WHO WE ARE

Our History

Calvary Chapel is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church that began with twenty-five people in Costa Mesa, California, in 1965 by Pastor Chuck Smith. Pastor Chuck was a key minister to the youth in what is called the Jesus Movement of the 1960s. As he reached out to the youth of the counter-culture – the hippies, drug users, and those rebelling against old traditions, many accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God gave the increase and thousands gave their lives to Christ.

While Smith was pastor, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa became one of the world’s largest churches with more than thirty-five thousand calling it their home church. From this first Calvary Chapel many men were raised up who went out to plant new Calvary Chapel churches. These in turn also raised up new pastors and church planters so that today there are over sixteen hundred Calvary Chapels around the United States and the world.

Calvary Chapel Festus grew out of this movement as a home Bible study started in 2001. Since then God has blessed the ministry of His Word being simply taught, and the fellowship has grown substantially. We believe we are only in the beginning stages of what God wants to do to bless the people in the region through Calvary Chapel.

Our Purpose

Our purpose here at Calvary of Festus is threefold, and can be summed up by what we call the three “E's” of ministry: Exaltation, Edification and Evangelization. First and foremost, the Scriptures are clear that the primary purpose of the church is to glorify God (1 Pet. 2:9). He created the church for His own pleasure (Rev. 4:11). Therefore, it is our strongest desire that He be exalted and glorified in all we do both corporately and individually.

In a secondary sense, the church exists for the edifying or the building up of one another; to bring each believer into full maturity so that they might engage in the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:7-16).So here at Calvary, we emphasize the expository teaching of God’s Word, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, and encourage the exercise of spiritual gifts as set forth in Scripture (1 Cor. 14).

And lastly, our commission is to evangelize the world (Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15 & Acts 1:8). Jesus said when He is lifted up; He will draw all men unto Himself. Paul said when we are built up; we will grow up and therefore manifest His love by serving others. Thus, the natural result becomes salt and light in a world of decay and darkness.

Our Pastor

Scott Parker became a Christian while attending a Baptist church in rural Southern Ohio as a teenager. At the age of 17, he began preaching and teaching the Bible in various churches and then was officially ordained into the ministry at the age of 20. Later, he spent over 6 years in an independent charismatic church while working in Christian radio. After listening to CSN radio (Calvary Satellite Network) for about a year, he left to attend a Calvary Chapel. Scott was called to the Saint Louis area initially as a CSN radio station manager in 2001. After starting a home Bible study that same year, Calvary Chapel Festus began under his leadership in January, 2005 and he continues to serve as the pastor to this day. Pastor Scott is also the featured speaker of the church’s radio ministry, A Word For The Church and co-host of CSN radio’s live question and answer call-in program, To Every Man An Answer. Since coming to Christ, it has always been Pastor Scott’s desire to tell others about Jesus Christ and His amazing love. He and his wife DeAnna reside in Festus and have two sons, Matthew and Benjamin.