"That they may know that this is Your hand - that You, LORD, have done it!"
Psalm 109:27
Wartime and Miracles - The 1940's
Pastor Lyman Wendt Becomes Calvary’s Second Pastor, June 28, 1939
As the 40’s began, Calvary had a new Pastor at the helm. Pastor Wendt, a graduate of Biola College, had preached at Denair Missionary Church, Denair, CA for five years before being called to Calvary Church.
As a student, attending UCLA in preparation for a career of law, Lyman suddenly received the urge to join his brother at Biola. He felt a year of Bible study would be valuable toward his legal training. Because he was not saved, the first few weeks of his studies were miserable. One day during class, the truth of the gospel sunk into his heart as he heard the words of Romans 5:8. When he accepted Christ as Savior, he also accepted Him as Lord of his life and from that time on his life, thinking and ambitions changed completely. He was a young man described as a charismatic leader and fast speaker. “His energy, drive, compassion and dedication inspired us all.”
Soon after arriving at Calvary Church, he began a highly effective ministry with the youth. He taught a Friday night young people’s Bible study and, on several occasions, took high school and college guys hiking and camping. He was a frequent speaker at Forest Home’s Young People’s Conferences. Lyman personally corresponded with our missionaries and servicemen all over the world. He also started an active visitation ministry here at home.
[Friday night Young People’s
Bible Study]
Purchase of the Harris Property
In 1941 Calvary Church was experiencing rapid growth and felt the need for a building of its own. The Harris property was only a block from the Ebell Club and contained a large house and a barn on three lots. It became available for $3,700. In May of 1941 the congregation voted to purchase it. For the next several years it would be referred to as “Calvary Corner”.
Unexpected News Brought Change of Plans
On Sunday afternoon December 7, 1941, while the building committee was meeting, word came that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. War brought many changes which God would use to influence plans for the building of the new church. The plan was to sell the Harris house, in order to build a new church on the site, but it didn’t sell. Buyers were unable to secure the necessary permits to move it off the property.
The next plan was to tear down the barn and move the house to the back of the property, building a new church in front, but when architect Louis Gamble saw the house he envisioned a beautiful colonial building by simply remodeling the house and turning it to face the corner. When the building committee heard his plan they took this as direction from the Lord. They immediately applied for permits and found that permits for new construction were not even being issued since materials were needed for the war effort. But, remodeling permits would be issued. They soon came to realize that this plan, though not what they had been praying for, was indeed the answer to their prayers.
They found that their building permit would only be valid if it was issued before July 1, 1942. Their permit was dated June 30, 1942. Another confirmation of God’s leading.
[The remodeled Harris house pictured right becomes a new home for Calvary Church.]
Building God’s House
The estimated cost of the remodel was $10,000. The War Production Board ruled that only $5,000 could be spent. Through generous donations of labor and materials the church was built for $5,000. In addition to volunteer labor by many of the congregation, “penny-a-meal” banks were distributed. Each family member was asked to contribute a penny a meal to the bank. The proceeds from these banks amounted to $2,031 in 1942.
When the Knights of Columbus Lodge closed its Santa Ana facility, Calvary was able to purchase all the furnishings. Everything worked perfectly, a godly provision since most items were unavailable in wartime. Even the building’s exit signs were a miracle, since the church would not pass final inspection without them. In a box from the lodge, the necessary signs were found, and just the right number. Another hurdle was cleared when last-minute wiring changes were approved, again because the building permit was issued prior to July 1. (According to notes in the building committee minutes, wire was not available. Their wiring project was completed with less than 3 inches to spare.) These are only a few examples of the way God intervened for a people committed to honoring him.
Surely God was building His house. The old house became a beautiful colonial building and was officially dedicated on October 18, 1942, with over 300 in attendance. The barn was remodeled and used for Sunday School and evening fellowship meetings. Had the house (often referred to as the “white elephant”) been removed, as planned, they could not have built for at least five more years.
The dedication service concluded with “Praise to God for the house He has built and given us”.
Earl Morgan Steps In
During 1943-44, Pastor Wendt was granted a leave of absence to attend Dallas
Theological Seminary. During his absence the pulpit was filled by Rev. Earl
Morgan, a member of Calvary and founding pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church of Escondido. At the time, Pastor Morgan was serving with the Christian
Service Men’s Organization in Santa Ana. Other guest speakers to fill the pulpit
included Ray Welch, a faithful and much loved lay teacher in the church. Ray Welch taught the High School department, hosted the Young People’s Group in his home, was referred to as “the boss” during the building projects of the church and, for many years, taught the Monday Night Bible Class. He was an avid Bible student and excellent teacher.
Ray Welch’s son Jim is pictured in the Ebell Club photo (page 2) as a young boy. Jim later became an active participant and leader in Calvary’s Young People’s Group. Having watched Jim grow up at Calvary, Coy Maret, then Pastor of Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, asked Jim to join in the
ministry there as Youth Pastor. Jim accepted the call and served in various positions on the staff as associate pastor for 40 years before his retirement in 1994.
A Growing Staff
In the spring of 1945 Calvary Church hired its first full-time custodian. Henry Carlson had sold his butcher shop in Jamestown, New York and retired in Santa Ana, joining his daughter and family. He and his wife Grace were new members of Calvary when Henry was asked if he would be interested in starting a new career. He joyfully served the Lord as custodian for the next 17 years. Henry also served several terms on the Elder Board. Ruth Brack Evans, followed by Mrs. Richard Howland, served as church secretaries. That was the extent of the church staff.
Parsonage
The first church parsonage was purchased at 2328 Spurgeon Street. Needing many repairs, it was sold a few years later and a home at 1108 French Street was purchased to serve as parsonage until 1957, when it was no longer needed.
Local Ministries Added
An active visitation program was implemented by Pastor Wendt. On one weekend, a group of 25 young people visited 653 homes. On returning to the church they enjoyed a delicious fried rabbit dinner with the Sunday School teachers.
A new ministry to convalescent homes (called rest homes at the time) was started by the Young People’s Group. Meeting at 2:30 every Sunday afternoon they sang, brought a short devotional from God’s Word and visited with people. They carpooled to three facilities every Sunday afternoon for many years.
Local ministries continued with the addition of the Christian Servicemen’s Organization, the Joplin Boys Home, services at the pea-pickers camp, Released Time and Youth for Christ. Small groups, called Cottage Prayer Meetings, were established in twenty-four neighborhoods and met the first and third Thursday of each month.
The worship ministry expanded with the addition of the Calvary Church orchestra and the hiring of Mrs. Kathryn Jordan as church organist and choir director. Mrs. Jordan was well known as she was the choir and orchestra director at Santa Ana High School.
Missions Outreach Expands
The Women’s Missionary Society made and shipped articles to soldiers in military hospitals. In October of 1944, the Mary Goodner Circle was organized for the young married women of the church.
The world-wide missions effort grew under Pastor Wendt’s ministry with the first Missionary Conference being held in 1941. Many young people went out to the field during these years: Neil and Jane Nellis, John and Genevieve McIntosh, Bethel Bower Blount, Ed and Esther Arensen, Ray and Carol Zuercher, Beulah Osborn, Marilyn Winther, Marguerite and Harry Owen, Ken and Gloria Radach. In addition to these, there were 50 young people in Christian Schools, of which more than 30 were looking forward to full-time service. A ten dollar registration gift was given to all students applying for Biola. Westmont College was also endorsed as a proper Christian training school for our young people.
Growing Again
Plans for a desperately needed sanctuary were submitted in May of 1944, but the work could not begin until February 1, 1946, when approval from the War Production Board was finally granted. The old barn was torn down and a ground breaking ceremony took place on the site. During this time the Ebell Club was again rented and used for Sunday School classes. The new facility, when completed, would have a 450 seat auditorium with a 40 seat choir loft, a baptistry, youth meeting rooms, and a complete basement under the auditorium for Sunday School classes. An unexpected gift of a magnificent pipe organ caused much excitement as there was no money to purchase such an instrument.
The beautiful new sanctuary was completed and dedicated on August 3, 1947.
“Through it all we have witnessed the gracious leading of our Living Lord, and give Him all praise and glory for what He has done.”
Popo’s Beds
Thousands of servicemen came through Santa Ana during WWII. A ministry to these young men grew under the direction of Eugene “Popo” Griset, and continued until after the Viet Nam War.
In April 1943, Calvary was one of six churches that sponsored a recreation center on Main Street in Santa Ana, The Christian Servicemen’s Organization (known as the CSO). When it closed down after WWII ended, “Popo” carried on the ministry at Calvary every weekend.
Santa Ana was a “hot spot” for evening entertainment, and servicemen from the many bases that had been established in and around Santa Ana frequently came to town on weekends. “Popo” Griset would go downtown, stand on the street corner, and hand out fliers inviting the servicemen to Calvary Church. Invitations were also printed in the Santa Ana Register. The men were invited on Saturday afternoon for sandwiches, desserts, and a time to play shuffleboard, volleyball and board games. Many men and women from Calvary Church hosted these afternoon activities. Saturday night “Popo” and his crew would set up cots for as many as 80 men. On Sunday morning they were given a good breakfast and the gospel message. Many church members invited
the servicemen to their homes for Sunday lunch.
When “Popo’s” son Lorin returned from the war, he joined his father’s ministry. Lorin had been a prisoner of war in Germany and Poland from Thanksgiving Day, 1944 to April 29, 1945. He was forced, along with 1,500 others, to march 300 miles and was one of just 500 who survived. He underwent many harrowing moments of danger and failed escapes as a POW. He was eventually liberated by Allied forces. During this time “Popo” was often heard to say, “If he is dead, he is with the Lord, if he is not dead, the Lord is with him.”
The Santa Ana Army Air Base was an important training center for our nation’s efforts in World War II. It comprised much of what is now Costa Mesa, including: Orange Coast College, Vanguard University, Costa Mesa High School and Orange County Fairgrounds.
The West Coast Army Air Corps Training Command Center Headquarters was located on West 8th Street in Santa Ana. SAAAB was the only West Coast base to give pilot, navigator and “Bombardier” pre-flight training.
In 1942 more than 125,000 military personnel passed through the Santa Ana Army Air Base alone.
“Popo” continued the ministry to servicemen until he was 95 years old. There were marriages, missionaries, and hundreds of professions of faith as a direct result of God using faithful workers and the open doors of Calvary Church.
In 1976, “Popo” celebrated his 100th Birthday in Fellowship Hall. Hundreds of cards, letters, and personal greetings poured in from all over the world telling of how “Popo” had influenced their lives.
A Santa Ana park has been named in honor of “Popo” and the Lorin Griset High School will open in 2007.
Youth Pastor Hired
As the church grew and ministries expanded, especially the young people’s group, Don McAlpine was hired to help with the youth ministries in the summer of 1948 and continued serving until he and his wife Mary left as Calvary missionaries to Japan with TEAM.
They served as church planters in Japan until Don’s death in 1983. Mary, now retired, is still supported as a Calvary Missionary.
The Decade Ends and Pastor Wendt Moves On
As the decade of the 40’s, and Pastor Wendt’s ministry came to a close, Missionary giving increased from $2,000 per year to $23,000 and missionary units from 38 to 126. Attendance rose to an all time high, reaching over 400, and Calvary had gone from the Ebell Club, to an old house, to a beautiful new church home.
Local Ministries had continued and new ones were added. It was once again a time for acknowledging God’s blessing to their ongoing desire to proclaim the truth of His Word to a troubled world.
continue reading about Calvary's History... The 1950's - Happy Days & the Big Decision