Skip Heitzig


Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor of Calvary Church, a Calvary Chapel fellowship located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Personal

A native of Southern California, Heitzig has three siblings.
He has been described as a former "marijuana smoking surfer dude." Heitzig was witnessed to by a friend, Gino Geraci, senior pastor of Calvary South Denver. Skip's conversion came while watching a Billy Graham crusade on TV and giving his life to Jesus.
Shortly after this experience, Heitzig began to study under Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa.
In 1981, Heitzig married his wife, Lenya, and together they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to continue his work in the medical field. Together, they have one son, Nathan.

Ministry

In 1982, Heitzig began a home Bible study that eventually grew into Calvary of Albuquerque. In 1988 and 1989, Calvary of Albuquerque was listed as one of the fastest-growing churches in America. In 2009, Calvary of Albuquerque was listed as one of the 15 largest churches in America, with an average weekend attendance of 13,000. In November 2018, CBS News listed Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque as the 22nd largest megachurch in the United States with about 16,830 weekly visitors and more than 13,000 followers on Facebook.
After a brief pastorate in San Juan Capistrano, Heitzig returned to Calvary of Albuquerque as senior pastor in 2006, following the resignation of the previous pastor, Pete Nelson.
Heitzig serves on several boards of directors, including that of Samaritan's Purse. He also serves as Associate Professor of Pastoral and Biblical Studies at Veritas International University.

Education

Heitzig attended Victor Valley Community College in California and UCLA.
Heitzig earned a Ph.D. from Trinity Southwest University in New Mexico and an M.A. and B.A. from Trinity Seminary, Newburgh, Indiana.

Publishing and media

Heitzig is the author of several books and booklets, including:
  • How To Study the Bible and Enjoy It
  • Jesus Up Close
  • When God Prays.
  • Encounter: Face 2 Face with Jesus.
  • God Print.
  • The Daily God Book.
  • Homeland Security.
  • You Can Understand the Book of Revelation
  • Defying Normal.
  • The Bible from 30,000 Feet.
  • You Can Understand™ the Book of Genesis: Experience Its Meaning and Message.
  • Bloodline: Tracing God's Rescue Plan from Eden to Eternity.
  • Soaring Through the Bible: A Travel Guide from Genesis to Revelation for Kids.
  • You Can Understand the Book of Revelation: Exploring Its Mystery and Message.
  • Biography of God.
Heitzig can be heard throughout the United States and worldwide on his radio broadcast, The Connection, as well as various cable and internet-based television channels.
Thousands of his teachings are available on the Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig YouTube channel, which has nearly 250,000 subscribers. The Connect with Skip Heitzig podcast is featured on OnePlace.com and Pray.com. With dozens of studies available on YouVersion, readers can find daily devotional plans covering a range of topics and specific books of the Bible, as well as a widely popular reading challenge—the 30K 30 Day Challenge, which offers a fast-paced overview of the New Testament.

Music

As a musician, songwriter, and producer, Heitzig has been featured on several musical projects, including:
  • Lively Hearts
  • Everywhere I Go
Heitzig wrote the lyrics to the modern hymn "Gloria Exaltus", which was released on the album Stars Shine Bright.

TV and documentaries

Heitzig hosted the video documentary Epicenter, with author Joel C. Rosenberg, as well as the documentary The Jesus Boat. In 2010, Heitzig released two additional documentaries, Shattered and Riptide. Heitzig has also been a featured guest on several documentaries and video teachings, including ''A Venture in Faith.''