Calvary Chapel Movement

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Calvary Wellington is connected with the Calvary Chapel movement that was founded by Pastor Chuck Smith in 1965. Pastor Chuck began his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, USA with just 25 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, biblical approach in time drew 25,000 people weekly. With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck and Calvary Chapel made room for a generation of hippies and surfers, generating a movement of the Holy Spirit that spread from the West Coast to the East Coast of the USA and now throughout the world. What began as a small local church has grown into an international ministry of over 1,800 fellowships worldwide including throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

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​Expository Bible Teaching and Biblical Balance

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Calvary is known for its expository Bible teaching and biblical balance. When we teach through the Scriptures book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, we cover the whole counsel of God and emphasise areas of spiritual importance in their context and to the degree that they are emphasised in the Bible. An example of biblical balance is in the area of gifts of the Holy Spirit. Many churches, more in the Pentecostal and charismatic tradition, place an overemphasis on spiritual gifts where extra-biblical teaching on and exercise of the gifts is common. On the other hand, many conservative churches, such as in the Reformed tradition, place an under-emphasis on spiritual gifts and commonly deny that certain gifts are still in operation today. Calvary strikes a balance where we believe in the gifts of the 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.

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Calvary Chapels are independent churches but find commonality in certain ‘Calvary Distinctives’ regarding doctrine and approach to ministry. More information about Calvary Chapel and its history can be found at www.calvarycca.org.

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Calvary Wellington

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Calvary Wellington started in Khandallah as a church plant back in 2004. The church moved to Lower Hutt in 2005, meeting initially at St Orans College, then relocating to its current location at Naenae Primary School. Pastor Mark Roberts was our first pastor, followed by David Pham, and now Jarryd Alcorn. Calvary Wellington is connected with a half dozen or so other Calvarys within New Zealand and with the wider Calvary Chapel Movement internationally.