Page 12 - Focus Carlsbad Summer 2019

Pastors Phillip and Misty Price
moved to Carlsbad 12 years
ago to pastor a congregation
of 40 people. Today their
congregation is 10 times that
size and still growing.

Why did they choose the location they did? How do they neediest part of town and we knew we wanted to make
do what they do and why? After all, there are dozens of an impact here."
churches in town, so what makes them different?
They spent the first six months pitching their vision,
I sat down with Phillip and Misty one Friday afternoon explaining to anyone that would listen what they
at their office in a converted attic at Calvary Church. Why envisioned and why. They also spent plenty of time in
the attic? Phillip said it's because they knew they needed prayer, and they took a hard look at the community to
an office space but didn't want to take away any of see what needs they could help meet. "Everyone says
the square footage in the building that could they want to reach the needy and help the poor
be used for the work they're until it's time to get busy and
doing and the future work actually do it," he said. "We
they have planned. It was “ lost some people over it, but
already off to an interesting we felt like that's what we
start. Our goal is, and were supposed to be doing so
always has been, to that's what we set out to do."
The Prices moved to Carlsbad
12 years ago from El Paso meet their practical Once the vision was
to pastor a congregation of needs to get to their established it was time to get
about 40 parishioners, mostly to work. The Prices and their
retirees or people in that age spiritual needs small congregation arranged
range. Originally located on to give away free food, such
Pate Street, about a half mile as produce, meat, canned
from their current location, goods and dry goods, to
the church was steadily anyone that needed it. With
declining in membership and funds. It was the perfect the help of volunteers, they began distributing about
opportunity for the couple to put their life-mission to 2,400 pounds of food to local families once a month.
work and get busy doing the work they felt God was Word began to spread and long lines of recipients caught
calling them to do. "Our goal is, and always has been, the attention of people passing by. Their goal of meeting
to meet their practical needs to get to their spiritual the community's practical needs to get to their spiritual
needs," Pastor Phillip explained. "Fifth Street is the needs was well underway.

Before long some of those curious passersby began to
wonder if perhaps what was going on at Calvary was
something worth getting involved in. Church attendance
began to increase and eventually they outgrew their
original facility. "When the opportunity came for us to
buy this property it made sense because it was much

Another way Calvary meets the practical needs of
the community is by offering free hot meals every
Monday evening to anyone in need. The volunteer staff
prepares meals from scratch in the church kitchen,
which is regularly inspected by the health inspector.

12 FOCUS ON CARLSBAD | SPRING 2019