I was saved in the early 80s at Calvary Costa Mesa, and I still basically consider it my home church. I grew up in a home that was basically not religious. My parents claimed Catholicism, and we went to church maybe twice, but it was a ritual and not life transformative. I went to a Kathryn Kuhlman meeting in the very early 70s because of one of my older sisters, but it seemed weird to me and they came around and asked people if they wanted to receive Jesus. I laughed at them. I was maybe 10.
Anyway, I am super grateful for pastor Chucks verse-by-verse teaching through the Bible, and am also grateful that I learned the Bible being taught through the KJV.
This is just my personal opinion, but I believe that pastor Chuck wanted Jon Courson to be his successor in the ministry. Pastor Jon came down in the early 00’s and took over Tuesday night studies. I went to almost every one and it was like there was a revival taking place. There certainly was personal revival with me.
Anyway, around that time Peter Jon became sick so pastor Jon left. Years later of course most of us know that PJ went to be with the Lord so overall there was a lot going on at the time.
Not naming them Calvary Chapel has had a number of pastors that had issues, but Ive never known CC to not deal with the problems for the most part.
As much as I love Brian and Cheryl, I feel like pastor Jon would have been a better fit to take over. I dont know what the Lord has in mind for Costa Mesa, but it has become smaller and both Brian and Cheryl have become more personally accessible if that makes any sense. I think personal accountability between believers in an environment where there is authentic agape love for each other and trust is super important to every believer. Calvary is the only place where I found anything even remotely close to that.