History Of CCCS
Calvary Chapel Chester Springs was born out of a Bible study originating from Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia. The small fellowship, led by Pastor Chris Swansen, began meeting in a West Chester home in 1996. The study soon outgrew its home setting and relocated to an apartment complex clubhouse in nearby Exton. In 1997, the study began its Sunday morning service as a church fellowship meeting in the West Chester Senior Center and then moving to a private school in Chester Springs. As the Lord provided, the fellowship moved into our church building located at 217 Dowlin Forge Road in Exton on June 4, 2006. Please join us for worship services, Bible study, children's and youth ministry, and other activities.
Pastor Chris Swansen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Temple University in May 1989. He received his Masters of Science in International Development for Appropriate Technology from the University of Pennsylvania in May 1991. He also received a Bachelor of Biblical Studies from Calvary Chapel Bible College in December 1991.
In 1992, he traveled with his wife, Laurie, to Russia to serve as a missionary and became the pastor of the second Calvary Chapel in Moscow. Following their stay in Russia, Pastor Chris
and Laurie returned to the US where he served on the staff of a Calvary Chapel in North Carolina for one year. At that time, he felt God calling him back to the Philadelphia area to start a Bible-teaching church. Pastor Chris has served as pastor of Calvary Chapel Chester Springs since its founding in 1996. He and his wife have eleven children, and three grandchildren.
Assistant Pastor Steven Dorr felt called into ministry during high school through involvement in youth group. He went on to graduate from Cairn University (formerly Philadelphia Biblical University) with a Bachelor of Science in Bible and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He worked for several years in Human Resources. In 2008, he joined the staff at Calvary Chapel. Steven and his wife have two children.
Chaplain Wes Weber grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age. With his wife, Susie, and four children, Wes started attending CC Chester Springs in 2001. When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, as a General Contractor of 18 years, Wes felt the Lord calling him to serve. He lead six teams to help those in need. During this time, Wes was asked to serve in the church as a deacon and later as an elder.
These experiences in disaster relief led to an interest in crisis intervention. Wes became trained as a CISM chaplain, and continues his education in relief work and seminars. He serves locally as a police chaplain, on a local CISM team, and as a Captain for the Red Cross Spiritual Care team for three counties in Pennsylvania. Nationally, Wes serves as a Rapid Response Chaplain for the Billy Graham Association of Chaplains.
These roles have created opportunities for Wes to represent Christ in some of the most difficult moments in people’s lives. He has served over the years in many national events including 9/11, Sandy Hook, Fergeson Riots, Baltimore riots, Philadelphia Amtrak train derailment in 2015, Police shooting in Baton Rouge 2016, the Milwaukee riots 2016, and the police shooting in Des Moines Iowa 2016. Wes joined as a full time staff member in 2009 and serves the congregation in many ways.
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