Calvary hosts ‘Restore Your Soul’ before AZSBC meeting

A team from Calvary Baptist Church leads in worship.

Calvary Baptist Church in Lake Havasu City hosted Arizona Southern Baptists in a most generous way when they came to town for their 93rd annual meeting November 12.

The church provided opportunities on Thursday, November 11, for early attendees to participate in golfing, hiking, off-roading, boating, a spa day for the ladies, and shooting. The church very generously paid for all of these events plus a one-night stay at a hotel.

“We wanted to provide a way for pastors and other leaders to have an opportunity to ‘Restore Your Soul,’” said Chad Garrison, Calvary’s lead pastor.

Ruben and Johanna Magdaleno share their testimony.

The evening session kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with dinner at the church and an evening of worship consisting of music by Calvary’s worship team, testimonies of Calvary members and a message by the keynote speaker, Chris Brown.

Ruben and Johanna Magdaleno shared their story of living a life of meth addiction to living a life of ministry thanks to Celebrate Recovery. Ruben now serves on Calvary’s staff as pastor of the Calvary – Parker campus. Other Celebrate Recovery testimonies were shared by Patrick and Jamie.

Chris Brown, senior pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California, preaches during the evening of worship.

Chris Brown, senior pastor of North Coast Church in Vista, California, shared with the attendees the value and importance of taking time away from ministry. He told his story of being a “workaholic” and how that affected his ministry, his family and his personal life.

Brown concluded by sharing three principles those in ministry should apply to their lives.

1. Be willing to commit to living with a low-level of frustration of others.
2. Family times need to be a priority.
3. Ministers need to be more concerned with fulfilling their calling – not their potential.

A video of Chris Brown’s message during the evening of worship may be viewed at vimeo.com/showcase/9031534.