A National Day of Prayer

Michele Marr

The cover of the weekly bulletin at Calvary Chapel Beach Side quotes

from the book of Isaiah, “Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare

his praise in the coastlands.”

The church has made its home as close to the coastlands as it could

get and it’s focused on carrying out its mission.

First called Committed Christian Fellowship, the church began as a

Bible study of mostly surfers who met in a La Habra surf shop.

Eventually, the Bible study grew into a church and moved to Huntington

Beach.

“The members were very committed, so that’s how the church got that

name,” senior pastor Mike Harris explained.

When the church’s founding pastor resigned after its first two years

in the city, a number of men from the ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa

Mesa filled in to teach while the church’s board sought a new pastor.

Harris, at the time a youth pastor, was one of those men.

He had been on the staff in Costa Mesa for 15 years. In time he was

asked by the board of Committed Christian Fellowship to serve as its

senior pastor. He accepted the call and changed the church’s name.

“Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, under pastor Chuck Smith, has a great

witness of consistency and teaching, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse,

through the Bible,” Harris said. “When people see that name they know

what they can expect.”

The church had close to 400 members when Harris arrived a little more

than two years ago. It has grown to nearly 700.

“Things have changed so much it is almost a new fellowship,” he said.

The congregation meets at a leased storefront location on Beach

Boulevard Boulevard near Yorktown Avenue. On Sunday morning, there are

two worship services. Harris and the board are considering the addition

of a third. They are also ready to find a building large enough for the

congregation to worship together at one service on Sunday morning. They

want a building they can buy.

Meanwhile Harris remains focused on the church’s goals.

“First and foremost, the church is here so that people can grow in

their relationship with the Lord,” he said.

Reaching out to the community and serving the community is important

to Harris and the congregation. This year, he has organized a prayer

gathering for today, National Day of Prayer.

Pastors from numerous churches throughout Huntington Beach --

including Beach Cities Calvary Church, Seabreeze Church, Church of the

Coastlands, Calvary Baptist Church, Evangelical Free Church and Calvary

Chapel of Huntington Beach -- will join Harris outside City Hall to lead

those who gather there in prayer.

“We will pray for the national, state and local governments, our

educators, firefighters, police and local churches. We will pray for

Israel. We will pray for the media, that the truth would be presented,”

said Andrew Russell, associate pastor of missions at Calvary Chapel

Huntington Beach.

Russell will attend the event along with senior pastor Bill Welsh and

associate pastor Alyn Loyd.

Jim Kempner senior pastor of Beach Cities Calvary Church and a

chaplain for the Huntington Beach Police Department added, “We want to

pray for our country -- its people and its families -- and for our

community in particular. We want to ask God to give them wisdom,

protection and guidance.”

The two-hour meeting will include praise and worship music as well as

prayer. Those who attend are encouraged to bring a friend, a blanket, a

Bible and a heart for prayer.

“This is not a partisan or political event,” Kempner emphasized. “We

want to support all of our leaders and public servants who carry so much

responsibility, because sometimes we all find our work goes beyond our

own abilities and we need help from above.”

* MICHELE MARR is a freelance writer and graphic designer from

Huntington Beach. She has been interested in religion and ethics for as

long as she can remember. She can be reached at o7

michele@soulfoodfiles.com.f7

FYI

What: The National Day of Prayer Gathering sponsored by Calvary Chapel

Beach Side

When: Today, May 2, from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Outside the Huntington Beach City Hall at Main Street and

Yorktown Avenue

Cost: Free

Information: (714) 465-3025