Calvary Chapel Celebrates Easter Despite Troubled Times
BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) – Seven thousand congregants of a Florida Mega-church gathered on Easter with hopes that the church can move on from a tough situation and celebrate the life of Jesus Christ.
Early Sunday morning they sat in Florida Atlantic University's stadium with joyful faces, listening to the message given by guest speaker Reverend Franklin Graham.
"God will forgive your sins. God will heal your heart and give you a new life and new beginning," said Rev. Graham.
Graham, the son of the televangelist Billy Graham, took the place of Calvary Chapel's previous leader Pastor Bob Coy who stepped down earlier this month.
Coy abruptly left the church after admitting to a "moral failing" in a letter of apology.
On Sunday, the faithful chose not to dwell on one man's mistakes. Instead, they contemplated Jesus Christ's resurrection.
"We did not follow a leader. So, in fact, they're not even going to replace him with a leader because they have so many other pastors that they will be doing their rotation with the other pastors," said one woman.
After the two hour service folks streamed out of the stadium wearing smiles and offering hugs. As Cheryl Charter described the occasion and event "It was excellent. Jesus loves us and there is hope."
For those who attended the Easter service, discussion about the pastor's past was not on the agenda. Instead, they put their energy into moving forward, forgiveness and rejuvenation.