Calvary Chapel Tampa: A Gospel-Centered Fellowship in Lutz
Just north of Tampa, in the community of Lutz, Florida, Calvary Chapel Tampa gathers on Livingston Avenue as a Calvary Chapel fellowship committed to the centrality of Jesus Christ. The congregation describes itself as real people, infused with dynamic faith and joined together in the covenant love of the Creator, who believe in multicultural and multigenerational ministry and who welcome anyone who walks through the door "just as you are." The church's gatherings are intentionally casual, but the focus is unwavering: God's Word is opened, the gospel is preached, and the Lord receives all the glory.
A Single Word Echoes Through Every Ministry
One word defines the ministry at Calvary: gospel. The leadership treats the gospel not as a doorway that Christians eventually walk through and leave, but as the lens through which every part of life, theology, and ministry is to be viewed. The Apostle Paul's concise definition in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 - Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, and appeared to Cephas and the twelve - frames the church's teaching, worship, and outreach. Jesus is central to everything the church does. Singing, praying, preaching, missions, children's ministry, and chaplaincy all rise and fall on the conviction that the Son of God is worthy of all attention and that His life, death, and resurrection have ongoing implications for daily life.
For a deeper articulation, the church points visitors to its Calvary Chapel Statement of Faith, which is built around historic Christian orthodoxy: the inerrancy of Scripture, the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary atonement, bodily resurrection, ascension, and pre-millennial return, and the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells and empowers every believer. The statement describes worship as spiritual, inspirational, intelligent, and fruitful, with great emphasis on the teaching of the Word and a yielded openness to the Holy Spirit's leading. The church is candid that it is "neither a denominational church, nor opposed to denominations as such, only to the over-emphasis of doctrinal differences that lead to division."
Sunday at 10:30: Casual Gatherings, Concentrated Teaching
Sunday morning begins before the service itself. A pre-service prayer group meets from 9:15 to 10:00 am, gathering in the sanctuary to pray for the church, its ministries, and those who will walk through the doors. The main Sunday service begins at 10:30 am and runs through the worship and teaching portions of the morning. Dress is casual; the atmosphere is friendly. Visitors are greeted at the Welcome Booth by volunteers who answer questions, hand out information, and help newcomers find their way. Pastor Mike Holm makes a point of meeting new faces after the service, and the church promises two things to anyone who chooses Calvary Chapel as a church home: they will be loved, and they will be faithfully fed with God's Word.
Teaching carries the weight of the morning. Pastor Mike works through books of the Bible verse by verse, often anchored in the gospel of Matthew. Recent series have walked through Matthew 13-16, with sermons on the parable of the hidden treasure, the feeding of the 4,000, the Syro-Phoenician mother, Jesus' clash with the religious leaders over tradition, the deaf-mute in the Decapolis, Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi, and the call to take up a cross daily. Other series include the Trinity, the work of the Holy Spirit in John 14-16, the life of praise in Acts 16, marriage, and freedom through Christ-based delivery. Each Sunday message is recorded and posted on the church's YouTube channel, where the full library stretches back years and includes teaching by guest preachers Sam Rodriquez, Jay Otero, Jason Moore, and Danny Castellano alongside the pastor.
Children's Ministry: Investing in the Future
Calvary Chapel Tampa's children's ministry serves kids from age 3 through sixth grade and begins directly after the 10:30 am worship portion of the service, in a dedicated children's section of the church. Parents and children are issued matching sibling tags and check in and out together each Sunday, a security measure the ministry takes seriously. Inside, kids are grouped by age for a program built around Bible stories, songs, crafts, skits with fun characters, praise dancing, games, and snacks. The current curriculum is published online so parents can reinforce the same lessons at home during the week. The church also offers a Vacation Bible School each year, with photos and a free "Bible Fun Factory" companion resource for ongoing learning at home. Parents are invited to serve alongside the team; the church welcomes anyone willing to help make Sundays a great place for kids.
Breakthrough Youth: Middle and High School Students
Wednesday nights belong to the youth. Breakthrough Youth meets at 6:30 pm each Wednesday for middle and high school students and is built around the conviction that the next generation can live boldly for Jesus. Weekly gatherings combine high-energy worship, biblical teaching, and small groups designed for honest conversation and prayer. Leaders describe the environment as safe, fun, and Christ-centered, with the goal of making sure every student feels known, loved, and challenged. Special events - game nights, retreats, worship nights - are scheduled throughout the year to deepen community and create lasting memories. The ministry also partners with families, recognizing that discipleship happens best when the home and the church reinforce one another. Students are encouraged to invite friends, and the welcome extends to any teen regardless of background.
Women's Ministry and Men's Ministry: A Monthly Rhythm
Calvary Chapel's women's ministry gathers on the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Women of every age and stage come together around a shared love for the Lord, working through a monthly Bible lesson together. The ministry describes itself as close-knit and intergenerational, leaning on Hebrews 10:24-25 - the call to stir one another up to love and good works and to encourage one another as the Day draws near. A yearly calendar of events is published so women can plan ahead for fellowship days, outreach, and seasonal gatherings. The men's ministry mirrors this rhythm on the third Saturday of each month, meeting from 9:00 to 11:30 am under the banner "Iron sharpens Iron." Its mission is to lead men of all ages into an active relationship with Jesus Christ through honest fellowship, accountability, and service. Both ministries invite newcomers to drop in at their next gathering.
Worship, Prayer, and the Work of the Holy Spirit
The worship ministry exists to inspire people to encounter God. Drawing from John 4:23-24, leaders describe the goal of corporate worship as setting an atmosphere in which the Spirit of God can move and people can meet Jesus in spirit and in truth. The team places great emphasis on music, in keeping with the Calvary Chapel conviction that worship should be both spiritual and inspirational, while still leaving room for the Holy Spirit to direct the flow of any given service. The worship team is led by a coordinator who also oversees the sound team, and the church welcomes musicians who want to serve.
The prayer ministry is woven through the entire life of the church. A pre-service prayer group meets every Sunday morning before the service, a prayer gathering fills the sanctuary on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and a prayer coordinator leads a network of teams that faithfully pray for every ministry of the church. The stated aim is to become a church of prayer - a community that follows God's commandments, walks in great faith, and watches for miracles in daily life - while also covering the pastors, the leadership, and the people in sustained intercession.
Missions: Uganda, Pakistan, and the Hawaiian Islands
Calvary Chapel Tampa carries an active cross-cultural missions footprint. The Uganda ministry is dedicated to spreading the message of Christ through evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and community development projects, with a particular commitment to empowering communities from the inside out. The Pakistan ministry works in both rural and urban settings, providing medical and hygienic supplies, sharing the Word, and standing alongside local believers to demonstrate the kindness of God to those in isolation. Many Pakistani Christians are nominal and have not yet understood the Gospel; the church's hope is to continue the work in greater ways as the Lord leads.
The Hawaiian mission is led by Laura Edwards, a mission worker and chaplain who travels each year to the island of Oahu to serve the houseless and elderly on Waikiki Beach and in Honolulu. The team collects toiletries, hats, socks, and backpacks year-round to distribute during the trips, and visits hospitals, other churches, and the Women's Correctional Facility. The mission is funded entirely by love offerings and donations, and the team also reaches out to children on the island.
Chaplain Corps of Tampa Bay
One of the most distinctive ministries of Calvary Chapel Tampa is the Chaplain Corps of Tampa Bay, a volunteer, community-based chaplain training and deployment ministry operating under the motto "My Community, My Responsibility." The program recruits, trains, commissions, and sends chaplains out two-by-two into their chosen fields of service to share the gospel, disciple new converts, and serve the wider community in the name of Christ. Training cohorts are scheduled periodically throughout the year, and the corps welcomes anyone who feels called to this kind of ministry.
Premarital Counseling and Marriage Ministry
Couples preparing for marriage can work through a premarital counseling process with Charlie and Dawn Meeks, who also lead the greeters ministry. The counseling explores each partner's faith and history, personal convictions, expectations, and future responsibilities, with the goal of laying a biblical foundation for a God-honoring marriage. The church treats this as an investment in one of the most important relationships a person will ever have, second only to their relationship with God.
The Leadership Team
Calvary Chapel Tampa is pastored by Mike Holm, who has served the Lord for over forty years. Two church elders - Ray Salerno and Bob DeVault - work alongside the pastor, with Jose Cuevas serving as head deacon. Laurence Alcindor-Campbell coordinates the prayer ministry, Steve Belmonte leads the men's ministry, Terry Leach-Larsen directs the women's ministry, Josiah Hughes leads Breakthrough Youth, Laura Edwards oversees the Hawaiian mission, Kevin Smith coordinates the worship and sound teams, and Jeb Lewis leads the security team. Anne Segers and Sandy Bartels anchor the decorating and hospitality efforts. The staff is supported by a wider circle of greeters, ushers, children's workers, musicians, and small-group leaders who keep the church's many ministries running week to week.
Getting Connected and Giving
Visitors can reach the church office at info@cctampa.org or by calling (813) 265-2759. The church is located at 17538 Livingston Avenue in Lutz, with a mailing address of PO Box 630, Lutz, FL 33548. Sunday service begins at 10:30 am, with a pre-service prayer gathering at 9:15 am. Wednesday evenings feature Breakthrough Youth at 6:30 pm and prayer in the sanctuary from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Monthly women's and men's fellowship gatherings meet on the second and third Saturdays, respectively. Teaching is available to watch any time on the church's YouTube channel, and tithes and offerings can be made online through the church's giving page. Those who want to get involved can visit the ministries page to explore current serving opportunities, from the worship team and children's ministry to chaplaincy and the prayer teams.