Chuck Smith is NOT deluded as the previous review states! I have first-hand knowledge & experience in the Calvary Chapel Movement and have found the churches to be rich in the word of God and worship. I OWN this book and have read it and I will never let it go! It is a wonderful testimony and reminder how our God can take one man, and raise up many through him. It's a book about God's grace, God's provision and God's outpouring of his love and spirit during a time when the knowledge of God was very much needed during the 60's. I have moved and have been a part of 3 Calvary Chapels (Philadelphia, Jerusalem and Cleveland) since 1985 and can say each pastor has been truly touched by the ministry of Chuck Smith and humbled as to what the Lord has done through him. I have MET him and my husband even attended Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa where he preaches, and we both agree, as to all who have met him, that he is a humble and wonderful, godly man. This book is SO encouraging and it is a testimony of what simple faith and obedience to the Lord can do! It has been many years since I've read the book but here is a glimps of the story: During the 60's, Chuck Smith is apparently unsuccessful in staying in a church for any longer than two years. Finally, when he is pasturing a church and seems it be thriving, the Lord gently works on his heart to take over a little struggling country church called Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA. Against his better judgment, he does and also begins to teach in a new style of teaching called expository (verse-by-verse). Everything seems OK, but then his wife, Kay, begins to have a heart for the hippies on the beaches of California. She convinces Chuck to go to the beach, watch them and then just pray for them. As times goes on, he begins to get a heart for them and meets his first Jesus-believing hippie. Next thing they know, there are hippies living in their home and attended their church. This causes upset with many of the original people at the church because he allows them to come in with no shoes! As times goes on the church is mostly filled with hippies from the Jesus Movement and they begin to share their new songs that Chuck began using for worship songs. I'm sure you've sung a few and never new it - like "Seek Ye First!"! Soon, these hippies, branched off and began new Calvaries in the area and in other states. Today Calvary Chapels are world-wide and I know because I've attended one while I lived in Israel. The focus of Calvary Chapels is God's Grace, His Word, His Spirit and Worship and prayer. You always find lots of love and strong believers at a Calvary. If you want to find a Calvary Chapel in your area, go to www.CalvaryChapel.org
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