Our Story
Get To Know Us
Our full name is Calvary Chapel Delaware County, but since we’re getting to know each other you can call us “ccdelco.”
Our Mission
To lead people on a journey to become fully-devoted followers of Christ.
How We Do That
We create environments that are a catalyst to encountering God, growing as a disciple, and connecting as a community to impact the world.
Our History
1993
Our church began with a dream on the playground at Media Elementary School as Pastor Bob and his wife, Monica, played with their young daughter. They looked across the street at the Media Theatre and dreamed about all that God might do through the local church in Delaware County, PA. It was at that time that God gave them the scripture Isaiah 43:18-20: "I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen." Sensing that God had a call on his life, Pastor Bob began his ministry career as a youth pastor and also started a bible study in his home in Ridley Park. Pastor Bob met others along the way and shared his vision for planting a church in Delco. The church was organized, and Calvary's first service was held in the Barnstormers Theater in Ridley Park in the fall of 1993.
1996
By 1996, ccdelco had outgrown The Barnstormers Theater facility and moved to The Christian Academy building in Media, PA, (lovingly called "708”). Pastor Bob left the Boeing Company to become ccdelco’s first salaried pastor and the church began to flourish, moving to three services each Sunday.
2001
Post 9/11 ccdelco began building its missional outreach by adopting a global/local initiative. Compassion weekends were launched designed to increase serving opportunities of congregations to ministries throughout the Delaware Valley. Globally, ccdelco began partnerships with churches and nonprofits in five geographic areas: Kenya, Russia, Middle East, Nepal, and Central America.
2003
In 2003, a 24-acre property was purchased in Chadds Ford, PA, and a building campaign ensued several years later. Ministry continued at 708 and the Media Theatre as new ministry ideas were birthed: Sizzlin’ Summer outreach, Calvary Campus, Journey thru the Word radio program, and Harvest Carnival outreaches to name a few.
2005
Sunday services moved to downtown Media — the adults meeting in the historic Media Theatre and the children in the very elementary school Pastor Bob and Monica had originally dreamed at (Media Elementary). All other ministries continued to meet at the 708 facility. This was a time off great growth spiritually as the theatre and school had to be set up each Sunday by over 50 volunteers. By the time the “theatre years” were over, ccdelco was once again conducting three services each Sunday.
2010
By God's grace on April 18, 2010, the doors were open to a spacious new 35,000 sq. ft. facility and a new chapter in Calvary's journey began. The 24 acre property has become a launching pad for vibrant ministry; regional conferences, outdoor Sizzlin Summer services (slogan "We Do Church Outside"), and compassion weekends. Our church became a "justice church" in 2013, partnering with IJM to see human trafficking and bonded slavery come to an end around the world. Our annual "Compassion and Justice Weekends" have become a hallmark of our church; and ignited the hearts of many to serve the most marginalized of our society (our exhibit also went on tour with IJM). Other initiatives addressed at these weekends were extreme poverty, racial injustice, abortion, and clean water initiatives.
2014
In 2014, the church embarked on a 20/20 vision, which included the opening of a classical Christian school, an extension campus east of ccdelco, a phase 2 building project, and an increased partnership with one of our global partners — Nairobi Chapel in Kenya.
2018
On September 5, 2018, we welcomed the inaugural class of Innovate Academy, our Classical Christian Academy for students PreK to 6th grade. One year later, our enrollment doubled and extended to 8th grade. Three years later, we moved to a four day onsite blended model and have over 130 kids enrolled with a satellite campus in OCNJ.
2020
God was in the completion of our 2020 vision as we launched an extension campus in Ardmore, PA in the heart of the Covid-19 Pandemic. God surprised us by growing the campus into a missional coffeeshop and bookstore through which we share the gospel with the Main Line community and provide ministry space for local churches and parachurch organizations.
We are currently praying about a 2025 vision and are believing the best days lie in front of us as we continue to seek God’s heart and enjoy all of the new people, staff, and gifting He continues to bring to our humble fellowship.
