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YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Calvary Family,

This was another wonderful year of trusting in God as we worship Him with our whole hearts in all we do. Of any goal we could have for Calvary, complete dependence on God is what I pray we pursued in 2023 — depending on God for our connection with Him, for our personal needs, and His provision for our church. And then it’s all about giving away what we’ve received, also known as discipleship. We were challenged by the Scriptures this year to receive the love of God and then give it away to others. We are poured into by other believers and then we give that away. Repeat again and again.

Disciples are people who are learning to love and follow Jesus. As disciples we depend on God for everything. May you be encouraged and inspired as you read this report of all God is doing in and through Calvary Church as we depend on Him and give away what we’ve received.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling

Financials CREATIVE ADULTS Family CCs Soul Care Reach

 

FINANCIALS

Your investment of time, talent and treasure is making a difference in people's lives locally and globally. Thank You!

FISCAL 2023 OVERVIEW

 

 


July 2022 - June 2023

Thank you for generously supporting the resources and staff that make these ministries possible. We ended the fiscal year with the General Fund spending down our reserves by $167,200 for some maintenance projects. Our Reach fund spent $27,123 in reserves this year to fund partnership projects.



July 2023 - December 2023

For the first half of the current fiscal year (July - December 2023), we are behind our budget goals for both the General and Reach Funds. We appreciate your continued support and prayers for Calvary Church, for wisdom as we strive to strategically use the gifts you give and for provision as we pursue ministry into 2024 together.

GIVE ONLINE HERE

 

Heritage Building


All operational expenses and loan payments for our Heritage Medical Building are covered by rental income.

Ministry Partnerships


Two-thirds of the Heritage building space is being used for ministry partnerships impacting our community-- Hurtt Family Health Clinic, Emmaus Road Counseling, and Safe Families for Children. DISCOVER MORE

 

CONTACT US

We are committed to being good stewards of the resources God provides for Calvary and we follow ECFA’s (Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability) best practices for financial management of ministries. If you would like additional information about how your giving to Calvary is used for ministry purposes (including a copy of our audited financial statements), please contact our Executive Pastor, Michael Welles, at  714.550.2313 or

CREATIVE MINISTRIES

Worship | Communication | Connections

 

WORSHIP GATHERINGS

We gather to remember and celebrate the greatness of God and the good news of the Gospel, to realign our lives to the way of Jesus through the truth of the Word and the work of the Spirit, and to respond as His disciples with lives marked by steadfast trust, courageous hope, and sacrificial love.

2,046

Average Sunday participation*

3,527

Easter Sunday 2023*

*Total for English/ASL & Spanish,
In Person & Online

7 NIGHTS OF WORSHIP

We began 2023 with the second annual 7 Nights of Worship — a foundational week for the year ahead, created to intentionally seek the Lord by lifting our voices in song, focusing our hearts and minds on the truth of His Word, and praying together for our lives, our church, our community and our world.

 


2023 SUNDAY SERIES

Click below to watch messages from each of our 2023 Sunday Series

ONLINE NUMBERS

1,630

YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS

2,082

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS

1,667

MOST WATCHED VIDEO
"What To Do When You're Trying To Follow God's Call"
Discipleship Series Short

1,188

MOST VIEWED LIVESTREAM
"Hope Rises - 1 Corinthians 15"
Easter Sunday 2023

VIEW SUNDAY SERMONS WATCH  ON YOUTUBE CALVARY LIFE PODCAST

 

CONNECTIONS

As part of  Calvary's Creative Ministries, the Connections Team is committed to creating a loving and welcoming environment while facilitating next steps for people to get involved as part of the Calvary family.  Jesus transforms every part of us and our desire is to show this transformational love through the way we serve our church community. 

38

Connections Volunteers
Join a Team

58

New Church Members
How to Become a Member

55

People Baptized!
Learn More about Baptism


Easter Baptisms - April 9, 2023

Beach Baptisms - September 10, 2023


ALL CHURCH COMMUNITY EVENTS

Thank you to everyone who invited, served, donated and prayed for these outreach events for our community!
 

LIGHT THE NIGHT

Approximately 4000 in attendance
Hundreds of volunteers from Calvary Church and School
Over 2,000 lbs of candy donated
Hundreds of cake and cupcakes donated
Live band and Amazing puppet show

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Approximately 2000 in attendance 
Live band and Living Nativity
15 Vendors at Christmas for a Cause
Over 100 gifts donated to the hospital!

ADULT MINISTRIES

 
We're pursuing lifelong growth as disciples of Jesus, which is experienced best in community with one another.


Leader Development

300+ Volunteers celebrated at our annual thank you dinner
90+ Filled out a Volunteer Interest Form and got involved as new volunteers 

LifeGroups

Helping each other grow in our faith as disciples of Jesus with:
8 New Groups
55 Ongoing Groups
105 Leaders

Young Adults

Over 40 young adults currently serving in other ministries on Sunday mornings.
100+ The member of weekday gatherings that YA participated in

Women

30 Women went on retreat to Hume
55 Women participated in Saturday Slowdown to worship and practice spiritual disciplines
200+ Growing together in community through Women’s LifeGroups

Men

264 miles walked by men on security teams at Calvary this year
17 The average pounds of bacon consumed at Men's events where breakfast is involved.
17 the number of men actively discipling our teenagers at Calvary

60+ Adults

505 Subscribers to the weekly/monthly newsletters
134 Widows and Widower
75 Attendance at monthly dinner/dessert events
20+ Widows supported through Operation Love

 

Hispanic Ministry

120+ new visitors on Sundays
5 community outreach LifeGroups (2 in Santa Ana, 1 in Orange, 2 in Tustin)
Average attendance of 20 per LifeGroup.
Family VBS to our neighborhood park
2 GO (Global Outreach) Trips - Ensenada and Guatemala


DISCIPLESHIP STORIES

A disciple is one who loves and follows Jesus. Discipleship is learning to love like Jesus by giving away what we’ve received.


Watch the story of Paula Garcia, Calvary's Early Childhood Pastor, receiving blessing and encouragement from the faithful volunteers at God's House Care


Watch the story of Jason and Monica finding life and peace in Jesus through a difficult time and then sharing what they received with their entire family  

Discover More About Discipleship 

FAMILY MINISTRIES

One of the greatest responsibilities we have as a church family is to pass on the torch of a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ to the next generation. Thank you for contributing to make these life-shaping discipleship ministries happen!

 

CALVARY KIDS

Nursery - 5th Grade

2 Family Fun Nights brought parents & kids together for faith-building fun
21 4th + 5th graders attended summer camp at Forest Home
800 kids participated in Stellar VBS
466 volunteers served at VBS
100+ faith decisions!


THE SPOT 

6th - 8th Grade

The 1/2 Nighter (Youth Outreach Event) had 189 Students and 60 Volunteers 
75 to Summer Camp at Hume 
18 consistent and intentional Leaders
6 Spot LifeGroups meeting for discipleship


HSM 

9th - 12th Grade

13 students baptized
21 students served on Ministry Teams
25 leaders engaged in discipleship
70 gathered for weekly worship
122 campers brought to Hume Lake
3,859 high fives delivered this year

A WEEK OF OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD ADVENTURE

Watch highlights from STELLAR VBS 2023

Calvary's VBS (Vacation Bible School) is our annual week-long program filled with amazing experiences that help kids have fun as they learn from God's Word about the good news of Jesus! Each year, the Penny Project raises funds and awareness for a global cause. In 2023, over $5,420.75 was given to further the ministry of Pablo and Rebecca Pazmiño, serving in Ecuador with One Mission Society where they share the good news of Jesus through kids’ clubs, personal discipleship, small group Bible studies, Celebrate Recovery, and family services.  

Watch Videos   View Photos


Calvary Christian School has been providing the opportunity for students from 2 1/2 years through 8th Grade to participate in excellent academics and diverse enrichments rooted in Christian values for nearly 50 years! 

CCS Highlights for 2023 include:

421 students in Preschool - 8th Grade
Preschool Director, Tina Holland, retired after 20 years of service
New Preschool Director is Lisa Keith with 25 years at CCP and Asst. Director is Kim McKee with 20 years at CCP
Started monthly Family Chapel in the Preschool with families and children worshiping and learning together
Officially merged CCP and CCS to now be a Preschool - 8th Grade school, instead of separate schools
97 new families representing 130 new students at CCS
50 preschool students memorized Psalm 23
6 middle school students and 4 adults served on a GO Trip to Ecuador with Calvary global partners

The school budget, which is separate from Calvary Church, is funded by student tuition and donations provided by generous supporters. We are blessed to see the impact Calvary Christian School is making in children’s lives!

Help Support CCSVisit School Website


Soul Care is a branch of ministries at Calvary that seeks to aid progress in health, growth, and sanctification. Calvary offers Soul Care through Life Counseling, Spiritual Direction, and Prayer Counseling. In addition, we have pastoral and financial assistance available to help with needs of our church family and local community - learn more.

Soul Care Website

 

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

This ministry continued to grow in 2023, with 10 people engaging in a spiritual conversation that highlights God’s presence and encourages growth in relationship with Him.

 

PRAYER COUNSELING

52 individuals came in with different number of sessions (1-10+), plus 3 interns growing in their capacity to guide others in relational conversations with God while learning to hear His voice and experience His love.

 

LIFE COUNSELING

Helping people who are facing challenging seasons in life with biblically-based, Christ-centered resources 
 

60

people received counseling

11

couples received marital counseling

7

couples received premarital counseling and one couple trained to become a mentor couple

16

hurting people received care from Stephen Ministers and 4 new Leaders added

52

in-person weekly Celebrate Recovery meetings

36

people in a  Celebrate Recovery step study

 

 

EMERGENCY NEEDS FUND

ENF is a separate fund that had $81,000 Generously donated by Calvary Church members and attenders to go toward helping those in our church family - primarily with food, shelter and clothing related needs.


1,350

Families/individuals helped through ENF assisted food pantry

170

Families assisted through gas and grocery gift cards

$91,000

Total amount distributed in financial emergency assistance

50

Individuals in need receiving OCTA Bus Pass cards

36

Families assisted in emergency aid related to housing, utilities, insurance, medical/dental

3

Calvary Reach Partners assisted with emergency transportation/medical needs

Donate to Emergency Needs Fund

REACH MINISTRIES

Since 1932, Calvary Church has sent out members to serve cross-culturally around the globe. In 2023, we had the joy to prayerfully and financially support 66 global partners serving in 24 countries in addition to 18 retired partners.


GLOBAL: REACHING THE NATIONS

BIBLES FOR EVERYONE

We gathered on July 2 to celebrate the completion of a New Testament translation for 8.1 million people with 14 distinct peoples groups in Southeast Asia by the Robinsons, the 2023 recipients of Calvary's Cameron Townsend Award for Bible Translation in their continuing work for the Old Testament and for distribution, especially via an app.

THANKSGIVING OUTREACH

Calvary hosted a Thanksgiving Lunch for Afghan Refugees who live locally in Santa Ana and our Thanksgiving Offering this year brought in $31,000 to support refugee work here in Orange County, on the island of Cyprus and aid for displaced people in Israel.

EXPLORING MISSIONS

We invested in opportunities for people to explore their calling in missions by hosting a Greater Europe Mission Discovery Day and partnering with Trinity United Pres to host a Perspective Course on World Missions.


GO TRIPS

5 teams went on GO (Global Outreach) Trips in 2023 to be part of reaching the world with the good news of Jesus.

MEXICO 

January 2023
Served with YWAM to build 5 homes for hard-working families in Baja Mexico, providing hope and sharing the love of Jesus with those in need.

EcuADOR

Spring 2023
CCS Middle School team served alongside Pablo and Rebecca Pazmiño in Ecuador with a VBS program for the community.

ALBANIA

Winter 2023
Equipping our sister church in Albania - Way of Peace - with leadership training for Gospel-centered discipleship.

LESVOS

Summer 2023
Ministered at a Women's Center on the Island of Lesvos with refugees from the Middle East - many seeking asylum from war and poverty.

MOLDOVA

Fall 2023
Partnered with Calvary global partners Oleg and Marina Reutki from NewHope Eurasia, ministering to both Moldovans and Ukrainian refugees.

SUPPORT 2024 GO TRIPS

See what's coming up in 2024 and ways you can participate through prayer or giving at CalvaryLife.org/GO

 

LOCAL: REACHING OUR NEIGHBORS

Hospital MINISTry

Volunteer Hospital Chaplain Ministry trained 25 new chaplains in its ongoing partnership with OC Global

NeighborGood

NeighborGood in May blessed our community with car services, haircuts, car washes, and a hospital landscaping project at OC Global

Pop-Up Pantry

1,000 families served during 2023 through the monthly Pop-up Food Pantry outreach

Alpha COURSE

Introduction to Christianity completed 2 bilingual (English and Spanish) eight week courses in 2023

FILL THE BUS

Thousands of dollars of school supplies were donated to Villa Intermediate and Benson Elementary for kids in need

TOY DRIVE

 250 toys given to Orange County Global Medical's Child Specialist Department

 


May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere. - Psalm 67:2

 

2022 Year in Review