"That they may know that this is Your hand - that You, LORD, have done it!"
Psalm 109:27
Camelot, Viet Nam, and The Big Move - The 1960's
The Sixties Begin as Orange County Experiences Tremendous Growth
The 1960’s youthful expectations gripped the country. Physical fitness, JFK and Jackie were in. Orange County continued booming, experiencing unprecedented growth. Orange groves gave way to construction all over the county including here at 1010 North Tustin. Volunteer labor again drew the body together in a special way. Excitement grew as the prospect of the new location and facilities were nearing completion. Back at 6th and French, parking had become a problem and double services were in place until the project could be completed. Worship services were held at 8:15 and 11:00 a.m. with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. People did not like this two service format as they felt it divided the church family.
Space and parking problems however, did not hinder youth outreach. The following announcement appeared in the church newsletter dated May 22, 1960.
"Wagon Circle, Knott's Berry Farm will be the scene of a sing sponsored by Calvary Church young people. Song leader Kenny Poure will be on hand, special musical numbers are scheduled and a good time for all who can be present."
Faith Promise Introduced
Dr. Oswald J. Smith from the People’s Church of Toronto, Canada was invited to speak at the 19th Annual Missionary Conference. Dr. Smith introduced the Faith Promise approach for giving to missions and described how effective it had been in his church. The Missionary Committee wrote to the Calvary Family, “We have sensed the need for a vigorous missionary effort which will lend itself to participation on a personal basis, as well as serving to inform and inspire us. After prayerful consideration, the Missionary Committee recommends that we initiate what is known as the Faith Promise Plan”. It was recommended to the congregation, voted upon and implemented in 1961.
Annual West Coast Prophetic Congress Begins
The first Annual Prophetic Congress began with Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost, Dr. Charles Woodbridge, Dr. John F. Walvoord, and J. Vernon McGee as speakers. These men took turns speaking at the Church of the Open Door, Emmanuel Faith Community Church, and Calvary Church of Santa Ana. Many new speakers and churches were added over the years. This annual conference continued with Calvary participating until 1983. A frequent speaker at these conferences was our current Pastor’s father, Dr. John L. Mitchell of Bethany Bible Church, Phoenix, AZ.
The Move to Tustin Avenue
On November 11, 1961, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the Tustin Avenue property. Pictured from left to right: Kenneth Beard, Michael Samsvick, Michael Montgomery, Lorin Griset, and Henry Twombley.
It was with a great sense of accomplishment and praise to God that the new facilities were completed and dedicated on April 29, 1962. The Fellowship Hall and Education units were the first phase of a long range program. This project included Fellowship Hall, the Administration Building, and two education buildings ("A" and Northside Buildings). The dedication message was given by Dr. J. Vernon McGee. An interesting fact, Dr. McGee taught a Monday Night Bible Study at Calvary Church during the 60's and 70's (this pre-dated the advent of Monday Night Football).
The Architect, David Miller, and building contractor, Clark Esser were members of Calvary Church. The landscape design, plants and trees were furnished by Art Blanding of Blanding Nursery. Art was also a member of Calvary and had worked on the building at 6th and French.
The rapidly changing era of the 60's brought its tragedies and its conflicts. Society was shaken by the violence of rioting, racial tension, Viet Nam and an expanding, demanding youth population.
As He had promised in the beginning, God did not forsake Calvary Church, but provided alternatives to the confusion around them based on His Word and its relevance to the problems of any era.
Staff Added in 1964
Seeking to meet the challenges of the culture as well as those presented by the rapid growth of our congregation, we read the following in the Annual Report of 1964: "One of our principal concerns during this past year has been the selection of additional personnel to complement our staff in order to carry on the work effectively. After a survey of our requirements and making a comparison of other churches our size, it was determined that we should have a Minister of Christian Education, a Youth Pastor, and a Minister of Music. Jim Foy was engaged as Youth Pastor, and Dennis Krause as Minister of Music. Finding a Minister of Christian Education was not so easy, but we believe we have found a capable, qualified man in Fred Morse who will be with us June 1."
Pastor Fred Morse Comes to Calvary Church
As of June 1, 2006, this "capable and qualified man" completed 42 years of ministry at Calvary having served as Minister of Christian Education, Assistant Pastor, Missions Pastor, Senior Adult Pastor, Pastor of Care and Concern Ministries and Hospital Visitation. He has also been a consistent teacher in the Adult Bible Fellowship classes. Fred is a graduate of Dallas Seminary, class of 1964. He married Carolyn Dirks, a preacher's daughter that he met at Church of the Open Door.
Carolyn's brother, Paul Dirks, served as Administrative Pastor at Calvary during the 1980's. Carolyn has served in many volunteer capacities at Calvary over the years. Fred and Carolyn have four children: David, Jonathan, Kathryn and Amber. David is one of our Calvary missionaries serving with his wife, Jeanie in Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa.
Membership continued to grow reaching over 500 with 60 new members in just one year, including the Lyle Sherman family. Their then young son, John, is now Pastor John Sherman of Calvary Church.
Music Ministry Changes
The year 1966 brought changes to the staff again as Dennis Krause resigned as Minister of Music. Dr. Bill Bynum, professor and chair of the Christian Education department of Biola was hired to fill this position. Our music and worship ministries excelled and grew considerably with the addition of new choirs, a male quartet, children’s and adult musical productions, instrumental and vocal ensembles and special musical evenings at Calvary. Bill also gave many volunteer hours to our Children’s and Youth Ministries in addition to his many duties in the music ministry.
A young and talented Beth Norris began playing the piano for her Junior High department. She became one of Calvary’s primary pianists while still in the High School Department. Beth served as church organist until her marriage to Jim Williams at which time she resigned to move to San Diego. Wilmer Dursteler was hired to fill the position of church organist, a position he held from 1969 to the mid 80’s.
Sam Talbert Leads Our Youth as Jim Foy Resigns
Sam Talbert, a Dallas Seminary graduate, was hired as Youth Pastor in the fall of 1966. Sam ministered to our youth and adults for the next 26 years before going to San Diego as Senior Pastor of Bonita Valley Baptist Church. Our youth department attendance soared as many young people came to know Christ. Others grew in their faith and their spiritual lives were strengthened. Unique opportunities were provided to share their faith in local as well as world wide settings. These included trips to visit missionaries during summer vacations, trips to Mexico with YUGO during Thanksgiving week, skiing trips to Mammoth which included an outreach ministry to the Mammoth Community Church and ministries at home with Vacation Bible School and Child Evangelism Good News Clubs.
Attendances at Jr. High, High School and College camps at Hume Lake reached all time highs, and backpacking trips were added to the summer activities. Sam was assisted by faithful sponsors, Bill and Lois Rowley, who had served with our youth at 6 th and French since the 50's. Bill and Lois served with our youth for many years before the term youth pastor was introduced. Those who were part of the high school ministry can remember the weekly Bible studies held in their garage.
Social events during the year provided opportunities for building community within our growing congregation. Sunday School picnics at Orange Park, the annual church dinners, skate nights and the New Year's Eve Watch night services were much anticipated yearly events. It was noted that Jim Carlson was responsible for much of the entertainment at these events.
Celebrating a Decade
On May 17, 1966, the congregation planned a surprise for Pastor Samsvick, celebrating his ten years at Calvary. At the close of the morning service he was presented with the keys to a brand new 1966 Chevrolet Impala. During his first years the church had not always been able to give him the salary they felt he deserved, so this was a special way of showing their appreciation to him and his family.
Ready to Grow Again
The Stuart Brisco Evangelistic youth meetings, held in early 1966, brought many new young people to Calvary. Basketball and softball teams were organized and Sunday School Superintendent, Bud Swanson, reported that Sunday School attendance had reached an all time high of 724.
It soon became evident that the next building phase was needed. The congregation voted to begin Phase II of the long range plan. It was to provide a sanctuary and adjacent Christian education building.
Once again God went before, supplied finances, furnished workers, and on September 17, 1967 the first service was held in the new auditorium, again with praise and thanksgiving.
From the Annual Report of 1967
"The building committee worked together very harmoniously and was unanimous on practically every decision.
The new facilities of the Phase II building project have added 13,350 square feet of air conditioned space and 832 seats in the sanctuary (Samsvick Chapel) and 3,750 square feet in the education facilities. The cost of this project was $350,000 including the furnishings.
As we behold our new facilities coming to completion, it is apparent that God has given us much. He has blessed us far beyond anything that most of us have ever expected. What we see about us is truly from the Lord, given to us in love and grace. For this goodness we are deeply grateful as a church.
The other half of this spiritual principle is just as appropriate. Not only has He given us much but He also shall require much of us, because of these great blessings. These have been given to us for a purpose to be used, to carry out His work, to bring blessing to man and honor to God. May this be always uppermost in our minds as we move about the church grounds. May we at this time re-dedicate ourselves to utilize these beautiful facilities to fulfill these objectives."
Placing the 52’ cross on the steeple attracted a lot of attention. More than 300 elementary school children from Santa Ana and Tustin watched the crane place the cross. Pictures were also featured in the Santa Ana Register.
Children’s Worker Hired
With the completion of the new auditorium and education facilities the attendance climbed rapidly with 1969 showing 1,117 in Sunday School. It soon became evident that help was needed in the children’s area with so many young families joining our church family. Geri Templeton was hired in March of that year as part-time children’s worker to assist Fred Morse. Vacation Bible School showed a record attendance of 736. For the first time, two children’s conferences were held concurrently with the adult missions and prophecy conferences. Geri became a full-time staff member in 1973.
A new ministry to our children and youth was introduced this year and was received with tremendous enthusiasm. Christian Service Brigade and Pioneer Girls began under the leadership of Gerry and Norma Bauer. These Wednesday night ministries grew quickly and continued for many years.
Wedding Ministry
When the church moved to Tustin Avenue more and more of our young people were getting married at Calvary and it became evident to Pastor Samsvick that he needed help. He wanted someone to assist him with all the details involved in the weddings. Knowing Eleanor Wright to be very organized and administrative, he asked her to consider developing a ministry that would not only help him but one that would also come alongside the bride and groom, helping with their planning, rehearsal, ceremony and church reception. Eleanor accepted his challenge and created the Calvary Church Wedding Guild.
September 1, 1962 marked the first wedding to benefit from this new ministry. Eleanor continued to lead and grow this ministry through 1977. In late 1977, as Eleanor was losing her struggle with cancer, she and Pastor Samsvick asked her daughter-in-law, Pat Wright, to take leadership of the ministry. Pat became the Wedding Coordinator in January 1978 and continued to develop the ministry. Although the name has changed, today's Wedding Ministry still incorporates many of the same elements that Eleanor used in 1962. When Pat assumed this ministry there was an average of 20 weddings per year. The ministry continued to grow and in the early 90's there were more than 50 weddings per year.
Missions Interest Grows
Concern for the world grew as the media brought the reality of a troubled world into our living rooms with the eyes of the world focused on Israel. Once again with the needs of hurting people evident around the world,
our church's missions program took on renewed purpose. The response
to the Faith Promise program was exciting, and there was a new wave of commitment among the young people. Sam Talbert reported that the
formation of the Youth Missions Fellowship, with leadership provided by Ken and Vivian Watters, was stimulating the interest of our young people
to become our future missionaries. Fourteen of the young people who joined this fellowship group went to the mission field including: Lloyd Peckham, Margie Peckham Rafetto, Heidi Carlson Coombs, Dennis Swick, Jim Watters and David Nellis.
Local evangelism at home was encouraged by the 1969 Billy Graham Crusade held at Anaheim Stadium. The youth were able to travel to the stadium in the new Calvary Church bus purchased that year. Calvary Church had the privilege to participate in the crusade and to see many new converts join Calvary.
Space A Challenge - Again
As the 1960's came to a close Calvary was again struggling with space and parking problems. There seemed to be no simple solution. First there were the double church services, then the double Sunday School and church for the adult and youth departments. This solved some problems but seemed to create others. People saw these problems as God proving them and testing them to see how they would respond to change, sacrifice and inconvenience. The feeling was that before they could go on to greater things they needed to be tested, they needed to know what was in their hearts and trials and difficulties would bring all of this to the surface. Their prayer was that God would give them a good look at themselves and would give them the grace to adjust to the changes in their church program so that they could go on to greater and higher things.
The 1969 Annual Report closed with this verse from Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, and to prove you, to know what was in
your heart." In the life and work of the church these have been and will be days of humbling, of proving, and of knowing.
God had been good to them in the past and they were confident that He would continue to be with them in this time of proving and testing.