CCA Pastors’ & Leaders’ Conference 2021
CCA Q&A and Photo Gallery: Day 4 Pastors' & Leaders' Conference
Story by Kate Larsen and Neil Livingston
Photos by Tom Price and Josh Larson
Calvary Chapel Magazine concludes its summaries of the teachings at the CCA 2021 Calvary Chapel International Pastors' & Leaders' Conference November 8-11 at CC Golden Springs, CA.
In this last installment, a panel of pastors answer questions from conference attendees.
Watch Day 3 for the Q&A in its entirety.
On the third day of the conference, leading pastors in the CCA shared the stage to participate in the Q&A session. From left to right, they were Sandy Adams of CC Stone Mountain, GA; Bill Goodrich of Horizon Christian Fellowship of Indianapolis, IN; Bill Stonebraker of CC of Honolulu, HI; David Rosales of CC Chino Valley, CA; Lloyd Pulley of CC Old Bridge, NJ; Don McClure of Calvary Way ministries; Joe Focht of CC Philadelphia, PA; Raul Ries of CC Golden Springs, CA; and Jeff Johnson of CC Downey, CA.
“If you had one piece of advice for the next generation, what would it be?” came a question from the audience. Don McClure exhorted all to “look up, your redemption draws nigh”; Lloyd Pulley added, “Plan for a lifetime, but live like there’s no tomorrow.”
There was a light humor in the brotherhood that lined the stage, coupled with a sense of the great weight of work the Lord has privileged each with. As questions were fielded from the audience, the pastors offered necessary and practical advice to those who would be carrying the baton, should the Lord tarry before He returns.
“We need the power of the Holy Spirit in this day to stand our ground,” Joe Focht shared.
“I heard you ask how you could help your pastor,” Sandy Adams responded to one. “If you want to help this pastor, pray for him.”
Sharing through tears the effect of being appreciated by those the Lord had put into his care, David Rosales stated, “I don’t think any one of us went into ministry to hear the ‘Well done’ from people. We went in to hear it from Him.” He later added, “If I could keep my eyes on Him through the whole thing and at the end hear ‘Well done,’ that’s what I want to do."
Raul Ries comically shared with David, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m glad you’re leaving!” to which David quipped back, “That’s not what your board said!” The sanctuary erupted in laughter and, even in the midst of difficult times and difficult questions, the joy of the Lord and the comradery of the pastors filled the sanctuary.
“Thank you for all you have done to inspire us,” a pastor of a small church in Dewey, AZ, said.
Questions about radio ministry, students in classrooms, vaccinations, and the future integrity of the Calvary Chapel Association (CCA) were all answered by its God-appointed leaders.
At the end of the day, the prevailing sense was that the Lord is still on the throne and that all need to remember this and look to Him for the answers they need.
How necessary it is to be what the Lord has called His people to be in this time, empowered by His Spirit to be His witnesses.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Let us not be satisfied with the sip that saves, but let us go on to the baptism which buries the flesh and raises us in the likeness of the risen Lord: even that baptism into the Holy Ghost and into fire which makes us spiritual and sets us all on flame with zeal for the glory of God and eagerness for usefulness by which that glory may be increased among the sons of men." The pastors encouraged, “Let us not be satisfied either, but to press on to the upward call which is in Christ Jesus!”
Photo Gallery: Day Four
Enjoy photos from Day Four of the Pastor's & Leader' Conference.
Raul Ries (right) of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, CA, laughs with a man after the conference. Pastor Mike MacIntosh, wearing the yellow lanyard, can be seen in the center of the group.
Pastor Bobby Hargraves (left) of CC of the Hudson Valley, NY, welcomes a friend.
Tony Clark (left), senior pastor of CC Newport News, VA, joyfully hugs a friend.
Pastor Mark Ramirez and his wife, Dorothy, from CC Fredericksburg, VA, talk with Rebecca Warner, wife of Pastor Troy Warner of CC Lynchburg, VA, during the fellowship time.
Pastor Phil McKay (right) and his wife, Rebecca, of CC Reno-Sparks, NV, get the chance to catch up with pastors from other areas where they have ministered.
Pastor David and Marie Rosales (right) enjoy their time worshipping the Lord.
The Holy Spirit moved as couples and groups prayed together before the conference began at a special session for regional and international leaders.
Wade O’Neill, an assistant pastor from CC Golden Springs, was the emcee of the conference.
Pastor Wade O’Neill (right) hangs out with friend Joey Roper during a break.
Pastors Mike MacIntosh and Malcolm Wild (right) of CC Merritt Island, FL, pray together during the final session.
Roger Stahlhut (left), one of the pastors at CC Downey, CA, and the administrator of the church’s school, Calvary Chapel Christian School, hugs a man at the conclusion of the conference.
Pastor Bill Goodrich (center) of Horizon Christian Fellowship in Indianapolis enjoys fellowship near the end of the conference.
Raul Ries takes video of the conference attendees on his phone from the pulpit.
The congregation enjoyed worship throughout the four-day conference.
The conference ended with a communion service.
All verses above are quoted from the New King James Version, unless otherwise noted.
© 2021 Calvary Chapel Magazine (CCM). All rights reserved. Articles or photographs may not be reproduced without the written permission of CCM. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.® Used by permission.