Calvary Chapel Plano, TX with Rick Coburn

In the Dallas area, Calvary Chapel was started by a group of people who had heard Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, on radio. It began as a home Bible Study with the group listening to Chuck Smith's tapes. Upon determining that they wanted to form a church, they contacted Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa concerning their desire for a pastor. As a result, Bill Philipp, from San Bernardino, California, felt God call him and his wife to Dallas to start Calvary Chapel in 1980.

The church grew from its small beginnings in a home to meeting in a hotel within the next couple years. Pastor Bill left in 1986, succeeded by Pastor Rick Coburn the same year. Pastor Rick was saved through the ministry of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. He attended there 11 years prior to coming to Dallas, and it was there that God prepared him for ministry. His preparation included teaching home Bible studies and heading a ministry to Mexico which consisted of collecting and distributing food and clothing on a monthly basis to Mexican villages and orphanages. Pastor Rick is married and has three grown children.