The History of Calvary 

In 1978, a small group of Christians living in Kailua Kona began meeting together at Sonny and Betty Ackerman’s home for weekly fellowship. Through the prayerful suggestion of Irene Lewers, Jerry Fry, who was the Senior Pastor of Calvary Community Church of San Jose, was asked to consider planting a church in the Kona area. Thus began a series of events, which spurred Pastor Fry and others to pray on this matter.

During one of many prayer meetings at the Mount Hermon Retreat Center of Scotts Valley, CA, the seed for a church in Kona began to germinate. In attendance, were Jerry Fry, Rick Howard, Campbell McAlpine, and David Rees-Thomas. Through this group of leaders, the Lord confirmed the appointment of David and Eliane Rees-Thomas to pastor the new group of believers in Kona.

In 1979, Pastor David and Eliane with their two children, Michelle and David, Jr., were sent to Hawaii to both pioneer and pastor the church that God was growing.

Before the arrival of the Rees-Thomas family in Kona, Jerry Fry and Campbell McAlpine spent time with the home fellowship which was to become the core group of Calvary Community Church of Kona.

When Pastor David Rees-Thomas began, the first meetings were held at the Kona Surf Hotel (now the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa). After four months of rapid growth, the church moved to the Kona Lagoon Hotel (though this hotel no longer exists, it once stood south of the Keauhou Outrigger Hotel on Ali’i Drive).

Regular Sunday services were held at the Longhouse of the Kona Lagoon Hotel until 1993 when the church moved to the current location on Leilani Street. This 15 acre parcel of land in the Kona Vistas Subdivision was a gift by one donor to the church.

There are many still active at Calvary who are considered founding members of this congregation.  Get to know them and share with them your love and appreciation for building a strong foundation and for weathering the many storms that have blown through this congregation.  Our goal is to remain just as strong and steadfast in our commitment to God in this place.