Calvary Chapel Elizabeth City is blessed to be part of the Calvary Chapel Association (CCA), a fellowship of like-minded churches committed to teaching the Word of God, making disciples, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Legacy of Biblical Teaching

In 1965, Pastor Chuck Smith began his ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa with just 25 people. From the very beginning, he welcomed all—young and old—without judgment, placing a strong emphasis on the simple yet sound teaching of God’s Word. His biblical approach and genuine love for people sparked a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit that spread from the West Coast to the East Coast and, ultimately, throughout the world.

With a deep concern for the lost, Pastor Chuck opened his heart and home to a generation of hippies and surfers, igniting a revival that led to the Jesus Movement of the late 1960s and 70s. What began as a small local church has grown into an international ministry, with over 1,800 Calvary Chapel fellowships worldwide.

What We Believe and Emphasize

As a Calvary Chapel, we are committed to:

• Verse-by-Verse Bible Teaching – We believe in the systematic teaching of Scripture, allowing God’s Word to shape and transform lives.

• The Grace of God – We stand firmly on the foundation of God’s grace, fostering an environment where people can grow in their relationship with Jesus without legalism or pressure.

• The Work of the Holy Spirit – We acknowledge and welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our church, seeking His leading in all we do.

• A Balanced Approach to Theology – We hold to a Christ-centered, Spirit-led faith that avoids extremes while remaining biblically grounded.

We invite you to learn more about who we are, what we believe, and where Calvary Chapel churches are located throughout the world. More importantly, we invite you to join us as we worship our Lord and Savior, study His Word, grow in His grace, and fulfill His Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

For more in-depth information about the Calvary Chapel movement, our history, and Pastor Chuck Smith, please visit the Calvary Chapel Association website at calvarychapelassociation.com.

At Calvary Chapel Elizabeth City, we hold to the core doctrines of the Christian faith while also embracing certain distinctives that define who we are as a fellowship. These distinctives shape our approach to ministry, teaching, and how we live out our faith as a church family.

Calvary Chapel Distinctives:

God’s Model for the Church

In Calvary Chapels, we look to the book of Acts as the model for the church. It is a church filled with the Holy Spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The four basic functions of the early church are found in Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Church Government
Church government typically is found in three basic forms: rule by a bishop or overseer (episkopos); a board of elders (presbyteros); and congregational rule. In Calvary Chapel, we believe that the senior pastor is ruled by the Lord and aided by the Board of Directors to discover the mind and will of Jesus Christ for His church. Complementing the senior pastor are the assisting pastors, who minister to the spiritual needs of the congregation on a daily basis.

Empowered by the Spirit
We believe that there is an experience of the empowering of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer that is distinct and separate from the indwelling of the Spirit that takes place at conversion. We acknowledge a three–fold relationship between the Holy Spirit and the believer: “para” – coming alongside; “en” – in you; and “epi” – an overflow.  We believe in the power and necessity of the Holy Spirit while staying firmly grounded in the Word of God. This balance ensures that we neither neglect the work of the Spirit nor drift into emotionalism or doctrinal extremes.

Building the Church God’s Way
At Calvary Chapel, we have a relaxed, casual style. We don’t get involved in a lot of spiritual hype. We don’t try to motivate people carnally, and we are not apt to shout at the congregation. We simply trust in the work of the Holy Spirit, and of Jesus Christ who is building His church as He said He would.

Grace Upon Grace
We realize that without the grace of God, none of us would have a chance. We need the grace of God in our lives daily. We believe in the love and grace that seeks to restore the fallen.  We emphasize grace over legalism, understanding that salvation is a work of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This grace allows us to grow, serve, and walk in freedom, not bondage.

The Priority of the Word
 We teach the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book, believing that God’s Word is inerrant, sufficient, and life-transforming. Rather than teaching from personal opinions or trends, we allow the full counsel of Scripture to guide us.

The Centrality of Jesus Christ
 Jesus is at the center of everything we do. We preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again, and we seek to reflect His grace, love, and truth in our daily lives.  We don’t allow any practice or behavior during our services that would distract people from focusing on Him

The Rapture of the Church
We believe that Jesus Christ will come for His church (a biblical event known as the “Rapture”). Then a seven-year period which the Bible calls, “The Great Tribulation” will begin, followed by the Second Coming of Jesus to the earth and the Millennial (1,000 year) reign of Christ upon the earth. 

Striking the Balance
While we have strong Biblical convictions, it is our desire not to divide God’s people over non-essential issues. When the Bible speaks clearly, we must as well. But on other issues, we try to recognize the spiritual validity of both sides of the debate and avoid excluding or favoring those on one side or the other.

Our Vision statement is rather simple:  “Be Transformed:  Together, Today”.  We desire to be transformed by the Word of God, together as a body of believers, while it is called “today.”

•Transformed – By the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). When our minds are renewed, we think differently. As we allow the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to transform us, our lives will reflect that transformation.

•Together – As Christians, we are invited to behold the Lord and be transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). When we gather, it’s not just about what we receive but about encouraging and contributing to one another.

•Today! – The call to serve God is urgent (Hebrews 3:12-15). Today is the day to know Jesus as Savior, to comfort the lost, and to grow deeper in faith.

We believe that there is one living and true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. This triune God created all, upholds all, and governs all things (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and 48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired, inerrant, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. The Word of God is the foundation upon which this church operates and the basis for which this church is governed. We believe that the Word of God supersedes any earthly law that contradicts the Holy Scriptures (Isaiah 28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21).

We believe in the Person of God the Father—an infinite, eternal, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Titus 1:3).

We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible return to earth (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58 and 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).

We believe in the person of the Holy Spirit, Who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower for ministry all who believe in Christ (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13,16; Hebrews 9:14).

We believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide (John 6:13, 14:16-17 and 16:8-11; Romans 8:26).

We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the Spirit according to the instructions given to us in 1 Corinthians 12-14 (1 Corinthians 14).

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and therefore are under condemnation. We believe that God saves and regenerates those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord based upon faith by the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians 2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5).

We believe in the universal Church, the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the head. All who are born again are a part of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16).

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted two ordinances for the church: (a) full immersion water baptism of believers and (b) the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We also believe that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage (Matthew 19:4-5 and John 2:1-11).

We believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ which is His personal, visible return to earth and the establishment of His millennial kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal blessing of the righteous, and the endless separation of the wicked (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16, 20:11-15).

We believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church where all believers will meet the Lord in the air and will be taken out of this world prior to the Tribulation that will come upon the earth (Isaiah 26:20; Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:36; Romans 1:18, 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-16 and 5:9; 2 Peter 2:7-9; Revelation 3:10, 5:7-10 and 7:13-14).

We believe in a literal Heaven and a literal Hell. All those who place their faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ will spend eternity in Heaven with the Lord, while those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will spend eternity separated from the Lord (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 5:3, 5:22, 18:9 and 25:31-34; Mark 9:42-49; Luke 12:5; John 3:18; Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 14:10-11 and 20:11-15).

We invite you to join us in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, where casual dress is more than welcome. Our Sunday morning starts at 9:30 a.m. with a time of prayer. At 10:15 a.m., we come together for contemporary worship that leads us into a meaningful time of praise. Afterward, Pastor John King guides us through the Bible, teaching in a way that helps us grow deeper in our understanding of God’s Word.

At our church, we believe children and youth are a vital part of our community. We’re dedicated to providing them with a safe, nurturing, and supportive environment where they can grow in their faith and develop a lasting relationship with Jesus.

At our church, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for people with special needs, grounded in the belief that every person is created in the image of God and loved by Christ. Each individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, reflecting the love of Jesus.

To live out this commitment, we’ve implemented several measures to ensure people with special needs feel valued and supported in our community:

•A team of trained volunteers is available to provide Christ-like, one-on-one support during services.

•Our facilities are designed to be accessible, with wheelchair ramps, wide doorways, and accessible restrooms, ensuring everyone can worship together.

•We offer a sensory-friendly class during Sunday Morning Service.

•We continually seek feedback from individuals with special needs and their families to ensure we are providing Christ-centered care and support.

At our church, we believe children and youth are an integral part of the body of Christ, and we are committed to providing them with a safe, nurturing environment where they can grow in their faith and love for Jesus.

Our commitment to inclusion is not just about accommodating special needs; it’s about celebrating the diversity of God’s family. By creating a Christ-centered, inclusive environment, we grow together in understanding the depth of Christ’s love and grace