Getting To Know Us

Every church seems to have its own personality. In His kindness, God plants our hearts in the church which is most suited to our own character and needs. We feel that it is important for you to understand who we are and what it means to belong to Calvary Chapel St. Joseph.

    Here at Calvary Chapel St. Joseph, Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings we study the Bible verse-by-verse in a regular, consistent fashion. We worship. We try to divide our service between worshipping God through congregational singing and hearing from His Word so that we might be taught and instructed in how He would have us love and serve Him. We know we have truly been worshipping God and that we have heard His Word if we have love in our hearts. We minister to the Children. Children's Ministry is intended to give our children quality Christian education while providing you with a worship and learning experience that is uninterrupted. We have a fully staffed nursery, and a cry room for fussy babies where nursing mothers can listen to and watch the service. Children ages 4-12 will be taught the Bible verse-by-verse in a way that is both fun and understandable to them. 

WE ARE Christ-Centered: First and foremost we are believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of our lives and of this church. We want to live, speak, act and love in a way that honors Him above all else! We are constantly seeking to build all that we are upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

 WE ARE NOT a Denominational Church or the Only True Church. Neither are we opposed to denominations as such, only the over-emphasis that has lead to division in the Body of Christ. God has given us a vision and a purpose that is changing the lives of many people in our community. However, we are not the only local church that has heard from Him or is attempting to be faithful to His commands. Our desire is not to compete with other churches, but to be faithful to the call God has placed on our fellowship in the context of the Body of Christ.

WE ARE Affiliated with Calvary Chapel. As such, there are certain distinctives that we hold as we seek to be a witness in the community and equip believers to become disciples.

We teach systematically through the Bible.

We put a greater emphasis on what God has done for us, than what we can do for Him.

We are somewhere between the "Fundamentalist" church and the "Pentecostal" church.

We believe all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, yet we believe they are to be used according to the directives of scripture.

WE ARE A Growing, Caring Family: Our fellowship is much like a family that values communication, informality, spontaneity, personal and corporate growth, freedom of expression, honesty, openness, humor, fun and commitment. As we grow together, we expect to encounter problems and find solutions to them as they arise.

WE ARE NOT Typical or Formal: We affirm and appreciate those churches that worship God with a tightly formulated liturgy and structure. However, we have chosen to worship God in a somewhat non-traditional and informal setting. We value expressive and spontaneous worship.

WE ARE Loosely Structured: We place a high priority on openness, flexibility and practicality, believing that such a climate is conducive for personal, relational and spiritual growth. Being loosely structured allows for change, freshness and innovation.

WE ARE NOT Authoritarian, Rule-Driven, Coercive or Legalistic: Many of us have found authoritarian and rule-driven religion to result in spiritual bondage and emotional defeat. Although we make our belief in the Bible and convictions very clear, we do not seek to enforce them upon people through rigid authoritarianism. Rather we trust the Holy Sprit to change people from the inside as they yield their heart, soul, mind and strength to Him.

Some of Our Defining Assumptions

The Bible is the authoritative Word of God and is the primary means of spiritual growth.

Church should equip, train and teach people to live a Christian life through all of life's seasons and transitions.

The primary source of ministry ability comes from prayer and personal devotion.

Biblical Christianity puts the emphasis on what God has done for us, not on what we can do for Him.

It is normal for every Christian to give and serve. Concern for the poor, widows and orphans grows as the Christian grows in God's love.

Suffering is part of every life and is beneficial to Christian growth.

The Holy Spirit is willing and able to break in and carry on His work in non-spectacular, non-manipulative and surprising ways.

No two churches are alike and each should express their God-given identity to the glory of God.

Conflict with one another is a normal part of life and the Christian experience. Conflict within a fellowship is used by God to develop many positive qualities in Christians that are important and cannot be developed without conflict coming about.

People who want friends should show themselves friendly.

Where God guides, He provides.

Just as individuals are required to give in order to grow and be obedient, so the local church has an obligation to give to those from whom it derives no direct benefit in order to grow, be obedient and fruitful. Without consistent giving of time, energy and money, both churches and individual Christians become stagnant.

Something happens when people are drawn together to worship God that no other feature of human existence can accomplish.

Leadership in the church means serving, and is functional. It has nothing to do with title, power or position.

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