Calvary Chapel East Anaheim gathers at 5605 E. La Palma Ave. in East Anaheim. It is known for Bible-centered worship, discipleship groups spanning childhood through older adulthood, and direct service to Anaheim neighbors. Its story stretches back to 1985, when Pastor Bob Kopeny, his wife Becky, and fifteen other Christians met in a small living room in Placentia. The congregation later moved through several locations, reports more than 2,000 people at weekly services, settled into its East Anaheim building in spring 2002, and doubled the sanctuary's capacity during a fall 2011 remodel. Its life now joins Sunday and Wednesday worship with Spanish ministry, family programs, community relief, and mission work in the United States and abroad.
Sunday and Wednesday Gatherings on East La Palma
Calvary Chapel's main gatherings are held in English at the East Anaheim sanctuary. The church describes its aim as bringing people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and helping them mature as healthy believers. Its services combine biblical teaching with worship, singing and prayer. Two services run on Sunday, and a third gathering meets on Wednesday night.
- Sunday morning worship runs from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
- Sunday late-morning worship runs from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Wednesday service runs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
All three are livestreamed on YouTube, while a separate archive preserves messages for later viewing. The church office at the East Anaheim address is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its main telephone number is (714) 695-9650.
The Solid Rock Cafe opens at 8 a.m. on Sundays and stays open until 1:30 p.m. On Wednesday evenings, a meal is served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. before the service, and children 12 and under eat free. The church also provides a mobile app and newcomer information for understanding the services, groups and activities before joining in.
From a Living Room in Placentia to a 2,000-Person Congregation
Pastor Bob Kopeny wrote that CCEA began as Calvary Chapel of Placentia. In 1985 he and Becky hosted the first gathering with fifteen other Christians in their small living room, where they worshiped, prayed and studied God's Word. Kopeny was then a full-time police officer for the City of Placentia. He eventually left that work, describing the change as laying down one sword for another.
After several moves, the church made its final move into the East Anaheim facility in spring 2002. A sanctuary remodel in fall 2011 doubled its capacity. The building also contains classrooms, a gym, the Adventure Lodge, the Solid Rock Cafe, a bookstore, a prayer room, a courtyard and other gathering areas. These spaces support the church's emphasis on worship, Bible study, fellowship and service.
CCEA's stated purpose is to proclaim Jesus Christ, admonish and teach with wisdom, and present people complete in Christ, quoting Colossians 1:28. The church summarizes its collective life in three movements: come into God's presence through worship, be built up by God's Word, and love and serve one another.
Calvary Chapel El Centro and the Spanish Ministry
Spanish ministry is an important part of CCEA's Anaheim life. It is designed for people who speak Spanish as their first language and want to meet and worship in that language. Ozzie Castillo has led Calvary Chapel El Centro from the Anaheim Veterans of Foreign Wars building since 2010. The congregation's stated vision is to provide a place for Spanish-speaking families to gather in their native language and see the church's work extend into downtown Anaheim.
- Sunday worship at 8 a.m. at the Anaheim VFW, 805 E. Sycamore St.
- Sunday worship at 11 a.m. in the CCEA gym
- Tuesday Bible study at 7 p.m. at the Anaheim VFW
- Wednesday gathering at 7 p.m. in the CCEA fifth- and sixth-grade room
These gatherings make Spanish ministry part of the church's regular week rather than a single translated service. The 8 a.m. gathering is held away from the main East Anaheim property, while the other meetings use the CCEA gym and classroom areas.
Adventure Kids, Teen Ministries and a Family Network
Children's ministry is called Adventure Kids, and its mission is to connect each child with Jesus through Bible teaching, interactive worship and loving relationships. Adventure Lodge opens for the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday services and the 7:00 Wednesday service. Junior high and high school students gather in their own rooms at those same times, while Level Up meets on Wednesday night. The youth ministry describes its aim as helping students understand God in a way that stands the test of life.
Tuesday evenings bring two age-spanning character programs. Royal Rangers serves boys from kindergarten through 12th grade, and MPACT Girls serves girls from kindergarten through 12th grade. Their alternating Tuesday rhythm gives children and teenagers a dedicated setting outside the general service gatherings. CCEA also has a disabilities ministry that emphasizes value, acceptance, support and friendship within the life of the church.
For adults, the Marrieds and Families ministry is led by Mike and Shauna Williams and welcomes married or engaged couples in their 20s, 30s and 40s, as well as couples with children under 18. Its gatherings include Bible studies, parenting conferences, date nights, movie nights and family activities. Childcare is provided for the Bible studies and many events. CCEA's homeschool community, CCEA Academy, and recurring gatherings for Faithful Singles, Military Moms and widows extend that network to households at different stages.
Bible Studies and Groups for Adults
Adult discipleship follows several weekly rhythms. Women meet Monday night at 6:30 p.m. under Lori Eggenburg and Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. under Becky Kopeny. Men gather for a 6:00 a.m. Thursday study in the courtyard, a 6:15 a.m. Friday study with breakfast in the Solid Rock Cafe, and Man Up at 7:00 p.m. Monday for men 18 and older. Man Up begins with teaching and continues in small groups.
Devoted serves adults roughly 25 to 45 and meets Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the high school room. Teacher Joe McGuire describes the group as a place to study the Bible, build Christ-centered friendships, serve the church and discover the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Ignited serves young adults 18 to 25 and meets Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the high school room. Its focus is for young men and women to become more like Jesus and reflect God's love in daily life.
Community groups meet every other week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday evenings in different homes. The studies vary, but recurring themes include connection rather than consumption, the church as a spiritual body, biblical accountability, unity, hope and care for neighbors and marginalized people. Home Bible studies also meet on several weeknights. The recurring School of Discipleship uses free eight-week Sunday classes at 3:00 and 4:15 p.m., with subjects that can include Christian citizenship, biblical study, the Holy Spirit and spiritual disciplines.
Support is expressed through groups as well as preaching. Divorce Care meets on Thursdays, while GriefShare is a 13-week workshop that combines video teaching with sharing among people who have experienced bereavement. CrossCurrent is an open eight-week support group for people seeking truth and grace in sexual and relational concerns; each meeting includes worship, teaching, prayer and a same-sex small group. Living Waters is a more intensive 20-week closed group addressing areas including sexual addiction, abuse, pornography, unhealthy relationships, shame, marital problems, gender identity and same-sex attraction.
Weekday morning prayer takes place in the prayer room from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. The church also organizes a prayer chain and prayer watch, and a 911 Prayer Team responds to urgent needs at homes or places of care.
Messages and Study Resources for Ongoing Growth
CCEA keeps a recent sermon feed and an older message archive, along with sermon outlines and worship lyrics. Pastor Bob's study resources include a five-session series titled Under the Lordship of Grace and links to e-Sword desktop Bible software, Blue Letter Bible's online study tools and Always Be Ready ministry articles. Downloadable lessons accompany several seasonal Bible studies. These materials give learners ways to continue working through Scripture at home while remaining connected to the church's teaching.
A Campus for Worship, Meals and Service
Beyond the sanctuary, CCEA's campus gives groups distinct places to meet. The Solid Rock Cafe serves Sunday morning and pre-service meals, the gym hosts youth activities and Spanish worship, and the Adventure Lodge is used by children and adult discipleship gatherings. CCEA's rooms support Royal Rangers, MPACT Girls, the Devoted study and children's ministry. The courtyard and prayer room provide separate settings for fellowship and prayer.
Serving roles extend through the whole gathering cycle. Volunteers serve in audio-visual and worship teams, the bookstore, cafe, security, emergency response, parking and traffic direction, and the sanctuary as ushers. The cafe team prepares Wednesday's meal, while other teams assist at memorial services. These roles give men, women and youth practical ways to participate in the church's regular rhythm.
Financial giving is available through the church's secure giving option, by mail at the East Anaheim address, or by texting CCEA to 77977.
Meals, Care and Direct Service in Anaheim
One major annual expression of CCEA's outreach is BlessFest, a Thanksgiving Day outreach for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Guests arrive from partner shelters and are welcomed with a complete meal, prayer, worship and a gospel message. Free services have included medical, dental, dermatological and vision care, along with haircuts, manicures, make-up, clothing, legal help and childcare. Guests also receive backpacks with hygiene items, toiletries and Scripture reminders. In past gatherings, as many as 800 people have been served.
A recurring Saturday meal and message takes place at La Palma Park in Anaheim, and volunteers also help with a homeless ministry connected to CCEA. The Dwelling Place Compassion Ministry operates a food pantry at 5340 E. La Palma Ave. that is open five days a week. Its model lets low-income families choose groceries and maintain dignity while also creating opportunities to build community connections. Connected Blessings distributes food in downtown Anaheim, and the church helps at the Brookhurst Farmers Market on Saturdays.
Living Well equips women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy to make informed, life-affirming choices. It provides practical care and judgment-free guidance toward healing and restoration for women who have experienced abortion. Its center is at 2010 N. Tustin St. in Orange. Love Life teams pray outside abortion centers on Saturday mornings, while Melodies of Hope volunteers sing hymns, read Scripture and share the gospel with residents of assisted-living and boarding-care homes. A person may serve in that ministry as often as once a month.
Other forms of care include a prison ministry that shares the gospel in local jails and support for people affected by human trafficking through Northeast of the Well. That ministry uses drivers, cooks, children's workers, meal support, audio-visual help and personal relationships with people coming out of trafficking. Salt & Light focuses on biblical moral values in public life. It mobilizes Christians at the grassroots level, encourages civic influence for good, and seeks to rebuild what it describes as America's Judeo-Christian heritage through prayer, education and action. These ministries extend the church's local mission well beyond the sanctuary.
Missions That Begin Locally and Reach Across the World
CCEA calls missions the work of raising men and women from its own body to become disciples who obey Christ's command to make disciples and proclaim the gospel. A large portion of the church's giving supports full-time missionaries around the world. Missionary Care Teams pray for them, encourage them and remain personally involved. Short-term work has included trips to an orphanage in Mexico every three months or so, as well as opportunities connected with Ireland, Costa Rica, Romania and Cuba.
Two local outreach teams show the church's emphasis on creative disciple-making. The Sazdanoff family works with Breakn Truth Ministries, using breakdancing to connect with breakdancers and young people. Its activities include practice gatherings, street outreach, competitions, Bible studies for children and contact with public school students. Connected Blessings focuses on food distribution for people in need in downtown Anaheim.
Cuba has a long CCEA history. In the early 1990s, Pastor Bob took a three-man team to the Church of God in Jesus Christ in Havana with money, medicine and clothing. Ricardo, one of two young men who received Christ during that visit, later founded Calvary Chapel San Mateo. Ricardo and Mislady now lead a congregation of more than 175 people in Havana, while Jose and Caridad Mesa lead the Church of God in Jesus Christ, whose services draw more than 100 people into the living room of their small Havana apartment.
Long-term mission families include Victor and Nichol Mejia with their children in Costa Rica, where Victor directs four School of Discipleship and Ministry centers; Shawn and Deanna Tebbe with their family in Ireland; Vicente and Janine Alvarado with their family in Japan; and Jeje and Coleen Jejeran with James and Elli in Romania. The Jejeran family works to plant a Calvary Chapel church in Cluj, teach others to serve, reach students and families through music and sports, and encourage healthy churches throughout Romania.
The R and R family has served Mission Aviation Fellowship since CCEA sent them in 1992. Their first nine years with the organization were in Suriname, followed by a Russia chapter in which R directed the MAF program. Surinamese and Russian leaders assumed responsibility before the family moved into aviation and communications work in a closed country in Southeast Asia. The wider mission family continues to combine worship, discipleship, practical service and long-term partnerships with churches in other nations.
What Calvary Chapel East Anaheim Believes
Calvary Chapel's beliefs are explicitly Bible-centered. The church affirms one living God existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and holds the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired, errorless Word of God and the standard for church life. It confesses the virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, continuing intercession and personal visible return of Jesus Christ. It also affirms the present work of the Holy Spirit, including regeneration, sanctification, spiritual gifts and the Spirit's indwelling presence in believers.
The church teaches that all people are under sin and that God regenerates those who repent, confess Jesus Christ as Lord and believe through the Holy Spirit. It believes in the universal church as the body of Christ, full-immersion water baptism and the Lord's Supper, the laying on of hands for baptism in the Holy Spirit and ordination, and the personal return of Christ with resurrection, final judgment, literal heaven and hell, and the pre-tribulation rapture of the church.
Its stated positions on marriage, sexuality and human life are equally explicit. Marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman, biblical sexual relations are confined to marriage, and life begins at conception. The church also requires every pastor, employee, volunteer and member to affirm these beliefs and commitments.
Weddings with Christ at the Center
CCEA hosts weddings for couples who regularly attend the church. An application is reviewed by Pastor Bob and the elders, followed by at least three premarital counseling sessions with a pastor. The church's marriage policy calls both applicants born-again believers and sets biblical expectations for their relationship before the wedding.
The sanctuary, courtyard and other approved spaces can be used for the ceremony. CCEA provides tables, chairs, audio and lighting support, recorded background music when requested, rehearsal access and a coordinator. It does not provide decorations or flowers, special-music musicians, a reception, a rehearsal dinner or full-service wedding coordination. A qualified staff pastor may officiate when the requested pastor is unavailable.
Pastors, Teachers and Ministry Leads
Pastor Bob Kopeny remains central to CCEA's story and teaching, while Becky Kopeny leads the Thursday women's study. Ozzie Castillo leads the Spanish ministry and Calvary Chapel El Centro. Joe McGuire teaches Devoted, Lori Eggenburg leads the Monday women's study, and Mike and Shauna Williams lead Marrieds and Families. Pastor Don McClure and his wife Jean have led marriage conferences and seminars and guide a Christ-centered marriage study for couples.
Pastor Kyle Poffenberger is associated with the church's homelessness and prayer outreach. The hiking ministry is led by John Hockman, Christian Kopeny and Grace Hockman, and offers easy through strenuous routes, shorter options for those with physical limitations and shared meals after hikes. The group's stated purpose is casual fellowship that helps believers build meaningful relationships and invites non-believing friends to participate.
At its center, Calvary Chapel East Anaheim remains a Bible-teaching, worshiping and serving congregation on East La Palma. Sunday and Wednesday services, Spanish ministry, age-specific discipleship, practical care for Anaheim neighbors and mission partnerships all form the outward expression of its goal to present people complete in Christ.