"That they may know that this is Your hand - that You, LORD, have done it!"
Psalm 109:27

Claim It Now, For Time and Eternity - The 1970's

A Decade of Change for the U.S. and Calvary Church Grows Again

The 70's ushered in new fads: mood rings, lava lamps, Rubik's cubes and pet rocks. Telephone booth stuffing was a popular college activity and skateboards were invented. Classic TV series, Mary Tyler Moore Show and All in the Family were introduced; leisure suits and platform shoes were in.

The United States underwent some profound changes. First a vice president and then a president resigned under threat of impeachment. The Vietnam War continued to divide the country, and Roe v. Wade legalized abortion.

At Calvary Church, a Bill Gaither concert, held locally, caused quite a debate. Some thought this new music to be much too loud and jazzy, while others couldn't get enough of the new sound and style. Praise music was being introduced, and guitars and keyboards made their way into the worship services at Calvary Church. The music debate intensified all the while the youth thought debate over the style of Christian music to be something new! (In the 1950's the church organist, Mrs. Jordan, played Bach much of the time. There were those who registered their complaints stating that she should include more Charles Fuller style of music.)

The response to the Faith Promise program was exciting, and there was a new wave of commitment among the young people. The decade of the 70's began with a 56% increase in Faith Promise giving. Headlines from missions' reports read: "Don and Janie Nellis attend Jungle Camp in Mexico, the Hank Jones family moves to Vietnam to direct the military ministry of Campus Crusade and Dr. Dick Hillis of Overseas Crusade and Dr. Christian Weiss of Back to the Bible were scheduled as key note speakers at our Missions Conference. Jean Copeland of the Pocket Testament League will speak to the Women's Missionary Groups. (Jean is the sister of Helen Wendt, our former Pastor's wife.) And.with the new technical advances of the 70's, tape recorders will be provided for all of our missionaries."

By 1970, the membership had grown to 856 and Sunday School attendance recorded a record high of 1189. Dr. Charles E. Feinberg and Dr. J. Vernon McGee frequently filled the pulpit. Dr. Feinberg was a member of Calvary Church and served as an elder.

The theme for the 70's became, "Let us claim it now for time and eternity".

With the area around Calvary Church developing, rapidly land was at a premium. When the Boswell property next door became available, God miraculously indicated that expansion was a part of His plan.

" We have come to the belief that it is God's will for Calvary Church to purchase the Boswell property. Our city is on the verge of an intensive development which will mean that the new vacant property around us will be developed and no longer available. We believe it is now or never. God has blessed the ministry to the community and the world. God wants us to be a lighthouse to more people here and abroad."

The five acres were purchased in June of 1970 for $350,000 . "Only time will tell what this will mean to the cause of Christ here and throughout the world. Let us make it a matter of sincere prayer that God will give us His mind on how to develop this property. God has performed a miracle in supplying the funds to help us purchase the Boswell acreage to provide for the desperately needed additional parking and other expansion. How can we deny God's marvelous leading and provision?"

Pictured above is Calvary Church's campus on Tustin Avenue before purchasing the Boswell property to the South (an orange grove). Access to the church property was on Tustin Avenue or from behind the orange grove off of Fruit Street. The property North of the campus was also an orange grove.

The Door Opens

Meanwhile, in the fall of 1971, the youth ministry sponsored an event known as The Door. This was an after-football game activity for those in High School.

During the first two years, some 400 students attended each Friday night after the High School football games. The word got out that the place to "hang" after the game was at Calvary Church. Each year the attendance grew, reaching 1,000 kids during its peak. The evening included pizza, cake, ice cream and soft drinks. Top notch entertainment aimed at the high school crowd drew scores of visitors invited by Calvary kids.

One of the students' all-time favorite bands was the Altar Boys featuring Mike Stand (Sorrells). Currently, he is on staff at Calvary and helps with worship. There was also a segment where our high school students shared their faith in Jesus Christ. This outreach ministry continued with record crowds until 1987, with many young people making decisions for Christ. The Door was held in Fellowship Hall until 1978 when it moved to the newly completed gym.

Another venue for youth participation was the newly formed drama ministry called Ethos. This group presented dramatic presentations at Calvary as well as many outside events and became a popular outreach ministry of the 70's.

For still other interests, a rock climbing ministry called Granite Huggers began and the Young Teen Quiz Team was organized.

Parents Incorporated , established in 1973, held its first meeting with Dr. Bruce
Narramore. His topic for the evening was, "Understanding Teenagers".

Calvary Chapel, which began in 1965, moved to their current location in 1973. The Calvary Chapel concerts and Corona del Mar Beach baptisms drew many of our young people. Maranatha Music, incorporated in 1971, was popular with our youth and young adults.

Athletes in Action (the athletic arm of Campus Crusade) moved their athletic teams and national offices to Tustin. This move brought many Campus Crusade people to Calvary including Chris Adsit, Yayoi Inaba (Ikeda), Lloyd and Johanna Olson and Gary and Charlene Ramm. They all joined our Calvary missionary family. Many of the AIA staff served in our Jr. High, High School and College departments drawing many new students to our youth ministry.

[Pictured at Left: the Youth Ministry Staff in the '70s]

Growth Brings Changes

Staff changes in 1973 included Fred Morse moving to Assistant Pastor, Leo Leeder resigning as Christian Education Pastor, and Geri Templeton being hired full time as Director of Children's Ministries. Pastor Samsvick often referred to Geri as "The Jackie Robinson of Calvary Church". The hiring of a woman on staff was a big step for Calvary Church in the 70's.

Al Fox joined the pastoral staff as Senior Adult Pastor and David Rowley as Assistant Youth Pastor. Bill Grant became Calvary's first Business Administrator. Also joining the staff were Wyn Jones as the School Administrator, Frank Fried as Jr. High Pastor, and Gary Kroll as Minister of Music. Gordon Kroeker became facilities manager & his wife Norma joined the secretarial staff. In 2006, Gordon continues as Facilities Manager and campus beautification expert. Norma is "The voice of Calvary" as receptionist. Gordon and Norma have also served as 5th and 6th grade Sunday School leaders, and Norma was one of the first Pioneer Girls' leaders.

Orange groves were removed from the vacant land across Tustin Avenue and construction began on Santa Ana Tustin Community Hospital, now known as Western Medical Center. Interesting stories linger from the time of the demise of these orange groves. During this time, our pastor established a relationship with a homeless man who had lived in a shelter in that orange grove for several years. He was given financial assistance, aided in finding housing, and helped with other immediate needs when his natural habitat had been disturbed.

Women's Ministries experienced phenomenal growth in the 70's. In addition to the weekly morning Bible study, several special events were held throughout the year. The Mother-Daughter Evening with a wedding theme attracted over 500 mothers and daughters. Daughters modeled wedding dresses worn by their mothers.

The Men's Fellowship moved from its Tuesday evening meeting time to a new format on Saturday mornings that included a full, home cooked breakfast.

Vacation Bible School took on a new look in the 70's with several new features including the pre-session line-up time, an evening program for the youth and a separate program for 6th grade students. Samsvick Chapel was filled to overflowing each morning as the children gathered for opening time activities. Youth interns and students served in the children's areas each morning. In the afternoon they had Bible study time, beach days and were treated to a trip to Magic Mountain at the close of the two weeks of VBS.

A highlight of Missions Time one year was a daily presentation by Don and Mary McAlpine, our missionaries from Japan, who brought their interpreter Keiko San Saguchi to speak to the children.

Jet Cadets began for fourth through sixth graders at the 6:00 p.m. Evening Fellowship Hour. Bob and Cheri Shank and Steve and Clara Esser served as leaders for this new ministry.

Calvary Christian School Began in September 1975
and Celebrated 25 Years in 2000 .

As 1974 approached, the two primary topics of discussion were: What to build on the Boswell property and should Calvary Church start a school. In 1974 the congregation voted positively to begin a school. It would be called Calvary Christian School and would open its doors in September of 1975. In May of 2000, Calvary Christian School celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Calvary Christian School has become an integral ministry of Calvary Church. A cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship exists between the school and church. The mission of Calvary Christian School is "to train up Christian young people who will positively impact their world!" Calvary School is accredited by Association of Christian Schools, International (ACSI) and Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Calvary School is among a small percentage of Christian schools that have dual accreditation.

"At the heart of any successful school is its faculty. Calvary Christian School is blessed with a group of experienced, committed, degreed, credentialed and highly competent Christian teachers. Their love for the students and ability to lead young people to constantly strive for academic excellence, as well as to teach from the perspective of a Christian world view, is what makes our school unique."

In 1976, Calvary Church Christian Preschool opened with 8 staff and 56 students . In the beginning years the Preschool operated under the umbrella of Calvary Christian School. In recent years it became a separate ministry of Calvary Church and now functions independent of the Elementary and Junior High Schools.

In 2006 the total attendance of the Preschool, Elementary, and Jr. High Schools has grown from its humble beginning in 1975 and 1976 to a total of 800 students and 100 staff.

Facilities carefully planned from the beginning were now used every day of the week.

Boswell Property Decision

Discussion of the use of the Boswell Property continued. Surveys were distributed and tallied. After much prayer and consideration of all submitted plans, it was decided that the facility to be built would be a Family Center which would include a gym, classrooms and offices. The plan was to liquidate the loan debt owed on the property before beginning construction.

In 1977 the Boswell Property was PAID IN FULL! A praise service was held in the area where the new construction would take place. The children's classes were included in this celebration which concluded with the burning of the loan papers and a groundbreaking ceremony. The third phase of the long range building program could now begin.

Pictured to the right are the crowds that gathered for the celebration and ground breaking. From left to right, the men pictured on the platform include: Ken Watters, Paul Harvey, Frank Luzzi, Michael Samsvick, Ken Beard, Clark Esser, Bill Bauer, and Bill Bucher.

Third Phase of Building Expansion Completed

This third phase of expansion began in 1970 with the procurement of the Boswell property on Fruit Street, upon which the following three buildings were constructed. The first building, the Family Center, consisted of a full size gym, classrooms, and related facilities. The second was the "B" Building, a two story education building designed to accommodate children from preschool through sixth grade. The third building was a major addition to the "D" building, the original administration building, tripling its size, containing the library, media center, Christian Day School offices, conference room, and offices for the pastor and staff. (The library has since relocated to the Samsvick Chapel building.)

A few years after the purchase of the Boswell property, the orange grove to the north was subdivided and for sale. It consisted of two parcels; one on the corner and one in the back. The front parcel was available at a cost of $300,000 and the back parcel, consisting of one and one-half acres, for $200,000. The desire was to purchase both parcels, but funds could only be procured for $200,000. Bill Grant, Business Administrator, acted as our real estate agent and, with his commission given to the church, it was purchased for $194,000. With this addition, we gained a total of 507 additional parking spaces. As in the past, volunteers provided much of the labor and skills needed during the building project. In 2005, Calvary purchased a portion of the front parcel, 3/4 acre that included the Heritage Building, for $2,700,000.

Pastor Samsvick wrote to the congregation regarding the planned dedication services for these new facilities, "There is a biblical basis for our planned dedication and celebration October 20-22. Eight long years ago we began this phase of our building program with the purchase of the land. These difficult eight years can be summarized in the stanza of Amazing Grace, 'Through many dangers, toils and snares, we have already come'."

It was His grace that began it all; it was His grace that brought us safe thus far. Let us meet together, this hallowed week-end to acknowledge God's grace and goodness to us and on the basis of this goodness, to dedicate ourselves and the facilities. The result will be the same to us as it was to those in Solomon's time, 'the people went home joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness the Lord had shown.' (I Kings 8:62-66) May this be our prayer and expectation as we make plans to attend and participate."

Social Events Planned to Bring the Calvary Family Together

Social events again drew the family together; the Annual Church Dinner of 1979 recorded over 800 in attendance and the All-Church Picnics at Hart Park were a highlight each year. The creative and hard working picnic committee of Frank and Bette Norton, Rick and Paulette Witt and Gene and Judy Andreosky planned some of the memorable days for the whole family. Activities included pony rides for the kids, games for all ages, a softball game and "the great bake off contest" of 1979. Winner of the Future Bakers of America (under 12 years old) was Cathy Morse (Mallow); the Jr. High-High School junk food junkies winners were Miriam Saltarelli (Baltes) and Jennifer Norton (Torok), and most beautiful entry went to Laura Bauer (Hummel). In the adult category, "Those of us who don't need it, but still like to bake it and eat it", winner was Eleanor Armstrong.

Commitment to Local and World-Wide Evangelism Continues

As the 1970's came to a close our local and worldwide evangelism efforts had greatly expanded. Faith Promise giving had doubled since the beginning of the decade and new missionaries joined our Calvary missionary family. It could be said that the sun never sets on the Calvary missions family. The Servicemen's Ministry continued with about 30-35 men every Saturday night. John Kulisich, director of the Christian Servicemen's Organization in Santa Ana, joined in the work at Calvary. The Church membership had grown to 1,369 with over 100 baptisms in one year. Local evangelistic teams, many of which had begun in the 30's, continued with others being added. Ministry to the children of our community continued with Child Evangelism Fellowship and Released Time Christian Education. Our children's Vacation Bible School with more than 800 in attendance and the Pioneer Girls and Christian Service Brigade with some 400 attending on Wednesday nights also provided local outreach to the children of our community.

Missions Conferences were (and still are) an important part of Calvary Church and its ministry. At the end of each Conference, people who felt let to pursue a ministry in missions were encouraged to come forward during the closing service.

The 70's Come to a Close

Mindful of the many blessings God had bestowed upon Calvary Church during this decade, the annual report of 1979 concluded with these words from Luke 12:48, "To whom much has been given, much will be required". To which they added, To God be the Glory, Great things He has done!

Decisions of the 70's

Request to serve coffee between Sunday School and Church - DENIED
Voted to continue having Watch Night services
Requested that announcements be placed in church bulletin urging quietness in sanctuary at all times.
Pant suits for women and walking shorts for men are not acceptable at any choir rehearsal or choir functions at the church.
Approved Arizona Outreach for our young people.
Everybody needs to be more friendly.
Approved King James Version as the only official version used in Calvary Church.
Approved use of facilities for Biola Adult Education extension program.
Approved using Care and Concern funds for Cambodian refugees.
Approved replacing the current organ.

continue reading about Calvary's History... The 1980's - For Everything a Time