Calvary Chapel Sawgrass

Our journey at CCS began in 2003. I had recently made the excruciating decision to leave the legalistic church I had been attending for some time….just when my non-believing husband, Keith, my sister and mother had just begun to attend it with me. I knew it was the Lord telling me to move on, but I had no idea what would happen to my family afer I left the church. It was a total act of faith, and I was badly shaken.

Although Keith was still an open-minded non-believer, he had come to enjoy the fellowship and sense of family that church provided. One day, after three months of searching for a new church home, we walked into Calvary Chapel Sawgrass. Pastor Gary’s message was warm, inviting, and funny. It was a soothing balm to my broken heart. After the service, the prayer counselors took time to pray with me, and comfort me. The next week we came again and decided this would be our new home.

We have grown so much here. The pastors and leaders have guided, protected, instructed and educated us in the things of God. They have held our hands through times of physical illness, marrital rough spots and times of emotional turmoil. Here, through their example, we have learned what it is to be loved without judgement or expectation. Grace, mercy and peace replaced harsh admonision, and legalism as we continued to grow. They always let us know that they too, are only human and struggle just as we do.

What a wonderful gift of comfort it has been, to be accepted and loved in all our sin and weakness. Keith gave his life to the Lord here in 2004. Pastor Pete baptized him, and our lives have never been the same since! Our marriage is new again. Our family has grown and our walk with Jesus has blossomed into beautiful bloom.

We love you Calvary Chapel Sawgrass! Thank you….thank you ……thank you! And Happy 20th Birthday.

- Celia, Keith, Zach, Olivia, and Chloe Tatman

Since the ground breaking of Calvary Sawgrass on Flamingo road, I have been driving by in wonder.

One Saturday night, about six months ago my family and I decided to make that right hand turn up the driveway and open our hearts up to GOD and all the AMAZING and REAL people here at Calvary Sawgrass.

We were welcomed the first minute we walked up felt right at home here . We now make that same turn at least twice a week.

With that said, we may have missed out on the first 19 1/2 years but as long as GOD and our FAMILY here at Calvary Sawgrass will have us, we will be here for the next 20!

Happy Birthday Calvary Chapel Sawgrass!

- Darren, Gloria, Ariela & Sabrina

Hi, My name is Maureen Schankweiler and my husband is Bob Schankweiler. We have been members of CCS since the very beginning. This is a love story of how we both came to Love Jesus and how he changed our lives. It all started in April of 1989. My niece Heather received an invite to attend Easter Sunday service at Christian Family Fellowship in Plantation. So, my niece and I attended. It was a wonderful service and Pastor Gary and Cathy were the main two persons of the church. I continued to attend services each week and I was greeted by friendly people with smiles which made me feel welcomed and not alone. Each week I became more and more interested in the Church and Jesus.

I was here in Florida by myself my husband Bob was in NY and finally moved down to Florida in 1991. Each week when I got dressed for church I asked Bob to come with me and he answered no. Finally one Sunday, Bob surprised me and said he would come with me. After the service he understood why I was addicted to attending. Bob also became attached to CCS. One Sunday during service I just fell in Love with Jesus and I asked him to come into my heart. In April, 1991 I was baptised. My life has not been the same since. Bob also was baptized in 1992. During one of the services Mike and Pam Rozelle were at church and gave a demonstration of how to accept Jesus in your heart. That day Bob stood up and gave his heart to Jesus.

Then the members of church started to increase weekly so Pastor Gary and Kathy made the decision to move the location of our church. We moved to State Road 84, East of 136 Avenue. It was an exciting time for us all. Everyone helped to clean up the building, painted, hung the huge sign with the new name Calvary Chapel Plantation. Once again the opening day was Easter Sunday.

During the past 22 years Bob and I had many difficulities including brain surgery for Bob, carpal surgery on both hands for me, I had an auto accident where the person who hit me at 140mph died at the scene. I was at work and the office chair I was sitting on broke out from under me and I dislocated my left shoulder, had surgery and had global nerve damage from my neck to my finger tips, my arm was paralyzed. The doctor’s told me that my arm would probably not return to full function. Well, Bob and I prayed to Jesus for complete healing of my arm and yes, my arm was healed by Jesus completely and everyday I raise my left arm praising the Lord for all the blessings, healing and good health he has given to Bob and I.

Many of our friends ask how is it with all that we go through we always seem to land on feet. My answer to them is simple, it’s not our feet we stand on, Jesus lifts us up, heals us and carry’s us through all the difficult times. More recently I was diagnosed with uterian cancer. I had surgery and now I am going through chemo therapy and radiation. Once again, Jesus is carrying me through this day by day, week by week, month by month.

During all of the difficult times Bob and I have been through, Jesus has been right there beside us all the way. We look forward in celebrating the good news of my complete healing from Jesus. We know that all things are possible through Jesus!

The support Bob and I received from Pastor Gary, the staff members, the meal team, Pastor Bill and Bonnie Kinney, Pastor Pete and many more was amazing. We knew we were not alone. CCS and the staff has made this difficult time bearable with their love, prayers, calls, meals and simply letting us know they were there for us and we were not alone.

Bob and I were married 25 years and Pastor Gary and Kathy attended and Pastor Gary honored us by conducting and renewing our vows. All I can say is that our lives have changed since we asked Jesus to enter our hearts.

People tell me including my brother who is not a believer, he can see Jesus in me by all I do in helping others and how Bob and I worship and love Jesus. Jesus never let’s us down. Jesus is there in every circumstance of our lives. We are blessed and honored being family members of Calvary Chapel Sawgrass for 22 years. We are so proud in all the work that CCS does in the community, in Africa, with the youths, helping people in need and reaching out with the word of Jesus to everyone. Congratulations CCS for 20 outstanding years and we look forward in receiving the word of Lord from Pastor Gary for many more years. Blessings to everyone one at CCS.

- Maureen & Bob Schankweiler

Various members of the congregation of Calvary Chapel Sawgrass (calvarysawgrass.org) congratulate the church on 20 years of ministry followed by Laurie Holbach sharing how her life has been impacted by the church.

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Various members of the congregation of Calvary Chapel Sawgrass (calvarysawgrass.org) congratulate the church on 20 years of ministry followed by Laurie Holbach sharing how her life has been impacted by the church.

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Hi my name is Lynda Sauls. I have been attending Calvary Chapel Sawgrass for 12 years. It has been an amazing journey, one filled with many blessings and insights. I have been loved and nurtured and have gotten to love and nurture back. I have watched our pastors struggle, be vulnerable, and hurt and seen how they have trusted, forgiven and waited on the Lord. I have never been criticized when I have gone to them with feelings and thoughts of hurt, pain, anger or bitterness but I have been loved, held, encouraged, and prayed for. When I have gone to them with fears or concerns over what I saw happening in the body of Christ, they never corrected me harshly, but with confidence and peace. They have encouraged and supported me to step out in faith to do what I thought the Lord was leading me to.

I would like to encourage you who have been hurt at other Churches that there is healing here if you allow God to do that in you, and for those who are just starting your journey, you will be loved with all your baggage. This is a place for you to grow and work out the things God is teaching you. God will transform you here. These pastors and the staff here at CCS are men and women who are on the same journey with struggles too. I have watched God transform them. They love the Lord and want to follow Him even in the hard places. This has been a great source of encouragement to have courage. They will encourage you to listen and seek the Lord, not claiming to know the exact journey God has for you, but they will teach you His principles and they will pray for you.

I am so thankful and blessed to be in this part of the body of Christ. To God be the glory for His love and glory shines here.

- Lynda Sauls

It has been a long time coming, this place where I have arrived. Life has allowed me so many paths to chose from. How did I end up linked arm in arm with God’s own warriors? How did I find myself at the front lines? I trusted, gave thanks and believed that worship with my life would lead me to a better way, a better place, a better future for my children. How do I survive my day to day? How can anyone?

Church, there is no way any of you can know just how much you have cleansed my wounds! I am inspired everyday because of your faithful commitment to be His hands and feet! Praise God for your loving arms that willingly wrap around each other in comfort, support and peace. Pastors thank you for showing us a unified direction. Leaders thank you for creating a safe environment in which to grow. We are all given to the love and peace of the Holy Spirit because of your commitment to serve each other in His name! I am HONORED to worship the King with you.

Thank you all for accepting my family and me just as we are…at best, wiling to learn…in the worst of it…broken, unlovable, disabled and sick. In Jesus name, I KNOW you will be the first to rejoice with me when God brings healing to our family; just as you are now, the first to hold me during these very difficult times! God bless and be with each and every one of you! We are in this together; fighting the demons on this spiritual battle ground God has us training in. I can think of no one better to have my back than YOU, my CHURCH FAMILY! Thank you! You have all become my daily partners in fighting in the battlefield of my own mind.

Grateful,
Your sister in Christ
Jennifer and John Nelson
Raven
China
and
Nico

Various members of the congregation of Calvary Chapel Sawgrass (calvarysawgrass.org) congratulate the church on 20 years of ministry followed by Ilene Joseph sharing how her life has been impacted by the church.

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Various members of the congregation of Calvary Chapel Sawgrass (calvarysawgrass.org) congratulate the church on 20 years of ministry followed by Ilene Joseph sharing how her life has been impacted by the church.

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Dr. Bob Barnes of Sheridan House Family Ministries congratulates Pastor Gary Mauro for reaching the milestone of 20 years of ministry to the community surrounding Calvary Chapel Sawgrass (calvarysawgrass.org).

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