Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellis Goins.
Hi Ellis, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey to becoming senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Northwest San Antonio is really a story of my spiritual journey. It was at a men’s Bible study in New Orleans, LA, the place of my of my birth, where God showed me my need for salvation and invited me to accept His marvelous free gift through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
From there, I’ll fast forward several decades summarizing them this way. Two months after I was born again I entered the army where I had already previously enlisted and then I served 20 years. During that time I was stationed in many places and served in many different churches.
Upon retirement I settled in San Antonio, and attended the University of Texas Health Science Center to earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I worked as a physical therapist while attending Calvary Chapel San Antonio, which is in Universal City.
Because the church was such a long drive from the north west side I was tempted many times to find a different church but I was drawn to the clear verse by verse teaching through the Bible at CCSA. That kept me anchored there.
I did find it difficult however to attend midweek services and to assist with other ministries of the church except on Sundays. So I started a midweek Bible study in my home, teaching God’s word verse by verse.
After many years of teaching that Bible study and seeing attendance grow causing us to move from my home to a larger home, I was asked by my senior pastor Ron Arbaugh to pray about starting a church in the Alamo Ranch area.
My wife, Kellien and I sought the Lord for quite some time regarding that matter. At the time I was very happy with my life as the lead Physical Therapist at Christus Santa Rosa Alamo Heights.
After much prayer, my wife and I came to the conclusion that it was God’s will for us to begin this new venture. I informed our Bible study group that we were going to be a church and they were thrilled.
We went through the process of becoming incorporated and being recognized as a nonprofit by the IRS.
We started our first Sunday service at Landon Ridge Independent Living on 28 July 2019. We were only at Landon Ridge for a month when we moved our service to Holiday Inn Sea World. From there we rented the student chapel at Christ Mission College and have been there for the greater part of our time as a church.
Christ Mission College was the location for our Sunday morning and Wednesday night services until the space became too small for our Sunday Services, so currently we meet at Christ Mission College on Wednesday nights but our Sunday service is at Pat Henderson Elementary School.
Our mission is to reach our community with the good news of Jesus Christ. It is through a life changing personal relationship with Jesus that unspeakable joy and peace which surpasses understanding can be had by anyone.
That is why we exist and would love for anyone interested in experiencing clear Bible teaching to join us. We also have children’s ministries for all ages, separate men’s and women’s fellowships which meet in homes, a Spanish Bible study, and a young adult fellowship. All of that information can be found at our website. calvarynorthwest.com
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Our biggest challenge has been facilities. We are pleased to rent space from NISD but of course that means transporting equipment from storage to the school every Sunday setting up and tearing down. Also there are school blackout days (usually holiday weekends) where we can’t meet there. On those days, like Easter every year, we rent space from the San Antonio Food Bank. It is very challenging being so mobile. We would love to have our own facility where we can do more but we are not a rich church. Our core belief is not to manipulate people for money. We don’t pass an offering plate for that purpose. Giving is an act of worship which we do firmly believe in and we make giving available to our congregation via online and an offering box in the sanctuary. But we don’t solicit or guilt people into giving. We rely on God to move in people’s hearts to give. So when we can afford it we will eventually move into a facility that we have 24/7 access to.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the Senior Pastor at Calvary Chapel Northwest San Antonio. I currently teach through the Bible on Wednesdays and Sundays. I direct the functions and activities of the church with the help of a volunteer staff. I provide biblical counseling to those who are in need, and of course perform weddings and funerals for our congregants. My greatest joy is when I see broken lives radically transformed into trophies of grace by relationship with Jesus and His word.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson that I have learned and continue to learn is to love all types of people unconditionally.
Churches are filled with all types of people with different personalities and life experiences. Some past hurts can make some people jaded and difficult. That can be quite challenging to deal with but everyone needs to be loved. It is my job to love them all no matter what because that is what Jesus does. It is important however to understand that love isn’t always touchy-feely. Sometimes love needs to be direct. To be loving is to speak the truth and sometimes people don’t want truth. That’s OK, we love them anyway.
Pricing:
- Everything that we provide is free of charge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://calvarynorthwest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvarynorthwest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calvarynorthwest/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfoAWuZN5otbloYgS-X0iTA
