“ I had no peace nor did I know why I was even alive. At that point God called out to me...” --Chuck Lind, Senior Pastor
- Born in San Diego.
- Married to Pat, whom he met at a California church.
- Father to Katie, Anna (married to Kurt), Trisha (married to JP).
- Grandfather to four grandchildren.
- Former surfer, carpenter, construction worker.
- Founded Calvary Chapel Olympia in 1983.
What was your childhood like? I grew up in San Diego. I actually grew up in North San Diego, which was much more rural than the city. I was within two miles of the beach and didn’t really spend much time at the beach until I was in my teens and started surfing. I loved the climate, and still enjoy going back and seeing my mom, my brother and sister and their families.
I am married to Pat who also grew up near San Diego. She grew up more inland in a place called Poway. We met in a Presbyterian Church in Solana Beach, after she graduated from San Diego State as an RN and I was working as a carpenter.
It sounds like God worked on you awhile... I went to a year and a half of Junior College and then went into construction. After I hurt my arm in football, I was no longer able to pitch in baseball. I was very unmotivated to go on with school so I became a carpenter. Southern California was growing so fast you could get a job anywhere in construction. So that is what I did for several years.
So, how did you become a Christian? I became a Christian when God began to speak to my heart. I went through a time of disillusionment and discouragement. I had no peace nor did I know why I was even alive. At that point God called out to me and said that I should follow Him. I gave my life to the Lord one night in a room I was renting in a large house near the beach. I have never looked back. Everything changed for me at this point. I was no longer doing drugs, drinking, getting involved with girls. I was totally committed to the Lord and only wanted to grow closer to Him.
I had a girlfriend whom I was very attached to, who didn’t want to come to the Lord. The Lord moved her away through a job situation that freed me from all of that.
Also, letting my coworkers know that I was a Christian was interesting. They watched for quite awhile and then some of them slowly started to come to Jesus. We actually had quite a revival at one of our jobs. One of the guys that got saved on that job, Skip, is now a Calvary Chapel Pastor in Nevada. One of the biggest turning points was when my boss started going to Calvary Chapel in San Diego-- when he got saved. I unwillingly went once to hear his band play at a Sunday Night Service. I never stopped going.
... and you really developed a thirst for God’s Word. I basically learned the Bible just from personally studying Chuck Smith tapes, reading commentaries, preparing Bible Studies for 32 years, and reading hundreds of books even though I really don't like reading.
What are some highlights of your Christian service? Some of the highlights are when I met and married Pat. When I taught my first Bible Study and realized I enjoyed teaching God’s word. Going to a Calvary Chapel for the first time. Becoming an Assistant Pastor in Seattle. Having and raising my wonderful daughters. Starting the church in Olympia in 1983. Having grandkids, whom I love very much. Not getting what I wanted but what God wanted in ministry. Having to live week to week, not knowing if there would be enough money for us or the Church. Having to work and lead the Church at the same time in the early years.
What is the vision God has placed on your heart now? The vision I have is teaching God’s word faithfully, always growing in that. Seeing people raised up in ministry and helping them succeed. Seeking to learn how to love those whom God has put in my life. Seeking to bring people to Jesus.
How has God personally stretched you, in areas that you could not have anticipated? God has stretched me with the people I live with and work with. I have had to learn how to love. I am nowhere near perfect, but I am thankful for the people God has put in my life so that I can be made more like Jesus in loving them. I believe that God has put the most gracious people in the world around me, for they have loved me far more than I have loved them.
I didn’t realize the demands of a larger church. We are not a mega church but large enough to have many demands. I am asked to make decisions all the time and sometimes that is very difficult, for those decisions always effect people. I hate to say ‘no,’ but have to quite often.
What is one thing you want people to know about you? The thing I would want people to know about me is that I love Jesus and I love Pat.