2020 Year in Review
Dear Calvary Church Family,
It’s overwhelming just thinking about an Annual Report on the year that was 2020. Where does one begin? Well, I start with this - 2020 was hard. That’s probably an understatement- it was a difficult year for so many people, including our church. However, what I loved to see was God caring for us and Calvary being THE CHURCH for a hurting world.
God cared for Calvary in some wonderful ways:
- We began planning in January of 2020 to live stream our services online and had actually had just done a practice live stream service the week before the lock down began. We were on the road to using that technology with much of the equipment in place before it became an emergency.
- We have had some incredible new volunteers and staff with skills in video, broadcasting, audio, etc.
- The elders of Calvary committed to giving double their tithe for three months and challenged our church to do the same, which resulted in ending our Fiscal Year End (June 30) ahead of budget.
- We entered a partnership with Anaheim Vineyard to provide meals for those in need through our Pop-Up Pantry. The Calvary community generously volunteered both money and time to make this ministry thrive.
We adapted and innovated to carry out God’s unchanging purpose for our church in new ways:
- We are worshiping Jesus and preaching God’s Word outdoors at Calvary and online with live-stream services.
- We have LifeGroups connecting and growing in gospel-driven community on Zoom, at parks, and in backyards.
- We are partnering with families to help build up the next generation through online and at-home resources.
- We are praying over our neighborhoods, asking for God’s blessing as we build relationships in Jesus’ name.
- We formed a neighbor volunteer task force to help meet the needs of our most vulnerable community members.
- We served groceries to over 22,000 people in 2020 to those in need through our Pop Up Pantry.
- We are supporting missionaries overseas who are also ministering in unique ways through this pandemic.
I encourage you to read through highlights of Calvary's local and global ministry in our 2020 Year in Review. You will see how throughout all the challenges of this past year, the mission continues! We continue to need your generosity, service, and prayers to thrive in 2021. We know that God is always good and His mercies endure forever! So I thank God for all things, even 2020.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Eric Wakeling