Calvary Chapel of the Berkshires has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our supreme desire is to know Christ and to be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are not a denomination church, nor are we opposed to denominations as such, only their over emphasis
of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.
WE BELIEVE that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons:
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God
created all, upholds all and governs all.
WE BELIEVE that all the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God,
fully inspired in the original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice.
WE BELIEVE worship of God should be Intelligent. Our services are designed with great
emphasis upon teaching the Word of God that He might instruct us how He would be worshiped.
WE BELIEVE worship of God should be Inspirational. We give a great place to music
in our worship.
WE BELIEVE worship of God is Fruitful. We look for His love in our lives as the
supreme manifestation we have truly been worshiping Him.
WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, His substitutionary
atoning death; bodily resurrection; ascension into heaven; perpetual intercession for
His people; and personal, visible return to earth.
WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict
the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower
in ministry all who believe in Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer
in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher and Guide. We believe in the
present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the
Spirit as reflected through the fruit of that same Spirit.
WE BELIEVE that all people are sinners by nature and choice and therefore, are under
condemnation; that God regenerates, by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins
and confess Jesus Christ as Lord; that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with
the Holy Spirit and, in so doing, empowers them for service.
WE BELIEVE in the universal church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is
the Head and all regenerated persons are members.
WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ committed two ordinances to the church:
1. Baptism by immersion
2. The Lord’s Supper, Communion open to all believers
WE BELIEVE in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the empowering Sprit for service,
subsequent to or simultaneously with the indwelling Spirit for salvation.
WE BELIEVE in the personal, visible return of Christ to the earth and the
establishment of His kingdom; in the resurrection of the body; the final judgement
and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless suffering of the wicked.
In 1965, Pastor Chuck Smith began his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa with just 25 people.
From the beginning, Pastor Chuck welcomed all, young and old, without judgment, placing his
emphasis on the teaching of the Word of God. His simple, yet sound, biblical approach
drew 25,000 people weekly.
With a sincere concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck made room in his heart and his home
for a generation of hippies and surfers, generating a movement of the Holy Spirit that
spread from the West Coast to the East Coast, and now, throughout the world. What began
as a small local church has now grown into an international ministry of over 1,800
fellowships throughout the world.
For a more in-depth look at the history of Calvary Chapel, we recommend reading
The Reproducers. You can download a free digital copy as a PDF here
Many other wonderful books written by Pastor Chuck Smith are available for free here: www.pastorchuck.org/books/