it was in 1993
it all started in california
Founding Pastor Tom Luitwieler and his wife Sandie got saved in Southern California. They attended Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa for a while, and in 1981 moved to Moreno Valley, California. They moved thinking it was simply to have their own home, but the Lord had other plans. It was at the Calvary Chapel in Moreno Valley that Tom and Sandie began to grow in the Lord. Encouraged by the strong teaching ministry of Pastor John Millhouse, Tom began to study the Word of God for himself.
Eventually Pastor John asked Tom to lead a Sunday evening home fellowship. It was there that God began to hone Tom's teaching skills. Pastor John encouraged Tom to attend the Pastor's School at Calvary Chapel of West Covina with Raul Ries. It was then that Tom realized that God was calling him to be a pastor.
the start of ccrs
After serving the Lord at Calvary Chapel of Moreno Valley for ten years, Tom and Sandie moved to Sparks, Nevada to see what the Lord wanted to do. They started a home bible study in Spanish Springs, and eventually moved the Bible Study to a pre-school in Sparks, and started Sunday morning services as Calvary Chapel of Reno Sparks in 1993.
passing the baton
Pastor Tom faithfully taught the Word of God and loved the people for 28 years. On July 1, 2020, Pastor Tom transitioned the church to Nevada native, Phil McKay
Pastor Phil was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, and later saved in Yerington, NV, where he was baptized at the age of nine. He was called to be a preacher and served in the Marine Corps, where he faced challenges but chose to live for Christ.
After his service, he worked at Calvary Chapel Vista in Vista, CA, where he married his best friend, Rebecca. They moved to Costa Rica, where they started Calvary Chapel Villarreal. Phil served as the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Paris in Texas and completed a two-year online Bible College program. He and Rebecca have five children and are now back in Nevada, where they began their ministry.
Read more about Pastor Phil’s journey from marine, missionary to senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Reno Sparks below.