Chris Ward
Pastor
Email: calvary@calvarymaricopa.org

Born into a Navy family at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, I was raised in the Methodist Church until High School. God had a calling on my life even back then as I became heavily involved in our youth group when my family began attending an Evangelical Free Church in Crystal Lake, IL.

I finished High School in Albuquerque, NM where I was introduced to Calvary Chapel by a very cute blonde girl (my wife) while in college. After graduating with a degree in Radio/Television Production, my wife Debbie and I served as Asst. Home Fellowship leaders at Calvary Chapel Albuquerque. When the Assistant Pastor, Gino Geraci went to plant a church in the Denver area, God called us to go help him with the plant.

We started Calvary Chapel South Denver in our one-room apartment in Lakewood, CO back in 1991. While serving as the Youth Director at CCSD, I also ran a Christian Artist/Radio Promotions business working with such artists as "The Imperials", "Crystal Lewis", and "The Kry". In 1997, I gave up my business and worked for a Christian TV station but was let go after only 3 months. Discouraged and out of work for nearly 4 months, I received an invitation to work at the Christian Research Institute in Southern California. Working on the "Bible Answerman" show with Hank Hannegraff put me in contact with a Phoenix radio station and we moved to the Valley of the Sun in 1998.

We've been heavily involved in ministry with Calvary Community Church as the leaders of a Bible Study, New Believer's ministry, and most recently as the leader of the Young Adults ministry. God then put it on my heart after working with Pastor Rudy Paredes of Calvary Chapel Chandler to plant a Calvary here in Maricopa.

Married/Kids:  Debbie (wife), two children.

Outdoor Activities:  Camping, Hiking, any Water-based activity, Skiing

Favorite Bible passage:  John 9:4, and 2 Corinthians 5:17

Hobbies:  HwaRangDo (Korean martial art) and American History

Books (other than the Bible):  "Mere Christianity" - C.S. Lewis, "Living by the Book" - Howard Hendricks, "Pursuit of Holiness" - Jerry Bridges

Breakfast Cereal:  Fruity Pebbles or Frosted Mini-Wheats

Personal Motto:  Achievement through Discipline, Powered by Grace from God.

Sports Teams: Denver Broncos, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Avalanche

Hero:  Eric Liddle, The Scottish Missionary and Olympic Gold Medalist. George Mueller, English Evangelist and Philanthropist

Favorite Foods:  New Mexican Food. (Yes this is different than Tex-Mex and other forms of Mexican food.)

Singers/Bands:  Mercy Me, Kutless, Seven Places, Rebecca St. James, and Charlie Peacock

TV Shows:  "The Amazing Race" and "24", I also like "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

Something others would be surprised to know about you:  My minor in College was Musical Theater

Movies:  Star Wars, Star Trek, anything Sci-Fi

The greatest thing about Calvary:  That it is not great in and of itself. Only God is great and worthy to be praised.