View source for Chuck Smith (pastor)

{{short description|American pastor}}
{{other people||Chuck Smith (disambiguation){{!}}Chuck Smith}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Chuck Smith
| image              = Pastor Chuck Smith (142342758).jpg
| alt                =
| caption            =
| birth_name         = Charles Ward Smith
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1927|06|25}}
| birth_place        = [[Ventura, California]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2013|10|03|1927|06|25}}
| death_place        = [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]], California, U.S.<ref name=NYTIMES>{{cite news|last=Vitello|first=Paul|title=Chuck Smith, Minister Who Preached to Flower Children, Dies at 86|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/us/chuck-smith-minister-who-preached-to-flower-children-dies-at-86.html?_r=0|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 24, 2014|date=October 13, 2013}}</ref>
| education          = [[Life Pacific College]]
| alma_mater         = Life Pacific College, 1946
| notable works      = ''Love, The More Excellent Way''
| television         = A Venture In Faith (Documentary)
What God Hath Wrought (Documentary)
| other_names        =
| occupation         = [[Pastor]]
| years_active       = 1965&ndash;2013
| spouse             = {{marriage|Kay Johnson|1947}}
| children           = 4
| known_for          = [[Pastor]] and founder of [[Calvary Chapel]]
}}
'''Charles Ward''' "'''Chuck'''" '''Smith''' (June 25, 1927&nbsp;– October 3, 2013) was an American [[pastor]] who founded the [[Calvary Chapel]] movement.  Beginning with the 25-person [[Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa|Costa Mesa congregation]] in 1965, Smith's influence now extends to "more than 1,000 churches nationwide and hundreds more overseas",<ref name=LA_Times>{{cite news|author-link1=Christopher Goffard|last=Goffard|first=Christopher|title=Pastor Chuck Smith dies at 86; founder of Calvary Chapel movement|url=http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-1004-chuck-smith-20131004,0,7276715.story|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> some of which are among the [[megachurch|largest churches in the United States]]. He has been called "one of the most influential figures in modern American Christianity."<ref name=LA_Times/> The founding of Calvary Chapel is depicted in the 2023 film ''[[Jesus Revolution]]'', with Smith being portrayed by [[Kelsey Grammer]].
==Early life and career==
Charles Ward Smith was born on June 25, 1927, in [[Ventura, California]], to Charles and Maude Smith.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goffard |first=Christopher |url=http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-1004-chuck-smith-20131004,0,7276715.story |title=Obituary: Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of Calvary Chapel movement, dies at 86 |work=Los Angeles Times |date= October 3, 2013|access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> He was the second of four children.
After graduating from [[Santa Ana High School]] in 1945, Smith graduated from [[Life Pacific College|Life Bible College]] and was ordained as a pastor for the [[International Church of the Foursquare Gospel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Joshua A. |date=2009-12-28 |title=Pastor Chuck Smith Hospitalized After 'Mini Stroke' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-chuck-smith-hospitalized-after-mini-stroke.html |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=[[The Christian Post]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In the late 1950s, Smith was the campaign manager and worship director for healing evangelist [[Paul Cain (minister)|Paul Cain]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Cain on Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtJqZwWAd2A  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/PtJqZwWAd2A |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|website=YouTube | date=August 13, 2012 |access-date=10 July 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After being a pastor for a different denomination, he left his denomination to pastor a non-denominational church plant in [[Corona, California]], and eventually moved to a small pre-existing church called Calvary Chapel in [[Costa Mesa, California]] in December 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/calvary.html|title=Religious Movements Homepage: Calvary Chapel|author=Newton, Gwen|date=Spring 1998|work=University of Virginia New Religious Movements Archive|publisher=University of Virginia|access-date=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060828125904/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/calvary.html|archive-date=August 28, 2006|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
==Calvary Chapel==
{{Main|Calvary Chapel}}
In March 1968, Smith brought into his home the then-18-year-old [[pentecostal]] [[Evangelism|evangelist]] [[Lonnie Frisbee]] with his wife Connie. Smith paired him with John Higgins who already had a Bible study going for youth; they started a Christian commune called "[[House of Miracles (communal house)|The House of Miracles]]". Higgins and Frisbee went into the community to reach  youth with the gospel during the early days of the [[Jesus movement]].<ref name=NBMNBP>{{cite book|last1=Frisbee|first1=Lonnie|last2=Sachs|first2=Roger|title=Not By Might Nor By Power|date=2012|publisher=Freedom Publications|location=Santa Maria|isbn=978-0978543310}}<!--|accessdate=April 2, 2015--></ref>
The Costa Mesa church, led by Smith, grew and as of 2006, was attended by 35,000 people and had spawned over 1,000 churches that have branched out as part of the [[Calvary Chapel]] Association.  Smith has been called "one of the most influential Christian pastors in Southern California"<ref name="OCR120105"/> who "is known for training other prominent ministers."<ref name="OCR100104"/> Notable ministers who have been mentored by Smith include [[Skip Heitzig]], [[Mike MacIntosh]], and [[Greg Laurie]].<ref>Chuck Smith and Tal Brooke (1987), ''Harvest'', The Word for Today Publishers.</ref> <ref>{{cite web |last1=Los Angeles |first1=Times |title=Jesus, drugs and rock 'n' roll: How an O.C. hippie church birthed contemporary Christian music |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-10-05/jesus-music-calvary-church-contemporary-christian-documentary |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 5, 2021 |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref> Smith also launched the radio program, ''The Word for Today''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=KSGR |first1=Radio |title=Pastor Chuck Smith |url=https://ksgr.org/index.php/programs/chuck-smith |website=ksgr.org |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>
At its beginning, Calvary Chapel operated as a cross-cultural missions organization that bridged the "generation gap" as it existed during the Vietnam War period. Calvary Chapel was a hub of the "Jesus People" phenomenon that existed at that time and was featured in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine for its success among "hippies" and young people. Calvary Chapel pioneered a contemporary and less formal approach in its worship and public meetings; for example, it did outreaches on the beach, and baptisms in the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905202,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001005318/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,905202,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |title=The New Rebel Cry: Jesus Is Coming! |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 21, 1971 |access-date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> Much of [[contemporary Christian music]] has its roots in Calvary Chapel worship music. Calvary Chapel's rolling commentary-style of preaching kept the Calvary Chapels close to the text of the Bible and was readily understandable by many hearers. Calvary Chapel developed its own internal training early for multiplication of church leaders and pastors; by pioneering a more informal and contemporary style in its church practices, Calvary Chapel reached large numbers in Costa Mesa and expanded easily by adding many pastors and new congregations in many locations. The impact of Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel on evangelical Christianity is profound, widespread, and largely unheralded. Rather than being a teacher of systems and methods of growing large churches (elements of which frustrated him in his denominational experience), Chuck Smith taught his personal brand of leadership at pastors' conferences which included one single male leader, who held the majority of the power, with a group of elders who served primarily as figure heads to reinforce pastoral authority.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}
A self-made documentary, ''What God Hath Wrought'', produced by Screen Savers Entertainment in collaboration with Smith, tells the story of Smith's life, the Calvary Chapel movement and its influence on modern-day Christianity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3036852/ |title=IMDB Movie Reference |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> In the film ''A Conversation with Chuck Smith'' (2013) Chuck Smith talks about his battle with lung cancer and other personal topics.
Chuck Smith is the author and co-author of several books; titles of his books include ''Answers for Today''; ''Calvary Chapel Distinctives''; ''Calvinism, Arminianism & The Word of God''; ''Charisma vs. Charismania''; ''Comfort for Those Who Mourn''; ''Effective Prayer Life''; ''Harvest''; ''Living Water''; ''The Claims of Christ''; ''The Gospel According to Grace''; ''The Philosophy of Ministry of Calvary Chapel''; ''Why Grace Changes Everything''; ''Love: The More Excellent Way''; ''The Final Act''; and others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.calvarychapel.com/cccm_store_/catalog/display.php?cat=21 |title=Books by Chuck Smith |publisher=Store.calvarychapel.com |access-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232844/http://store.calvarychapel.com/cccm_store_/catalog/display.php?cat=21 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Controversy==
In his 1978 book ''End Times'', Smith incorrectly predicted the generation of 1948 would be the last generation, and that the world would end by 1981 at the latest.<ref>{{cite book|last= Smith |first= Chuck |title= End Times: A Report on Future Survival |date= January 1, 1978 |publisher= Maranatha House Publishers |location= [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]], [[California|CA]] |pages= 35–36 |isbn= 978-0-89337011-4}}</ref> Smith supported his convictions again in his 1980 manuscript "Future Survival", postulating that from his "understanding of biblical prophecies…  [I am] convinced that the Lord [will come] for His Church before the end of 1981." He identified that he "could be wrong" but continued in the same sentence that "it's a deep conviction in my heart, and all my plans are predicated upon that belief."<ref>''Future Survival'', Chuck Smith, 1978</ref>  Calvary Chapel held a New Year's Eve service in 1981 for their followers to wait for the end to occur in accordance with Smith's prediction. When the world failed to end, disillusioned followers left the Calvary Chapel movement.<ref name=gustavo>{{cite web |url= http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/05/remembering_when_chuck_smith_p.php |title=Remembering When Chuck Smith Predicted the End Times&mdash;And They Didn't Happen |author=Arellano, Gustavo |authorlink=Gustavo Arellano |date=May 7, 2011 |work=[[OC Weekly]] |access-date= March 18, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170807021422/http://www.ocweekly.com/news/remembering-when-chuck-smith-predicted-the-end-times-and-they-didnt-happen-6442820 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name= "Abanes">{{cite book |last=Abanes |first=Richard |year=1998 |title=End-Time Visions |url=https://archive.org/details/endtimevisionsdo0000aban |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=[[Four Walls Eight Windows]] |isbn=978-1-56858-104-0 |pages=323–324 | quote=When [a] predicted date or suggested year of Christ's return or Armageddon does not occur, individuals who came to "faith" due to end-time teachings run the risk of becoming disillusioned and forsaking the religious system they adopted. ... In the 1970-1980s, for instance, a significant number of individuals attending the widely respected Calvary Chapel churches experiences this kind of unfortunate disappointment. For many years the church's founder, Pastor Chuck smith, had been suggesting that the year 1981 would bring the rapture. ... When no rapture came at the expected time, numerous followers were stunned; some eventually left the church altogether}}</ref><ref name="DiSabatino">{{cite book |last=Di Sabatino |first=David |date=1999 |title=The Jesus People Movement: An Annotated Bibliography and General Resource |publisher=[[Greenwood Press]] |page=68 |isbn=9780313302688}}</ref> [[Gershom Gorenberg]] comments that Smith said nothing about the failed prediction at the time, leaving "his flock to wonder", and that when asked about the prediction in years afterwards, "he shrug[ged] it off as a mere possibility he raised".<ref name="Gorenberg">{{Citation | last = Gorenberg | first = Gershom |authorlink=Gershom Gorenberg | title = The End of Days: Fundamentalism and the Struggle for the Temple Mount |year=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195152050 | page = 123}}</ref> Smith later stated that setting dates for the end of the world was wrong and he "came close" to doing that, which journalist [[Gustavo Arellano]] described as a "wimpy non-apology" for his failed prediction.<ref name=gustavo/>
Smith has also been criticized publicly with allegations that he has tolerated financial<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/mayweb-only/119-12.0.html |title=Unaccountable at Calvary Chapel |last=Moll |first= Rob |date=May 8, 2006 |work=[[Christianity Today]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722033712/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/mayweb-only/119-12.0.html |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |access-date=August 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and sexual<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/7.53.html |title=Day of Reckoning |last=Moll |first=Rob |date=February 16, 2007 |work= [[Christianity Today]] |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120722223515/http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/march/7.53.html |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |access-date= August 29, 2011 |url-status= live}}</ref> improprieties within the Calvary Chapel movement.
In 2006, Smith was instrumental in removing his son, Chuck Smith Jr., from ministry in the Calvary Chapel movement.  The ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that Smith Jr. was dismissed when he raised questions about his father's theological beliefs and philosophy of ministry.<ref name=Goffard/>
==Honors==
In April 2012, Smith received the Men of Character Award from the Orange County Council of the [[Boy Scouts of America]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2012|reason=not the front page of the award because 1)it will change over time and make this difficult to confirm in the future and 2) a third-party source to show that this is actually a notable award}}
==Personal life==
On June 19, 1947, Smith married Kay Johnson. She served as director of the women's ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa for many years. They had four children together.<ref name=NYTIMES/>
On December 27, 2009, Smith suffered a minor stroke in his home and was immediately hospitalized.<ref name="OCR100104">{{cite web | url = http://articles.ocregister.com/2010-01-04/cities/24628719_1_senior-pastor-stroke-symptoms-mild-stroke | title = Famed Pastor Chuck Smith recovering | access-date = December 18, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110723011816/http://articles.ocregister.com/2010-01-04/cities/24628719_1_senior-pastor-stroke-symptoms-mild-stroke | archive-date = July 23, 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091228/pastor-chuck-smith-hospitalized-after-mini-stroke/ | title = Pastor Chuck Smith Hospitalized After 'Mini Stroke' | date = December 28, 2009 | access-date =December 18, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Jan10/Art_Jan10_01.html | title = After suffering a couple of 'minor strokes' Chuck Smith is recovering | access-date = December 18, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101225051246/http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Jan10/Art_Jan10_01.html | archive-date = December 25, 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>  He recovered and returned to the ministry.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10090096.htm | title = Feel The Love: Pastor Chuck Smith and Love Song on Tour | access-date = December 18, 2010 | date = September 16, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100924083227/http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2010/s10090096.htm | archive-date = September 24, 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Smith announced during the New Years Day 2012 service that he had lung cancer.<ref name="OCR120105">{{cite web | url = http://www.ocregister.com/news/smith-334349-chapel-calvary.html | title = Calvary Chapel founder battling lung cancer | date = January 5, 2012 | work = [[Orange County Register]] | author = Jaimee Lynn Fletcher | access-date =January 6, 2012}}</ref> In June 2013, Smith's doctors found that his lung cancer had advanced from stage three to [[Cancer staging#Overall stage grouping|stage four]].<ref name="CP_2013_07_24">{{cite web | url = http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-chuck-smith-suffers-setback-in-battle-with-lung-cancer-98610/ | title = Pastor Chuck Smith Suffers Setback in Battle With Lung Cancer | date = June 24, 2013 | work = [[The Christian Post]] | author = Alex Murashko  | access-date =August 20, 2013}}</ref>
==Death==
Smith died from lung cancer on October 3, 2013, at his home in [[Newport Beach, California]], at the age of 86.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pastorchucksmith.com/ |title=Charles Ward Smith |publisher=Pastorchucksmith.com |access-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/october-web-only/chuck-smith-86-dies-after-cancer-battle.html |title=Chuck Smith, 86, Dies After Cancer Battle |date=October 3, 2013 |publisher=Christianitytoday.com |access-date=October 3, 2013}}</ref> He was interred at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, California. After he was buried, his funeral was held at the [[Honda Center]] in Anaheim, California, where more than 200 churches worldwide planned to show his tribute, live via webcast.<ref>[http://www.calvarytraining.org/2013/10/19/honoring-pastor-chuck-smith  "Honoring Pastor Chuck Smith"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330103152/http://calvarytraining.org/2013/10/19/honoring-pastor-chuck-smith/ |date=March 30, 2014 }}, ''Calvary Training'', October 19, 2013</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* [http://www.calvarychapel.com/ Calvary Chapel]
* [http://www.calvarychapelcostamesa.com/ Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa]
* [http://cceagles.org/ Calvary Chapel High School]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Chuck}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century apocalypticists]]
[[Category:20th-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:20th-century Protestant religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century apocalypticists]]
[[Category:21st-century evangelicals]]
[[Category:21st-century Protestant religious leaders]]
[[Category:American Christian clergy]]
[[Category:American Evangelical writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American radio personalities]]
[[Category:American religious writers]]
[[Category:Arminian ministers]]
[[Category:Arminian writers]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung cancer in California]]
[[Category:Evangelical pastors]]
[[Category:Founders of new religious movements]]
[[Category:Jesus movement]]
[[Category:Members of the Calvary Chapel]]
[[Category:People from Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People from Ventura, California]]