"...to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Ephesians 3:21

Like many Calvary Chapels around the world, Calvary Chapel Merced began as a home Bible study on August 3rd, 1988 with just six adults led by Pastor Dale Lewis. As the Holy Spirit stirred the hearts of this small group of "pioneers" it became clear to all that they were being called to more than just a midweek study. So in 1989 Sunday services began at the Burbank Elementary School cafeteria.

Over the next 6 years the church moved five times, including a 3-year stay at the Atwater Community Center, before returning to Merced in 1995, when we moved into our first "real" church building, which we shared with our host, First Christian Church for the next 8 years. The Lord continued to grow us both spiritually and numerically during this time.

While at First Christian Church the Lord blessed our fellowship through one of our members, who generously gave our fellowship 5 acres of land. In June of 2002 we leased a facility on "G" street and began constructing our new "home". In November of 2003, after 15 years, Calvary Chapel Merced moved once again, but this time to our own building on the corner of "B" St. and Childs Avenue.

During the time of construction and moving into our new
building, the FCC granted Calvary Chapel Merced a construction permit to build a low power FM radio station. In January 2004 the station was approved at 105.5 on the FM dial (since moved to 105.3). Then in July 2004 Kingdom Radio (KGDM-LP) went on the air for the first time. KGDM broadcasts Christian music and teaching 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the community of Merced.

Early 2005 brought another transition as the Lord moved Pastor Dale to Calvary Chapel Bitterroot Valley in Montana, and in May of 2005 Pastor Bob Dye, formerly on staff at Calvary Chapel Modesto, came to be the new Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Merced. Pastor Bob led us until he was called to ministry as part of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union in September of 2008. During Pastor Bob's pastorate, we realized we should put the B Street property up for sale.

Pastor Greg Boyd, Assistant Pastor of Calvary Chapel Crossroads in Antioch, California, then became our new Senior Pastor in October of 2008. At the end of 2009, we sold our property to the county and moved back into First Christian Church, holding an early Sunday service. After almost 5 years of renting, we purchased the property from First Christian Church near the end of 2014.

The Lord has greatly blessed our history as a fellowship of believers here in Merced. But while we look to our past with thanksgiving, we also look to our future with great anticipation. We feel we have only just begun to do all that the Lord would have us to do in fulfilling the Great Commission. It is our desire to reach Merced and the surrounding areas with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to make disciples, and to send out people equipped to reach the uttermost parts of the world.