OUR HISTORY
Calvary Chapel Dolphin Coast
In 2022, whilst living in western Kenya and attending Calvary Chapel Eldoret (where Storm was an assistant pastor), the Lord stirred Pastor Storm's heart to start a Calvary Chapel in Ballito. Storm and Sophie did not know anyone in Ballito, but the Lord was clear, so they packed their bags! The young family (of 4 at the time) arrived in Ballito in October 2022 and CCDC held its first meeting in December, 2022.
Calvary Chapel Churches
Calvary Chapel began in 1965 when Pastor Chuck Smith started a small fellowship in the coastal town of Costa Mesa, California, USA. He welcomed all people without judgment, placing his emphasis on teaching the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book. Over the years, something amazing happened - his simple, yet sound biblical approach soon started drawing 25,000 people every week.
As Pastor Smith reached out to many discontent youths (such as hippies who were part of the 'flower power' era and the Beat Generation who were rebelling against American culture/society), many accepted the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. During this time, the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit on the Church in a significant way, placing Calvary Chapel at the centre of what is known historically at The Jesus Movement. This work of the God spread from the west coast to the east coast of the USA, and then to other parts of the world.
What began as a small local church has now grown into an international association of over 1,800 Calvary Chapel churches all around the world.
Our Pastor - Storm Lindenberg
Pastor Storm grew up in Umhlanga but then lived in the UK for 12 years, where he completed university and went on to work for a law firm in London.
Ever since he was a teenager, Storm felt a 'void' in him that could not be properly filled by anything. His life lacked meaning, fulfilment and purpose. He had a very real sense of emptiness in the life that he was living. So in 2016, he decided to yield to the ever-present conviction within him that God was indeed the truth, the way and the life; and the only One able to fill that void.
As he started attending a local church, his life started changing dramatically - he started having new priorities and started growing in his relationship with the Lord. But he soon realized that he was desperately missing out on sound, in-depth biblical teaching. His desire to be taught the Word of God was increasing, but he was not being 'fed'. He met Sophie during this time, and they were both serious about serving the Lord.
In January 2019, Storm and Sophie moved to Kenya to establish a charity to support orphaned teenagers and young adults. They were not sent by any church or organization and just started from scratch. Not knowing where in Kenya they were going, they purchased a car in a Nairobi and just drove. After travelling through various parts of Kenya, they eventually arrived in a town called Eldoret, in western Kenya. They felt the Lord wanted them in that vicinity and so they got started on establishing New Routes Foundation.
When they were almost on their way to Kenya, they thought that finding a church would not be easy (not least because it would have to be an English-speaking church). They thought they would just look for a local church to become part of - even if it wasn't everything they were looking for in a church. Soon after they arrived however, they stumbled across a church called Calvary Chapel. Neither of them had ever heard of this church, but they were told it was a church plant by a missionary family, and decided to give it a try.
Suddenly it was like a deep hunger and thirst were satisfied. They knew they had been desperately missing a church where the Bible was taught fully and thoroughly, where worship was God-centred, and where fellowship was a priority. They had no idea just how deep all those cravings really were though until they arrived. They remember looking at each other with tears in their eyes that first Sunday, knowing they had found their new church home.
Storm and Sophie had unexpectedly found a church on the mission field that taught the Bible with accuracy and to the level of depth they had been searching for. Storm was discipled by the Senior Pastor, Josh Lawrence, and Sophie soon became great friends with Pastor Josh's wife, Kelsey.
Ever since that first Sunday, God gave Storm a very strong desire to hear His Word being taught without hindrance, in all its fullness, richness, and beauty. Over the next 3 years, that desire developed into a conviction to teach His Word to others - where they too could understand it better. Pastor Storm believes there is a great need in South Africa for in-depth Bible teaching. He is convinced that biblical exposition is the only way that we are able to properly understand and apply God’s Word to us - from Genesis to Revelation.
Pastor Storm was ordained at Calvary Chapel Eldoret in February 2022. Later that year, him and his family moved to Ballito to establish Calvary Chapel Dolphin Coast, which held its first meeting in December, 2022.
Storm is extremely passionate about all those living on the Dolphin Coast having the opportunity to hear the Bible taught as fully and clearly as possible - verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book - for the glory of God.
