About

Pastor John Higelin

On October 16th, 1991 I was born again and in a matter of about two years, I realized God was calling me into some type of ministry. I got saved at Sunrise Baptist Church in Redlands California while delivering a singing telegram to the wife of one of the staff members at the church. I was dressed in a tuxedo, and with flowers in hand I read a special personalized poem from the husband to his wife. After I finished, I told the people that I needed to see the pastor. I had been raised Catholic and had attended Catholic School in my youth, but I had never had a personal relationship with Christ, but at 25 years of age, in September 1991, my world crumbled when my girlfriend dumped me, and I was really down. God had been sending me various signals in order to reach me through events and people, and finally He had gotten through and I got saved, and that with a purpose in mind. I tried to land different jobs, I even tried to get work at a Christian radio station as a deejay, because that's what my life was going to be. I wanted to be a Sports Announcer. Two years earlier and unsaved, I graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1989. After 5 years of college I eventually landed some side jobs announcing when I read a book called “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, by Dale Carnegie. I was searching for more from life, a fitting pursuit because the last assignment in college had been a documentary called “Where Do We Go From Here?” But I wasn't finding what I was looking for. I returned to Southern California after getting saved there in Redlands, and began to attend church and serve at Calvary Chapel Chino Valley under Pastor David Rosales. I was an usher for several years, and I discipled other believers, led a home Bible study for two years, and became a leader in Calvary Chapel Chino Valley Compassion Ministry. The Compassion Ministry went out into the community to visit the sick and teach Bible studies in Group Homes in the Inland Empire near Chino, California. God was using these things to instruct me and grow me into a pastor. I led the College and Career group at Calvary Chapel for a year. I attended Calvary Chapel Bible College at Twin Peaks, and then received pastoral training for two years at Chino Valley Calvary Chapel. After arriving in Yreka, I was ordained by the board of Calvary of the Siskiyou's, and I've now been the pastor of that church since 2001. A neat brother named Tim Brock (who now pastors at Calvary Chapel in Davis, California) was leading a Bible study at the same time unbeknown to us, as we came to Yreka. When he heard that we'd started Calvary of the Siskiyous he believed the Lord was leading him to Davis.” Another Calvary Chapel pastor, Denny Stahl from Grants Pass was here in Yreka for a season as well, as were other men sent out from other churches who considered starting Calvary Chapel fellowships, but nothing developed. John and Jennifer's goal was always to go where no other Calvary Chapels were already, and they didn’t want to build upon another man's foundation ( Romans 15:20 )

Our Early Days

We first started meeting at Yreka High School, and then over the course of those first three years we met at the YMCA, the VFW Hall, and then Girdner Funeral Home. We just kept on growing, and outgrew the VFW Hall until we ran out of room. God gave us our own facility, and it's been a real blessing. Starting four years ago, we began a few additions, including a modular for our youth  classrooms, and a remodel of our existing building. During the time the Lord was leading John to come to Yreka, 2 Corinthians 8:10-11 were among the key verses that really spoke to their hearts and direct them back up to the Yreka area. The name “Calvary of the Siskiyous” leaves off the “Chapel” part of Calvary Chapel because Covenant Chapel, another church in the area, had already used that in their name. We thank Jesus Christ for His faithfullness and pray God will show you where He has called you to fellowship. We invite you to come join us for one of our midweek studies, or on Sunday mornings, and we look forward to meeting you!