Seasons of My Life: Carl Westerlund
My Experience with the Jesus Revolution
After 19 years pastoring three other churches, Carl came on pastoral staff at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in 1987. He was there until he retired at the beginning of 2017.
In 1989 he started the Calvary Chapel School of Ministry as a two-year seminary-level program designed to train men by giving them tools to do pastoral work with a special emphasis on the gift of teaching. The program was expanded into the Calvary Chapel Bible College Graduate School, to include an additional third year that could lead to the Masters in Biblical Studies degree.
Since 1966, he has been married to his wife, Barbara, and they have two sons who are both teachers. After three pastorates, they felt drawn to Calvary Chapel because they sensed the openness to the Spirit and the dynamic life that people experienced there; so they made the move from Colorado to California. When Carl arrived at the church office, he met with Pastor Chuck, and they talked for an hour. And then Chuck said, “I’ll see about putting you on pastoral staff—by the way, what is your name?” And the rest is history.
The picture above: The Old Man and the Mountain. Mt. Baker near the Canadian border stood prominent on our eastern horizon. We could see it from our windows facing east, if it were not cloudy. I would look at it as I did farm work.
These Bible verses best represent Carl’s ministry:
“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” - Colossians 1:27-29