Calvary gains new pastor

Alecia Foster

BURBANK -- It may have taken some time, but those charged with finding

Calvary Bible Church’s next pastor met their goal.

Pastor Jack Hughes has been named the church’s next spiritual leader.

“He had a tremendous background,” said Lew Stone, a member of

Calvary’s congregation and member of the search committee.

Until recently, Hughes, who was bor in Lompoc and raised in Ventura

County, had been and preaching to a congregation in Boise, Idaho.

Hughes, 38, wife Lisa and their three children, Leah, Nate and Mark,

made their move to California this week, just days before the pastor

would be officially welcomed to Calvary Sunday.

“My main objective is to faithfully preach God’s word and help the

leaders here to shepherd the flock,” Hughes said Monday. “They needed a

strong teacher and preacher and those are the things I really focus on.”

Stone and other committee members began their search for a new pastor

more than 18 months ago, which was not an unusual amount of time for such

an endeavor, he said.

Stone was confident the committee made the right choice.

Hughes received his masters of ministry degree from The Master’s

Seminary in Newhall and will complete his doctorate this month at

Westminster Seminary in Escondido.

He has been in ministry for 12 years.

A visit to Idaho several months ago to visit Hughes at his own church,

solidified the committee’s choice, Stone said.

He called Hughes a “gifted communicator.”

“He is an incredible teacher of God’s word,” Stone said.

Church elders began their search for a new leader after Pastor Richard

Laue retired. He served Calvary’s congregation for 23 years.