Calvary's Leaders
Jeff Biddle
What do you do at Calvary?
The better questions is.. “what don’t I do at Calvary?” just kidding that’s a little pastoral humor! My official title is Care Ministries and Marriage and Family Pastor. I oversee all of Care Ministries which is an umbrella of care that consists of Counseling, Celebrate Recovery, Support Groups, and Pastoral Care. On the marriage and family side of things I oversee premarital counseling, marital enrichment, and marital restoration. I also lead the newlyweds Life group, and oversee all of the young marrieds Life groups. So if you have an emotional or relational need, I’m your pastor!
How did you come to Calvary and how long have you been here?
I came to Calvary from a little town in Northern Ca. called Rocklin. It was like Mayberry! It was a small church in a small town, we loved the community and our church, but felt God’s calling and timing to come to the O.C. and serve Him at Calvary Church Santa Ana! I have been at Calvary now for 13 years! I started as the Junior High Pastor (they are all in my young marrieds class now!) then the High School pastor, Student Ministries Pastor, Marriage and Family Pastor, and now my present position. I have loved every step of the way!
What is your educational background and training?
I have a B.A. in Psychology from California State Sacramento, I also have a M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary with an emphasis in practical theology, a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and just recently earned my license as a Marriage and Family Therapist. (Boy, am I in debt!)
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in the hood of Inglewood Ca.! but I actually do not know where I was raised! Since Inglewood I have moved 21 times! Including countless Elementary Schools, 3 Junior High Schools, and 5 different High Schools. I lettered at all 5 high schools, but still don’t which one to put on the jacket! I have lived as far south as San Diego Ca, and as far North as Pleasanton Ca, and everywhere else in between! Moving was incredibly difficult as a kid, but gave me a reliance on God that I wouldn’t trade!
Tell us about your family...
I have a wonderful wife Michele, to whom I have been married to since August 5th, 1989, an incredible daughter Brooke, who was born in 1994, a great son Joshua, born in 1999, and our little Biddle Scotty born in 2004. How could I put into words how blessed I am to have this family! But, oh how I am blessed! Michele is a stay at home mom, who loves her children, and is the world’s best mom…I hope I am not offending any moms but she is the best! She also has a passion and a ministry to pastors wives, after being married to a pastor for 20+ years she has some thoughts! Brooke loves Horses, and dance, and all that is artistic she loves God, and expresses herself beautifully through writing. Joshua is our gentle giant, who is quiet and kind and incredibly lovable, who also loves God. Scotty is our ball of fire our energizer bunny that only stops to sleep He also has a special relationship with his Savior!
Tell us how you "popped the question," or how it was popped to you.
Michele and I had a long distance dating relationship for 8 years! We met in High School when I was a sophomore and she was a freshman after one year I moved away. We grew to resent airports and goodbyes! I once told her that the day I could say, “No more distance…two together forever” would be the day I would ask her to marry me. So at some fancy smancy restaurant I gave her a photo album containing all of our dating pictures, from Homecoming to Prom, to College and on the front cover I had engraved “No more distance, two together forever.” She got it and started to cry! And I thanked God that he had given me my High School sweetheart and woman of my dreams!
What is your favorite memory from your time at Calvary Church?
I wrecked my Junior High youth pastors car, and when he told me I was more important than his car, he became and forever will be one of my greatest mentors that was John Davenport. Greg Lane my High School pastor told me I had what it took to be a pastor, and that he believed in me…he has always been a spiritual influence. My Dad and Mom, have convinced me, that there is nothing I can do to make them love me any less and nothing I could do to make them love me any more…that message translated to God’s love for me, and for that I will always be grateful. Finally, God has given me the chance to mentor several young men, and over the last several years, they have reached out to me and in a Timothy to a Paul way mentored me back…what a blessing!
Who have been the biggest spiritual influencers in your life?
That is such an unfair question! This church home has been such a place of incredible memories and a journey that has been amazing! But I would have to say when I was the High School pastor I walked into my office one morning and the entire, and I mean entire office was covered with 3 by 5 cards of words of love and appreciation of me as a pastor, I felt so unworthy of these words but so loved, it took me the entire day to read them all, and then the entire night to read them again to my family. I still have all of those 3 by 5 cards in several stacks wrapped in rubber bands in my safe in my office. It is incredible the power of healing, and loving words! To all those High Schoolers that spoke into my life…thankyou…
Favorite place you’ve been in the world and where do you want to go next?
It’s simple it’s not exotic, it’s Palm Springs, it’s warm, familiar, close, and full of some of the best family memories of my life. I would like to go back…again, and again…
When I can't be found at Calvary, I can be found...
Wrestling with my two sons, date night with my wife, loving my daughter…or driving to and from Calvary!
Hidden Talent?
I can rap. Actually it is only one song…that I do over and over….it doesn’t seem to get old and I can really bust da rhyme…
What do you count as the greatest invention of the last 100 years?
My Wife…
On what reality show would you most want to be a contestant?
The apprentice, so I could witness to Donald Trump…who knows with Christ at the center of his life…It could change to world!