Background

We have 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 believe that the only true basis of Christian fellowship is His (agape) love which is greater than the differences we possess in the body of Christ and without which we have no right to claim ourselves Christians. Thus we are committed to loving unconditionally all whom the Holy Spirit would join to our fellowship, accepting without bias or prejudice, and forgiving as Christ has forgiven us.

We are affiliated with Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, which began in 1965, pastored by Chuck Smith, who became a leading figure in what has become known as the "Jesus Movement". We are one of over a thousand Calvary Chapels spread throughout the United States and around the world.

In 1981, Pastor Pat Kenney took the role of Senior Pastor at Christian Chapel Escondido after serving for five years as the college and career pastor and worship leader at Walnut. Two years later, after struggling with the need for a more balanced, biblical approach to the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, along with an increasing hunger for the sound teachings of the Word of God, Pastor Pat requested and was granted fellowship with Calvary Chapel. Pastor Pat served faithfully as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel of Escondido for 27 years, and in April of 2008 turned the church over to Pastor Miles DeBenedictis. Listen to service

Pastor Miles began attending Calvary Chapel Escondido, with his family, when he was 11 years old.  He was discipled and raised up through the youth ministry, and in January of 1999 came on staff as a pastoral intern.  Miles has served in several capacities both in the US and overseas. He has enjoyed teaching bible classes at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrietta, CA, and its extension campuses in Costa Mesa, CA, Siegen, Germany and Dumaguete, Philippines.  He and his wife Andrea were married in 2006 and are expecting their first child.

We warmly invite you to get acquainted with our fellowship and our ministries!