Calvary English Chapel (CEC) held its first service in 1992. It was planted to provide a ministry for English-speaking second-generation Korean-Americans that attended Calvary Presbyterian Church (CPC), a Korean immigrant church originally planted in Des Plaines, IL. Today CEC and CPC worship alongside each other as two separate churches in partnership.

CEC has grown in the past twenty years, and it now includes a growing college, youth and children’s ministry.  However, the church believes that ministry still needs to be personalized for each individual, and small group meetings and dedicated pastors for each age group help to achieve this.

For the past twenty years, several important questions have shaped the ministry and vision of CEC:

How can we preserve the faith of Korean Christians who are increasingly acculturated to American culture and English language, but who are not yet assimilated to the mainstream church?  How does an ethnic church meet the particular needs of its congregation while also staying true to the identity and calling of God’s universal church?  And what role does this church play in expanding God’s Kingdom?

Pastor Michael Chang is the senior pastor of CEC. He has served at Calvary for over twenty years. During this time CEC has sought to create a unique ministry that meets the challenges of an immigrant population undergoing change and transition. As the church has grown, its ministries have become more specialized for the particular needs of families, single adults and college students. CEC is also seeking to make an impact on local and overseas communities through outreach and missions.

At CEC, we continually look to God as the author of our story. We are excited for what’s to come, and we welcome you to come and be a part of it!