Bill Welsh, and his wife, Joy, began serving the Lord at Calvary Chapel Huntington Beach in 1997. It was at that time Bill was asked to take the Senior Pastor position. They moved their family to Huntington Beach in June of 1997. They continue to serve the Lord in that capacity today. Joy is leading the women’s ministry, Heart 2 Heart.
Complete Bio:
1952
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio. One brother and three sisters. Raised in a Roman Catholic family. Mother and Father divorced in 1963.
1967
Bill’s mother moved with all five children to Long Beach, California in September.
1970
Bill received Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior at “Body and Soul” a “Jesus Meeting” in Long Beach during the “Jesus Movement”. He became a part of the body at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa and continued to serve there teaching Sunday School and leading worship for the children’s ministry and Jr. High school as well as working with the building of the facility (as a “very unskilled” laborer)
1971
Bill began to serve at “The House of Zaccaeus” a Christian coffee house in Long Beach where he met his future bride, Joy who was also a part of the volunteer staff.
1973
Bill moved to Sky Valley, California to serve on staff at the Sky Valley Desert Retreat center (near Palm Springs) to complete his alternate service as a “conscientious objector” during the Viet Nam war. June 3rd of 1973 Bill and Joy were married in Long Beach California. Their four children (Bethany, Shannon, Jeremy and Starlin) were born in Palm Springs, California.
1978
Bill began to preach weekly at Indio Hills Community Church, in Indio Hills, California (also known as Happy Valley – true story). Starting as a guest speaker, Bill was invited to consider taking the leadership of the church. Bill & Joy served that body for about 3 years while also serving in many capacities at the Church in Sky Valley.
1981
Bill and Joy began a home Bible study in Desert Hot Springs, CA, which turned into Calvary Chapel of Desert Hot Springs, California. They served for about 7 years.
1987
Bill & Joy along with their son Jeremy took their first trip to Australia, preaching in many churches and doing evangelistic concerts in Melbourne and Sydney. They took outreach teams there each summer from 1987-1990.
1991
In June of 1991, Bill & Joy and their children moved to Melbourne, Australia to establish the work of Calvary Chapel Melbourne. They lived there for three and a half years until their temporary residence visas ran expired.
1994
In December of 1994, Bill accepted an invitation from Skp Heitzig to join the staff of Calvary Chapel of Albuguerque. The Welsh family moved to Albuguerque and Bill took on the leadership of School of Ministry and the Missions department at Calvary Chapel of Albuguerque, New Mexico.
1997
Bill was asked to take the Senior Pastor position at Calvary Chapel of Huntington Beach, California. The family moved to Huntington Beach in June of 1997 and continues to serve the Lord in that capacity. Joy is leading the women’s ministry.
