Remembering God’s Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) | CCCH 35th Anniversary

Walking in God’s Faithfulness: 35 Years of Grace and Calling

As we celebrate thirty-five years together as a church family, I cannot help but look back in awe at the goodness of God. The words of Deuteronomy 6 remind us that His Word must be in our hearts, taught to our children, and spoken of in the daily moments of life. That is the legacy of faith—a testimony we are called not only to remember but to live.

When I reflect on the early days, I see how God was shaping everything long before there was a fellowship here. In 1977, I surrendered my life to Christ. By 1979, Lisa and I were married, full of plans, dreams, and a love for the Lord. Yet just before our wedding, the Lord stripped away the financial security I had been clinging to. I went from a high-paying job to minimum wage. At the time it felt devastating, but God was teaching me to rely on Him alone. Lisa never wavered. Together we learned to walk by faith, not by sight.

In those years at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, the Lord was preparing us in ways we couldn’t yet see. I had always struggled with a stutter and prayed desperately that God would heal me so I could tell people about Him. One night during prayer, a stranger spoke words of knowledge over me: God would heal me—but not yet. I was to study His Word and wait for His timing. Years later, when I shared the gospel with a young woman on a pier, I realized with shock—I had not stuttered once. That night, God fulfilled His promise.

Over and over, the Lord confirmed His call, even when I resisted. I wanted a career, stability, and comfort. But God had other plans. Through unexpected moments—prayer meetings, prophetic words, and the quiet whisper of His Spirit—He made it clear: I was to preach His Word. What began as a small home Bible study grew, despite my protests. People kept inviting others, and the fellowship multiplied until it became impossible to deny that God was planting a church.

When Lisa and I moved to Chino Hills, it wasn’t even a city yet—just farmland, cows, and open land. But God knew what He was doing. He gave us a home, and He began gathering His people. We never set out to build something big, but God was faithful. He provided every step of the way—without fundraising campaigns, without gimmicks—only through the teaching of His Word.

Now, thirty-five years later, I look around and see not just a church but generations raised up in faith. Young men and women serving, pastors standing strong, a fellowship that has endured—not because of us, but because of Him. Every resource, every opportunity, every door that has opened—whether here, across the nation, or even overseas—has been His doing.

And yet, after all this time, I feel more excitement, more urgency, more awe at God’s Word than ever before. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is this: God keeps His promises. He never fails. He doesn’t always explain the path, but He always proves Himself faithful.

So tonight, as we worship and pray, I invite you to listen for His voice. He may be calling you into a ministry you never imagined. He may be asking you to trust Him with something that seems impossible. Don’t be afraid. Step into His plan.

Because the same God who took a young man with no voice and made him a preacher, the same God who turned a small home study into a worldwide ministry, is the same God who holds your life in His hands. And what He begins, He always finishes.