Calvary Chapel of Blythe began in the summer of 1994 as a small home fellowship of eight people as an outreach of Calvary Chapel of Indio. Pastor Mick Catron, the Assistant Pastor at Indio, along with his wife Jan, commuted to Blythe for weekly Bible studies. Over the summer, the group outgrew the home and moved to a local optometrist’s office to accommodate more people. A children’s ministry soon began in nearby homes.
The Catrons moved to Blythe in September and Sunday services began in October, 1994, at the Blythe Seventh-day Adventist facility. A mid-week study started shortly thereafter. To accommodate families who worked Sunday mornings, a Sunday evening study was also added. As the church became established and continued to grow, we started looking for a place to call “home.” After a few months, God led us to a 3500 sq. ft. vacant warehouse, and a major demolition and remodeling project was begun in the summer of 1995. On Nov. 5, 1995, almost five months later, we moved into the facility on Hobsonway and First Street that became “home” for almost 19 years.
In late 2012 we were approached about the downtown campus of Palo Verde College that had been closed. That began a season of prayer, investigative study, meetings with PVC leadership, and finally a public auction that resulted in our purchasing of the building at 145 N. Spring Street in April 2013. Four months later our team of volunteer labor commenced internal demo which essentially cleared the 9000 sq. ft. building to its four walls.
Internal reconstruction of the building began July 10, 2014. Our design professional was David Bayles from our local Ace Hardware. David did a fabulous job taking our vision and sketches and turning them into working plans. Dan Berkey of Berkey Construction from Quartzsite, AZ likewise did a great job as our General Contractor. The facility, which includes offices, sanctuary seating about 160, children’s and youth ministry rooms, kitchen, and coffee shop area, was completed just in time for our Christmas Eve service, 2014. Our official move in was January 4, 2015.
Since the beginning, Calvary Chapel has maintained the vision that the church is here to love and accept those God brings our way, and to equip and inspire them to do ministry and service in and out of the church. To that end, we have sought to emphasize a clear understanding of God’s Word through practical Bible teaching, and the beauty of expressing our love to God in simple and honest worship, fellowship together, and to pray with and for others. Calvary Chapel of Blythe’s history continues to be written in the lives of the congregation as we grow and share in the love of Jesus, and in ministry to one another and to the community.