About Me
Skip Heitzig is a native of southern California, and experienced the volatile days of the counter-culture in the late 60's and early 70's. Though raised in a religious home, Skip saw religion as a dead-end street with no answers. As a young musician, he got caught up in drugs, and an arrest for two felonies. By 18, he had ventured into the spirit world of astral projection and automatic writing, again finding no answers. By 1973, the Jesus Movement was in full swing, with many young people committing their lives to Jesus Christ. This also happened to be the same year Skip left his family's home and moved to the San Francisco Bay area to enroll in college and escape his Christian friends who were trying to "convert" him. But God had a different plan for Skip's life. One day, alone in his brother's apartment in San Jose, Skip was watching TV and became mesmerized by Billy Graham. The Gospel message penetrated Skip's soul and he knelt down and prayed to receive Christ.Skip returned to southern California, and began his studies under Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa until 1981. After marrying Lenya, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked in the medical field of radiology. In 1982, Skip began a home Bible study which eventually grew into Calvary of Albuquerque. In 1988 and 1989, Calvary of Albuquerque was considered the fastest growing church in America, according to a church survey by Dr. John Vaughn. Today, Calvary of Albuquerque ministers to over 14,000 adults and their children every weekend. Several other churches have spun off from Calvary of Albuquerque, including churches in Arizona, Colorado, and other parts of New Mexico.Skip, along with Lenya and their teenage son, moved back to California in January 2004 to serve as Senior Pastor at Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano. Skip served in this capacity until July 2006, when he and Lenya returned to Albuquerque to once again serve as Senior Pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque.Skip continues to reaches out to many people across the nation and throughout the world through his multi-media ministry, including a nationwide half-hour radio program, The Calvary Connection. Skip also helps equip others for living according to God's principles through his writings. Recent books include: When God Prays, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It (revised), and Jesus Up Close. He also publishes a Lifestyle Series of booklets. Booklets especially applicable to our state of current affairs are A Biblical Response to Terror and Confronting Your Culture.Skip earned his B.A. and M.A. from Trinity Seminary. He currently serves on several Boards of Directors including Samaritan's Purse.
