The Movement
The roots of Calvary Chapel can be found in Costa Mesa, California. A non-denominational Christian church, Calvary Chapel was founded by Pastor Chuck Smith in 1965 during a time when most traditional churches were turning away the next generation because of the length of their hair and the counter-culture lifestyle they practiced. Driven by a burden for that generation, Chuck reached out to them with love and understanding and without compromise of Christian principles. It has been estimated that over 8,000 baptisms were performed in a two-year period at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in the mid 70s. During that same period, Pastor Chuck Smith and his church were instrumental in bringing 20,000 conversions to the Christian faith. Chuck Smith came to be known as a leading figure in what is today called “The Jesus Movement.”
Today, with affiliate churches all over the country and the world, Calvary Chapels are still reaching out to the lost and attempting to love the unloved. They are best known for their strong emphasis on the teaching of God's Word and the application of that Word to everyday life. High importance is also placed upon worship and praise designed to draw believers to a place of intimate communion with God and to ready their hearts for His Word.
Calvary Chapel Harrisburg - West Shore
Matt VanderVen is the Pastor at Calvary Chapel Harrisburg, a fellowship located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
The Lord placed on Pastor Matt's heart a desire for the people of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In October 2014, after several months of prayer, Pastor Matt with his wife, Lisa, and their four boys, began commuting bi-weekly from Rochester, New York to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania for a mid-week Bible study. God began drawing people to the mid-week Bible study at Prosser Hall in Camp Hill, which then led to weekly mid-week studies. The family moved from Rochester to the Harrisburg area in June 2015.
The Holy Spirit continues to add to the fellowship and in December 2015 we moved from Prosser Hall in Camp Hill to Shiremanstown. Once again after God's blessings and need for more sanctuary seating,
In April of 2018 the Lord provided a new place of meeting for the fellowship to gather, moving to 702 Lisburn Road in Camp Hill until August of 2023 when once again after God's blessings and need for more sanctuary seating for the church and academy. On August 27th 2023 the Lord built His new building for His bride to gather for services, fellowship and to pray at 28 North Locust Point Road in Mechanicsburg, our current location. We continue to teach God's Word without compromise, serving Harrisburg and the surrounding communities on the West Shore.
Our story is still being written. If you are not part of a local body of believers, please pray about making this fellowship your church home. If you are looking for simple line-by-line teaching through God's Word, without compromise, then we would like to invite you visit Calvary Chapel Harrisburg - West Shore.
The Lord placed on Pastor Matt's heart a desire for the people of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In October 2014, after several months of prayer, Pastor Matt with his wife, Lisa, and their four boys, began commuting bi-weekly from Rochester, New York to Camp Hill, Pennsylvania for a mid-week Bible study. God began drawing people to the mid-week Bible study at Prosser Hall in Camp Hill, which then led to weekly mid-week studies. The family moved from Rochester to the Harrisburg area in June 2015.
The Holy Spirit continues to add to the fellowship and in December 2015 we moved from Prosser Hall in Camp Hill to Shiremanstown. Once again after God's blessings and need for more sanctuary seating,
In April of 2018 the Lord provided a new place of meeting for the fellowship to gather, moving to 702 Lisburn Road in Camp Hill until August of 2023 when once again after God's blessings and need for more sanctuary seating for the church and academy. On August 27th 2023 the Lord built His new building for His bride to gather for services, fellowship and to pray at 28 North Locust Point Road in Mechanicsburg, our current location. We continue to teach God's Word without compromise, serving Harrisburg and the surrounding communities on the West Shore.
Our story is still being written. If you are not part of a local body of believers, please pray about making this fellowship your church home. If you are looking for simple line-by-line teaching through God's Word, without compromise, then we would like to invite you visit Calvary Chapel Harrisburg - West Shore.