History of Calvary Delta

25th Anniversary Documentary

October 30, 2021

Our History
1960s
History of Calvary Chapel
The Lord began using Calvary Chapel in the 1960s when Pastor Chuck Smith took over as the shepherd of a small flock of people called Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in southern California. And the Lord blessed Pastor Chuck’s simple, straightforward exposition of the Bible, going through God’s Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. His teaching ministry was accompanied by a fresh offering of simple worship music. The combination of the Word and Worship resulted in masses of people coming to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck 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. And since that time, the Lord has wonderfully and gracefully placed His Hand on the churches and missions of Calvary Chapel around the world, resulting in over 1,600 associated ministries under the umbrella of the Calvary Chapel Association.
July 1996
Birth of the Church
Calvary Chapel of Delta began as a Sunday night home Bible study in July 1996, born out of much prayer and a desire to learn the entirety of God’s Word through expository, verse by verse teaching (see Isaiah 28:10). Soon after the Bible study began, the group needed to find a larger meeting place. That search led them to the basement of an old post office building on Main Street in Delta, which soon became known to the group as the “Delta Outreach.” In October of 1996, the group began hosting outreach concerts on Friday nights, averaging about thirty young people per night.
November 3, 1996
First Sunday Morning Service
Calvary Chapel of Delta began meeting Sunday mornings on November 3, 1996.
June 1997
Moved to 5911 Delta Rd

The realities of not having heat in the old post office building sparked a search for a new facility. That search ended as the new fellowship moved into the former E-Z Mart store on Broad Street Extended. After attempting to transform this building into an adequate church facility from December through May 1997, the congregation of believers moved on once again. The Lord graciously provided Calvary Chapel with its current building (formerly Healthy Image Fitness Center) in June 1997, as a result of specific prayer by several in the congregation.

September 2001
Purchase of the Property

In September 2001, the Lord enabled the fellowship to purchase the building, situated on 11 acres of land. The church is located at 5911 Delta Road (on route 74, across from Delta Family Restaurant).

November 2020
Tent Church

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the church began meeting in a 60'x90' tent on the church property. Although the move to the tent began as a health & safety measure, the church quickly outgrew the existing sanctuary, and was unable to return to indoor gatherings.

December 2022
Construction Begins

After much prayer and planning, construction on an addition to the existing church building began.

November 22, 2023
First Service In the New Sanctuary

Calvary Chapel of Delta began meeting in the new 500 seat sanctuary on Wednesday, November 22 for a Thanksgiving Eve service.

HISTORY OF CALVARY CHAPEL The Lord began using Calvary Chapel in the 1960s when Pastor Chuck Smith took over as the shepherd of a small flock of people called Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in southern California. And the Lord blessed Pastor Chuck’s simple, straightforward exposition of the Bible, going through God’s Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. His teaching ministry was accompanied by a fresh offering of simple worship music. The combination of the Word and Worship resulted in masses of people coming to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck 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. And since that time, the Lord has wonderfully and gracefully placed His Hand on the churches and missions of Calvary Chapel around the world, resulting in over 1,600 associated ministries under the umbrella of the Calvary Chapel Association. Calvary Chapel of Delta began as a Sunday night home Bible study in July 1996, born out of much prayer and a desire to learn the entirety of God’s Word through expository, verse by verse teaching (see Isaiah 28:10). Soon after the Bible study began, the group needed to find a larger meeting place. That search led them to the basement of an old post office building on Main Street in Delta, which soon became known to the group as the “Delta Outreach.” In October of 1996, the group began hosting outreach concerts on Friday nights, averaging about thirty young people per night. Calvary Chapel of Delta began meeting Sunday mornings on November 3, 1996. The realities of not having heat in the old post office building sparked a search for a new facility. That search ended as the new fellowship moved into the former E-Z Mart store on Broad Street Extended. After attempting to transform this building into an adequate church facility from December through May 1997, the congregation of believers moved on once again. The Lord graciously provided Calvary Chapel with its current building (formerly Healthy Image Fitness Center) in June 1997, as a result of specific prayer by several in the congregation. In September 2001, the Lord enabled the fellowship to purchase the building, situated on 11 acres of land. The church is located at 5911 Delta Road (on route 74, across from Delta Family Restaurant).