Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale

In 1980, a 24-year-old Bob Coy left the Las Vegas music industry to become an associate pastor in that city's Calvary Chapel. Five years later, Coy headed to South Florida and founded Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.{{cite web | url= http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-calvary-chapel-resignation-20140406,0,5071679.story | archive-url= https://archive.today/20140407221513/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-calvary-chapel-resignation-20140406,0,5071679.story | url-status= dead | archive-date= April 7, 2014 | title= Calvary Chapel pastor Bob Coy resigns over 'moral failing' | first= Robert | last= Nolin | publisher= Sun-Sentinel | date= April 6, 2014 | accessdate= April 7, 2014 }}

As years went on, CCFL's location changed from the Fort Lauderdale beach to a funeral home, a storefront behind Albertsons, and a warehouse.

In 1999, CCFL relocated to a {{convert|75|acre|adj=on}} tract of land formerly owned by Harris Corporation, which now has a 3,800 seat sanctuary, children and youth ministries, and includes a skateboard park.{{cite web |url=http://www.ramp48.com/ |title=Ramp 48 Indoor Skatepark |publisher=Ramp48.com |accessdate=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408224730/http://www.ramp48.com/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2003, CCFL sued Broward County for $1 for its initial refusal to allow the church to display a large cross and sign reading "Jesus is the reason for the season" in a {{convert|2|mi|adj=on}} holiday lights attraction at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, which drew around 250,000 visitors each year.{{cite web |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/24/news_pf/State/Church_suit_accuses_c.shtml |title=Church suit accuses county of censorship |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=October 24, 2003 |accessdate=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130303225835/http://www.sptimes.com/2003/10/24/news_pf/State/Church_suit_accuses_c.shtml |archive-date=March 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} Calvary won the suit the next month and was allowed to display the message.{{cite web |author=Wire Report |url=http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/florida-church-can-display-jesus-sign-in-county-park |title=Florida church can display Jesus sign in county park |publisher=First Amendment Center |date=November 22, 2003 |accessdate=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329112000/http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/florida-church-can-display-jesus-sign-in-county-park |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

In April 2014, Senior Pastor Bob Coy resigned after confessing to an admitted struggle with adultery and an addiction to pornography. The following month, Doug Sauder was nominated to take Coy's place, and then confirmed by the board of directors as the new lead pastor for Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. In response to the nomination, the church body and those familiar with Pastor Doug Sauder's spiritual character and competency responded with unanimous support and enthusiasm.{{Cite web |url=http://www.calvaryftl.org/calvary-blog/succession-plan-of-pastoral-leadership-for-calvary-chapel-fort-lauderdale/ |title=Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale | |access-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140511111443/http://www.calvaryftl.org/calvary-blog/succession-plan-of-pastoral-leadership-for-calvary-chapel-fort-lauderdale/ |archive-date=May 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

In November 2018, CBS News listed Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale as the 17th largest megachurch in the United States with about 18,521 weekly visitors and reportedly 30,000 members.{{Cite web |last=Fieldstadt |first=Elisha |date=2018-11-26 |title=America's biggest megachurches, ranked |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/30-biggest-american-megachurches-ranked/14/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}

• Calvary Christian Academy – one of the largest private Christian schools in the state of Florida.

Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale's mission statement is to "make disciples", coming from the Bible verse Matthew 28:19. Another mission statement of the church is to connect people to God, connect people to people, and connect people to outreach.

CCFL believes that the Bible is the foundation of Christianity and inspired by God. The church believes in the Holy Trinity and that the only way to get into Heaven is by getting "saved" through Jesus Christ.

The church also believes that the act of baptism is not required to become a Christian but does support baptism as a proclamation to the public that a person is saved through Christ.

Pastor Doug Sauder personally expressed support for vaccination against COVID-19 and used Calvary Church's reputation and access to large audiences to promote vaccine education and debunk conspiracies and superstition surrounding the vaccine.{{Cite news |last=Fleshler |first=David |date=11 April 2021 |title=Vaccine divides religious groups - Evangelicals among most likely to reject COVID-19 shots - CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK |work=South Florida Sun Sentinel |url=https://sun-sentinel.com/ |access-date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129014001/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/ |url-status=live }}

In 2008, Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale and Calvary Christian Academy faced a multimillion-dollar lawsuit related to the 2004 adoption of a teenage girl through the church's 4KIDS program. The girl was sexually abused by her adoptive father.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2022 |title=Case Detail - Public State: State of Florida vs. Thomas, Rodger Allen. Broward County Case Number 06011728CF10A |url=https://www.browardclerk.org/Web2/CaseSearchECA/CaseDetail/?caseid=Mjg3NTk3Mg%3d%3d-JdvHwhLNfcU%3d&caseNum=06011728CF10A&category=CR&accessLevelCodeOUT=ANONYMOUS&ato=D |url-status=live |access-date=26 November 2022 |website=www.browardclerk.org |archive-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722203459/https://www.browardclerk.org/Web2/Error?aspxerrorpath=/Web2/CaseSearchECA/CaseDetail/ }}{{Cite news |last=Burstein |first=Jon |date=18 May 2008 |title=Fort Lauderdale Church Denies Fault in Lawsuit That Alleges Sex Abuse of Girl on Campus |work=South Florida Sun Sentinel |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbcalvary0518xsbmay18,0,6619488.story |access-date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=May 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520024959/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flbcalvary0518xsbmay18,0,6619488.story |url-status=live }} The case was dismissed because the abuse occurred in the family home by a family member.

In January 2019, Jesus Mendez Jr., a Calvary Christian Academy IT worker, was arrested on child pornography charges.{{Cite news |last=Roustan |first=Wayne |date=17 January 2019 |title=Calvary Christian Academy staffer accused of having child pornography |work=Sun Sentinel |url=https://sun-sentinel.com/ |access-date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129014001/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/ |url-status=live }} Mendez worked for the private school associated with the church for two years prior to his arrest and consequential firing; no evidence that children at Calvary Christian Academy were mistreated was revealed.{{Cite news |last=Neal |first=David |date=18 January 2019 |title=pembroke pines - IT worker at private school admits - to downloading - and enjoying child pornography, cops say |pages=5A |work=Miami Herald, The |url=https://miamiherald.com/ |access-date=26 November 2022 |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128231629/https://www.miamiherald.com/ |url-status=live }} Mendez later changed his not guilty plea to plead nolo contendere.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2022 |title=Case Detail - Public: State of Florida vs. Mendez, Jesus-- Broward County Case Number 19000767CF10A |url=https://www.browardclerk.org/Web2/CaseSearchECA/CaseDetail/?caseid=MTAzMjk0NzI%3d-7b%2fdByt2gAQ%3d&caseNum=19000767CF10A&category=CR&accessLevelCodeOUT=ANONYMOUS&ato=D |url-status=live |access-date=26 November 2022 |website=www.browardclerk.org |archive-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722203516/https://www.browardclerk.org/Web2/Error?aspxerrorpath=/Web2/CaseSearchECA/CaseDetail/ }}

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{{cite web |url=http://hirr.hartsem.edu/cgi-bin/mega/db.pl?db=default&uid=default&view_records=1&ID=*&sb=4&State=FL |title=Megachurch search results–Florida |publisher=Hartford Institute for Religion Research |quote=Average attendance: 18,521; denomination: Calvary Churches |accessdate=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428164949/http://hirr.hartsem.edu/cgi-bin/mega/db.pl?db=default&uid=default&view_records=1&ID=%2A&sb=4&State=FL |archivedate=April 28, 2014 }}

{{cite web |url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/07/megachurch-pastor-resigns-citing-moral-failing/ |title=Megachurch pastor resigns, citing 'moral failing' |date=April 7, 2014 |publisher=CNN |access-date=April 7, 2014 |quote=The senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has resigned after confessing to cheating on his wife, according to WPLG Miami. Pastor Bob Coy, 58, reportedly confessed a "moral failing which disqualifies him from continuing his leadership role at the church" to Calvary leaders on Wednesday. A board meeting was called the next day, when he resigned. |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407214926/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/07/megachurch-pastor-resigns-citing-moral-failing/ |url-status=dead }}

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• {{official website|http://www.calvaryftl.org/}}

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Category:Evangelical churches in Florida

Category:Churches in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Category:Evangelical megachurches in the United States

Category:Megachurches in Florida

Category:Christian organizations established in 1985

Category:1985 establishments in Florida