Free Republic

A judge ruled Friday to have a church in California pay $1.2 million in fines—including interest—for defying COVID-19 rules during the pandemic by holding large religious services where attendees were not wearing masks. Calvary Chapel in San Jose was dealt the fine, including 10 percent interest, on April 7 by Evette Pennypacker, a Superior Court of California judge in Santa Clara County, for having exhibited “egregious conduct” in flouting the mask-wearing rules of the county between November 2020 and June 2021. Calvary Chapel was one among several large churches in California that ignored the state and local mask-wearing and social...

(CHRISTIANITY TODAY) Chuck Smith, the evangelical pastor whose outreach to hippies in the 1960s helped transform worship styles in American Christianity and fueled the rise of the Calvary Chapel movement, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 86. Diagnosed in 2011, Smith continued to preach and oversee administration at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (California), where he’d been pastor since 1965. In 2012, he established a 21-member leadership council to oversee the Calvary Church Association, a fellowship of some 1,600 like-minded congregations in the United States and abroad. Smith was known for expository preaching as...

Chuck Smith, the evangelical pastor whose outreach to hippies in the 1960s helped transform worship styles in American Christianity and fueled the rise of the Calvary Chapel movement, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, after a battle with lung cancer. He was 86. Diagnosed in 2011, Smith continued to preach and oversee administration at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (California), where he'd been pastor since 1965. In 2012, he established a 21-member leadership council to oversee the Calvary Church Association, a fellowship of some 1,600 like-minded congregations in the United States and abroad.

Ashram Encounter with Jesus Led to Salvation Godreports My years after high school centered upon work during the week and partying on Balboa Island on the weekends. A weekend party began early Friday night and ended sometime late Sunday. My house became one of the hot spots in Newport Beach for some five years. But one day I grew tired of all the drinking and one night stands and thought it was about time I got married. Maybe that would bring a little more satisfaction and fulfillment into my life. So I ended up marrying a pretty girl from Newport...

“It’s awfully hard to actually suggest abortion,” said Smith. “But, you know, I’m sure that, uh, in a case like this where the life expectancy is just, you know, is so bleak, and all, that I’m sure that the Lord would not condemn her if she went ahead and had an abortion at this early stage of the development of the fetus.”

Libertarian James Quigley is Asking for Your Vote and Help Defeating Bobby Scott on Nov 2nd (Congress, VA-3) Campaign Update: I apologize for the lack of updates in the last few weeks, but the candidate forums, debates, and interviews took up much of my time and focus. When you are running outside of the two-party system, every public appearance must be a homerun. Good news, though. The preparation paid off as I believe I won each and every debate against Mr. Bobby Scott. Why I Oppose Bobby Scott and Why It’s Time to Put A Libertarian in the House: Bobby...

State Central Committee member Chuck Smith has announced his run for the 2nd Congressional seat in VA, election in 2010. Chuck is a former Marine and Navy JAG officer. This is the seat where Democrat Glenn Nye recently beat Republican Thelma Drake. For more information, see http://chucksmith2010.com/index.html

Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel and senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, California, has authored another prophecy book: The Final Act: Setting the Stage of the End Times Drama. The book carries the ringing endorsement of Tim LaHaye, co-author with Jerry Jenkins of the widely popular Left Behind series of prophetic novels. LaHaye offers the following complimentary words: “This unique dramatic treatment is both true to the Scripture and practical—both hallmarks of all Pastor Chuck’s teaching! I found it very interesting.” In addition to his new prophecy book, Smith has written the Foreword to Breaking the Apocalypse Code...

For Pastor Chuck Smith, the big issues are undebatable. For Chuck Smith Jr., also a pastor, it's not so crystal clear. Something had to give. From his pulpit in Santa Ana, Chuck Smith's voice thunders with certainty. He denounces homosexuality as a "perverted lifestyle," finds divine wrath in earthquakes and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and promises imminent Armageddon in a deep, sure voice. If his message is grim, the founder of the Jesus People and the Calvary Chapel movement bears the ruddy good cheer of a 79-year-old believer who insists he has never known a day's doubt or despair....

During his morning sermon last Sunday, Senior Pastor Dave Johnston of the Calvary Chapel in Santa Cruz preached redemption. He mentioned Mary Magdalene, the prostitute chosen by Christ to be the first witness to his resurrection, as a powerful example of faith changing someone's life. But when he began to talk about someone ``closer to home,'' Johnston choked back tears. One of his own assistant pastors, Johnston disclosed to 250 members of the congregation, is a registered sex offender who has spent time in prison. Church members know Bill Bjorkman as the kindly Pastor Bill, an ordained pastor for the...