Connect with us -CONNECT CARD

YEAR IN REVIEW

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Dear Calvary Family,

This has been a year of trusting in God as a church for his provision and his presence. I was astounded by your generosity as we all trusted in God to provide for our needs in 2024 with the Forward and Faith projects, which include repairing the Worship Center HVAC, renovating outdoor gathering spaces, refreshing our Worship Center auditorium, and renaming the Heritage Medical Building to the Calvary Hope Center.

We have also continued to pursue reimagining how we do ministry here at Calvary with an eye for making disciples who make disciples and doing all of that through relationships as much as possible. I encourage you to keep sitting around the table with people as you connect with God and others to grow in your faith so you reach Orange County and the world for Jesus Christ.

We trust in God’s presence with us through it all. We enjoy God’s presence with us through it all. Please take some time to read through our Year in Review and be encouraged by all that God is doing here at Calvary. And please pray that God will continue to provide for us through his presence with us.

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 2024 OVERVIEW

Use of Funds by Ministry Area

 

July 2023 - June 2024

Thank you for generously supporting the resources and staff that make these ministries possible. We ended the fiscal year with the General Fund replenishing our reserves by about $160,000 which was the amount we overspent in the previous year. Our Reach Fund spent $125,360 in reserves this year to fund additional projects.

* The numbers titled Church Ministry Funds from our audit reflect all ministry-related expenses for the church, including Emergency Needs. Giving to Forward in Faith is accounted for separately and received an additional $2.2 million as of December 2024. Phase One - to improve our HVAC in the Worship Center - spent approximately $400,000 of the funds received by fiscal year-end. More at CalvaryLife.org/Forward



July 2025 - November 2024

For the first five months of the current fiscal year (July - November 2024), 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 and prayerfully use the gifts you give and for provision as we pursue ministry into 2025 together.

GIVE ONLINE HERE

 

Heritage Building


All operational expenses and loan interest 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-- OC Rescue Mission, Safe Families, Hurtt Family Health Clinic, Emmaus Road Counseling and more. 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.

2,068

Average Sunday participation*

3,535

Easter Sunday 2024*

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

New Worship Pastor

In 2024,  we welcomed Jasen Ashdown as our new Worship Pastor! He brings twenty-two years of experience to the role and we look forward to seeing how he shepherds our church family toward further cultivating a vibrant life of worship for the glory of God. 

 


SUNDAY SERIES

Click below to watch messages from each of our 2024 Sunday Series

ONLINE NUMBERS

1,833

YOUTUBE SUBSCRIBERS

2,198

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS

1,667

MOST WATCHED VIDEO
"The Greatest Rule Follower Was Jesus"
Short on Luke 10:25-28
from Mother's Day 2024

1,188

MOST VIEWED LIVESTREAM
"Great Expectation- 1 Peter 1:3-9"
Easter Sunday 2024

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. 

30

Connections Volunteers
Join a Team

1

New "Life with Jesus" Membership & Discipleship Course Launched
How to Become a Member

50

People Baptized!
Learn More about Baptism


Easter Baptisms - March 31, 2024

Beach Baptisms - September 11, 2024


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 6000 in attendance
200+ volunteers from Calvary Church and School
Over 2,000 lbs of candy donated
Hundreds of cake and cupcakes donated
Live bluegrass band and Amazing puppet show

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Approximately 2000 in attendance 
Live band and Living Nativity
Almost 150 Volunteers
3 Camels on campus
290 In-N-Out burgers enjoyed
200+ toys donated to the OC Global Medical Center!

ADULT MINISTRIES

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


Leader Development

8 interns/residents were being developed in different Calvary ministries.
70 new ongoing volunteers were onboarded church-wide.
280 volunteers were celebrated at GRACIAS - our annual leadership event.
800+ unique volunteers served in one of Calvary’s ongoing ministries

LifeGroups

5 Connect Days helping people find ways to grow in community
50 Ongoing Groups
97 Leaders
Countless stories of people supporting and caring for each other

Young Adults

Approx 50 college age students met weekly in a variety of small groups, Bible studies and services designed to understand and share the love of Jesus.
80% of these college students currently serve as volunteers in ministries throughout Calvary.

 

Women

200 women grew in biblical wisdom and community through LifeGroups.
30 women practiced abiding in Christ at this year's Saturday Slowdown.
20+ moms pursued spiritual growth together in the new Nurture at Night.

Men

Over 60 men experienced the love of Jesus and each other Man Camp.
Multiple Midweek gatherings met weekly with men seeking to encourage each other in love and good deeds.
Men of different generations shared their life stories and prayed for each other in our 6 Packs.

60+ Adults

56 Bible Studies with Hymn Singalongs. 
7 Special Concert/Music events.
24 Widows assisted twice in the year through Operation Love serve days.
52 Hikes around Orange County with the weekly Walk & Word group.

 

Hispanic Ministry

The first 2 missionaries commissioned by Calvary from the Hispanic Ministry - Alma Guzman and Lili Salinas.
The first “GO Trip” to Guatemala done by a Hispanic Ministry Team.
A renewed focus in 1-on-1 Discipleship through our different Family Ministries.
Fall family Mini-Camp with a time to teach/learn how to lead a family bible study.


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 Jackson Reese and the impact of discipleship from one generation to the next.


Watch Chloe's story of finding life-giving connection and friendship through Calvary's Nurture Ministry, during a challenging time as a new mom.  


Watch Mark Joy's story of finding a place to belong and thrive in Calvary's Young Adults Ministry and sharing the hope he's found with others.


Watch Don Nellis' story of the fruit found in a lifelong journey of giving the truth of God's Word and the love of Jesus away in Mexico and Los Angeles.  

 

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

4 Family Fun events brought parents & kids together for faith-building fun
50 kids regularly attend midweek 
23 4th + 5th graders experienced summer camp at Forest Home
800+ kids participated in DIVE IN VBS
496 volunteers served at VBS
100+ faith decisions!


THE SPOT 

6th - 8th Grade

The 1/2 Nighter (Youth Outreach Event) had 150 Students  
75 to Summer Camp at Hume 
84 enjoyed Friendsgiving together
19 consistent and intentional Leaders
6 Spot LifeGroups meeting for discipleship


HSM 

9th - 12th Grade

125 Students Brought to Hume Lake
60 Students at Weekly Gatherings
24 Leaders Serving
7 Students Baptized

A NEXT-LEVEL SUMMER ADVENTURE

Watch highlights from Dive In VBS 2024

At Calvary's Dive In Vacation Bible School, over 800 kids were welcomed by 500 volunteers who led amazing worship songs, told stories about Jesus, refereed crazy games, taught Bible verses, provided crafts and snacks, and directed spiritual conversations. Each day, kids learned that God is our friend. He is welcoming, loving, faithful and kind. He can be trusted. A total of 124 kids made first-time decisions to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, entering into an everlasting friendship with God. Wow!  

Watch VBS Videos   View VBS 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 2024 include:

420 students in Preschool through 8th Grade
82 new families representing 116 new students
53 international students hosted at CCS
68 Preschool students memorized Psalm 100 and recited for our Preschool families
A new kindergarten playground was funded and installed,
representing a $110,000 investment that will benefit the school and church communities
Our Middle School drama program presented the musical Godspell
We hosted a regional spelling bee with hundreds of students from Christian schools around Southern California
Preschool began using social-emotional curriculum that's helping our children grow

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


While much of Calvary's Soul Care ministries are highly confidential, this branch of our church gets to see God's amazing work in people's lives. 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

8 people took part in Individual Spiritual Direction - conversations that highlight God’s presence and encourages growth in relationship with Him. There was also one Spiritual Direction Group that met with 6 people. 

 

PRAYER COUNSELING

22 new people and 10 ongoing people who came for relational conversations with God while learning to hear His voice and experience His love. We also launched the 5-week Prayer Path class in August.

 

LIFE COUNSELING

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

52

people received individual counseling

12

couples received marriage counseling

7

couples received premarital counseling 

12

individuals received weekly Stephen Ministers care

30+

people attended weekly Celebrate Recovery group meetings

24

people participated in a Celebrate Recovery step study

 

 

EMERGENCY NEEDS FUND

The ENF fund helps to bless and assist those who experience financial emergencies. Calvary Church members and attenders generously donated a total of $91,417 to this fund in 2024 (a 12% increase from 2023).

50

Families/Individuals Helped

$115,909

Total amount distributed in assistance

$16,500

Went to provide food for Pop Up Pantry

Donate to Emergency Needs Fund

REACH MINISTRIES

Since 1932, Calvary Church has sent out members to serve cross-culturally around the globe. In 2024, we had the joy to prayerfully and financially support 62 global partners serving in 24 countries in addition to 19 retired partners.


GLOBAL: REACHING THE NATIONS

BIBLES FOR EVERYONE

We gathered on November 10 to celebrate 90 years of partnership with SIL in the Bible translation movement. Since being formed by William Cameron Townsend 90 years ago, SIL has been vital in seeing thousands of Bible translation projects begun across the Globe, with our own John & Kathy Watters receiving the 2024 Cameron Townsend Award.

GOOD NEWS FOR EUROPE

On Sunday, June 30 we honed in on our commitment toward Good News for Europe and our strategic global partnership with Greater Europe Mission (GEM). We had the opportunity to hear stories of God at work in Europe, commissioned several GEM missionaries to be sent, and hosted the Southern California GEM Discovery Day with more than 40 in attendance.

COMMISSIONING NEW MISSIONARIES

We had a United Sunday on May 26 where we commissioned our two newest Calvary missionaries - Alma Guzman and Lilia Salinas to work with UIM in Mexico. They are the first long-term workers to be commissioned via Calvary and sent out from Hispanic Ministries.


GO TRIPS

6 teams went on GO (Global Outreach) Trips in 2024 to be part of reaching the world with the good news of Jesus. See what's coming up in 2025 and ways you can participate through prayer or giving at CalvaryLife.org/GO

 

MEXICO

January 2024
Click the video above to see how Homes of Hope, through a 20-year partnership with YWAM, has helped to build homes, give hope and share the love of Jesus with families in Mexico.

EcuADOR

Spring 2024
CCS Middle School team served alongside Pablo and Rebecca Pazmiño in Ecuador with a VBS program for the community.

ALBANIA

Summer 2024
High School Ministry restarted their post-COVID GO Trip by assisting Way of Peace Church with a VBS and English language classes.

LESVOS

Summer 2024
Serving refugees from Africa and the Middle East fleeing war and poverty in the name of Jesus.

Portugal

Summer 2024
Our family trip was a special time partnering with the Shoemakers in post-Christian Europe to encourage and serve small local churches.

Guatemala

November 2024
Hispanic Ministries first major missions trip doing a VBS & ministering to impoverished children.

 

LOCAL: REACHING OUR NEIGHBORS

Hospital MINISTry

We finished our third year as the primary chaplain resource for the hospital “across the street.” This includes having our volunteer chaplains on call for emergencies, making rounds through the seven floors of the hospital, and hosting a weekly prayer time for hospital staff - whom we served over 500 breakfast burritos to in May as part of Hospital Appreciation Week.

NeighborGood

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” (Romans 15:2). In May we hosted our annual “NeighborGood”, a day to serve and bless our nieghbors. We offered free oil changes, car washes, bike repairs, haircuts, immigration services and groceries. Over 100 volunteers served to make the day happen.

Pop-Up Pantry

Our monthly drive-through grocery distribution outreach in partnership with Orange County non-profit, Mary’s Kitchen, continued in year four as 150 volunteers helped to give out over 1,250 grocery boxes to our neighbors in need and lifted up many in prayer.

Alpha COURSE

We use the Alpha Course to introduce skeptics, seekers and new believers to the core teachings of following Jesus. We hosted two bi-lingual (English and Spanish) Alpha Courses in the Fall and Spring of 2024, covering topics like, “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?” and “How and Why Should I Pray?” Invite a friend who may be interested in knowing more about Jesus to our next Alpha Course happening in April 2025.

Language Class OUtreach

We offered 20 weeks of ESL and SSL classes in 2024 taught by Carolina Joseph, Allison Serano, Juliana Serrano, Jade Eaton and Anita Torkelson. Students learned basic grammar and vocabulary and incorporated casual conversation and songs! Our spring session of Wednesday night ESL and SSL will begin April 2, 2025 - invite a friend and join us!

Oak Valley College

Our partnership with Oak Valley College officially launched in Fall 2024 with the first cohort of 14 year-one students. The faith-based college offers a low-cost bachelor degree, which can be completed in two years and eight months. Fall 2025 enrollment is now open, learn more at OakValley.edu

 

 Help fuel the mission locally and globally into 2025 and beyond!

GIVE HERE