Clarke Lauffer
We planted Calvary Chapel Westmoreland back in March of 1996 with just a few families. We met in a YWCA for the first 12 years and were blessed to buy the current location in 2008. We were away from this area for about 15 years while we lived outside of Philadelphia. While there we were part of various Bible teaching fellowships but didn’t really find home until we began to go to Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia. While there, we really began to grow and return back to our first love, Jesus.
The simple laid back style and verse-by-verse teaching throughout the Bible got our spiritual attention. Also, the Worship of God was so real and heart stirring that our hearts began to soften.
We had started out when we first got married to be missionaries with New Tribes Mission reaching those who never once heard of Christ. After Bible College it became apparent that I wasn’t suited for that kind of life, as I have no brains in my hands and missionaries to survive have to do many mechanical things on the mission field. We always had a sense of God’s call on our lives, but lost the vision and got stuck in the world of self indulgence.
Back in 1991, we relocated to Western PA as we had some real trials as a family to walk through, so we wanted to be near our relatives for support. When we got back home, we visited many churches, but couldn’t find one that we felt home in. So we drifted for 5 years spiritually until providentially the Lord sent us to Southern California on a business trip. We visited Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and were totally blessed as we sat under Pastor Chuck Smith’s teaching. I knew that we needed something like this in Greensburg, so I sensed the Lord’s hand leading us to plant a Calvary Chapel in Greensburg, PA. Our sponsoring church Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia and Pastor Joe Foch, encouraged and prayed for us.
So here we are today with a wonderful church Body of believers who love Christ and His word. God gave us this beautiful facility to use to spread to Westmoreland County the Good News of Salvation.
Currently, I am a bi-vocational pastor and work as a sales rep for a Optical Wholesaler. My wife Cindy is an administrative secretary for the church and also a full-time grandmother to our 6 priceless grandchildren.
We know God desires to do a work in every city of the world. We see by His hand of blessing and grace that He has chosen the people of this local Calvary Chapel to impact the world for His glory and honor. We love serving the Lord together and are so encouraged seeing people from all walks of life follow Jesus as His disciples.