells His believers by His Holy Spirit – is all powerful, and as such does not allow any other spirit to inhabit a Christian’s body and life. While truly born-again Christians cannot be possessed, they can be influenced or oppressed and need to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7).

5-POINT CALVINISM
Despite its growing popularity, we believe that 5-point Calvinism is a fatalistic theology that leaves no room for free will, as God created humanity in His Image, with a measure of our own personal sovereignty. Specifically, the idea that Jesus’ atonement was limited and valuable only for believers is refuted by the Word of God (1 John 2:2, among others). Rather, we believe and preach that Jesus Christ died for the sins of all humanity. We reject the assertion that God’s wooing grace cannot be resisted, and we find especially contrary to the character of our loving Savior that He has elected some people to go to hell. Instead, the Bible teaches that the Spirit of God is calling all to come to Christ, and that any who go to hell will do so as a result –not of their sins – but because they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ – the One Who paid the penalty for their sins.

POSITIVE CONFESSION
We reject the contemporary belief packaged under many labels – “positive confession” or the “word of faith” movement teaching that God can be commanded to heal or to work miracles according to man’s will, or by the power of that person’s faith. No person can command God to do anything.

HUMAN PROPHECY THAT SUPERSEDES SCRIPTURE
While there are many modern teachings included in this category, we especially reject what is labeled the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). This movement especially elevates human “prophecy” over Scripture itself and over-emphasizes spiritual gifts and experiential signs & wonders to the exclusion of Biblical teaching.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

In our services, we focus on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and the teaching of God’s Word. Our expository teaching is both verse-by-verse and topical. We seek to teach in such a way that the Bible’s message can be applied to an individual’s life, leading that person to greater maturity in Christ.

Values

We worship passionately.

We worship God because He has rescued us from the power of sin and death, and from an eternity of torment in outer darkness. We worship Him because there is no person or created thing deserving of praise, honor or glory except the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that our lives should be measured against that standard and, as a result, should be an act of worship. For these reasons and a thousand more, in song, in the teaching of the Word of God, in our prayer and giving and serving, it is our belief that all of our worship should be spiritual, intelligent and fruitful. This conviction drives us to win more people to Christ so that they too may worship Him.
Romans 12:1,2 Philippians 2:9-11 Revelation 5:9-14; 7:9-12

We walk by faith.

Knowing that with God all things are possible, we set goals that the Lord Himself has given us to pursue. Trusting His love for the Body of Christ here at Calvary and around the world, we depend on His leading, seeking to please Him alone. As leaders we seek unanimity in our decision making, believing that this is a primary indicator that our direction is pleasing to the Lord as well as to us.
Matthew 19:26 Acts 15:28 2 Corinthians 5:7
Hebrews 11:6

We are all on God’s mission.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has clearly called each person in the Church to participate in winning, training and sending others. No matter your background, your personality, position or profession, we’ve all been called by the same Lord, for the same purpose – to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all the world.
Matthew 28:19-20 Acts 1:8 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

We are dedicated to doctrine.

We are committed to help everyone understand the Bible and apply it to their lives by teaching the full counsel of God’s Word and facilitating individual, biblical discipleship. We believe the Bible is alive and powerful and is the only source of truth from the Living God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Hebrews 4:12,13

We love the past, embrace the future.

While Christ’s Great Commission to His Church has never changed, we remain flexible to His leading in our methods to accomplish that mission. We celebrate the great things that God has done throughout church history to prepare us for the work He has for us to do until He calls us home.
Deuteronomy 11:7-9 Revelation 21:1-6

OUR HISTORY

History

Driven by a desire to know and worship God in a deeper way, Calvary Chapel Central Bucks began in 1999, when Pastor John and his wife, Renee started a small Bible study with 30 people in a barn near Doylestown. The church’s emphasis has always been to worship the Lord Jesus Christ in Spirit and truth, and to teach God’s Word in a fresh, practical and expository manner.

Now ministering to the needs of a growing congregation in the midst of a diverse community of people from every walk of life in the Philadelphia suburb of Central Bucks County, we thank the Lord for faithfully providing us an opportunity to minister to His people! Today Calvary reaches thousands of adults weekly, both in-person and online, through a wide range of outreaches and ministries.

At Calvary Central Bucks, we believe “church” is far more about the people than the building. Ours is a vibrant fellowship of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ that gathers to worship Him, study His Word, serve His people and share His Gospel. In every ministry, class, service and outreach our goal is to glorify God and see Him at work in our midst.

We believe that every life is precious to God. We invite you to learn more about us and as you do, we trust you will learn much more about the One we serve, Jesus.

The Birth Of CCCB

History Of the Calvary Chapel Movement

In 1965, Pastor Chuck Smith (also known as the leader in the Jesus Movement) began his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa with just 25 people. From the beginning, Pastor Chuck Smith welcomed all, young and old, without judgment, placing his emphasis on teaching the Word of God. His simple, yet sound, biblical approach drew 25,000 people weekly.

With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck Smith made room in his heart and his 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 1,500 fellowships throughout the world.

We invite you to join us as we meet and worship our wonderful Lord and Savior, study His Word, fellowship together, grow in His grace, and desire to make disciples and go into all the world.

Meet the Team

John Hessler

Senior Pastor

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Originally from Hopewell Township, NJ, John spent ten years of his early adult life as an atheist infatuated with the mountains and the hippie drug subculture of Colorado. After giving his life to Jesus Christ during the rise of the Jesus Movement of the 1970s, John and Renee met and were married in 1980.

Later, they moved to Bucks County, where they have raised their family. Years later, as a business owner and sales executive, John answered the Lord’s call to teach the Bible and to plant a local Calvary Chapel. Today they’re blessed to see how the Lord has graciously given them three children, wonderful spouses and seven grandchildren who all love Jesus.

Steve Feeley

Associate Pastor

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Pastor Steve grew up in Sayreville, NJ and has the pleasure of serving our church attendees here at Calvary. Steve oversees Outreach, Counseling, Home Groups, Adult Ed classes and the Prayer and Visitation teams.

Alongside his wife, Carol, Steve’s desire is to help people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He wants to help people grow in their knowledge of Jesus Christ and become full disciples of the Lord. His desire is to help people know the gifts and calling God has placed on their lives. He and Carol have a strong desire to minister to people in their time of need.

Watch out! You may see Steve buzz by on his motorcycle!

Chris Cavalier

Elder

Don Smith

Elder

Paul Weinberger

Elder

Steve Simpson

Elder

Brad Richardson

Elder

Scott Wentz

Elder & Men's Ministry

Glen Goffin

Elder

Renee Hessler

Women's Ministry

Max Drake

Director of Youth Ministry

Becky Mandia

Director of Children’s Ministry

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Becky grew up a Pastor’s Kid (PK), and loved it! I guess you could say her childhood gave her the foundation & a desire to work with kids one way or the other. Now married with 3 Kids of her own, she gets to pour into both her family and CalvaryKids Ministry.

Becky’s desire is to inspire Kids to know the love of Jesus, to follow Him and to come to know Him through the Bible. Why? So they choose to live every day of their lives knowing they have a Savior who loves them. Maybe we’ll see her write a book to encourage other ladies to do the same!