Why is there a surfboard hanging in the foyer?
This custom surfboard was gifted to Calvary Old Bridge by Pastor Bill Stonebraker of Calvary Chapel Honolulu in June of 2024.
Pastor Chuck began his ministry in 1948 in a small church in Prescott, Arizona. Later he moved to Tucson, and then Corona. Unfortunately, there was no growth amongst any of the churches which finally led him to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in 1965. Only 25 people attended when he started. The church eventually grew to seating over 2000 people.
Early in Calvary Chapel’s ministry, Pastor Chuck began reaching out to the hippie culture that was so prevalent in California at the time. As these hippies came to know the Lord, they were welcomed into Calvary Chapel, and the church began to grow exponentially. The church was among the first to emphasize contemporary worship and a welcoming atmosphere for non-Christians while at the same time not neglecting the teaching of God’s Word. This jumpstarted what is now called the “Jesus Movement.”
The Jesus Movement and Pastor Chuck Smith
The Jesus Movement was a Christian youth revival that swept across the U.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s—a time marked by protest, rebellion, and spiritual searching. As many young people experimented with drugs and alternative religions in their pursuit of meaning, thousands instead found lasting hope in Jesus, earning the nickname “Jesus freaks.”
This movement drew not only hippies and drug users but also disillusioned churchgoers, attracted to its simplicity, music, and informal worship style. This movement left a lasting mark on modern Christianity.
Pastor Chuck Smith was a key figure in the movement. Known for his open-hearted welcome and strong biblical teaching, his small church grew into an international network—now over 1,800 Calvary Chapel fellowships worldwide. Pastor Chuck deeply influenced many, including Pastor Bill Stonebraker, often visiting and encouraging him in the early days of Calvary Chapel Honolulu.
Who is Pastor Bill Stonebraker?
Raised in Southern California, Bill Stonebraker grew up without a strong father figure, which led him into trouble at a young age—stealing, setting fires, and running with the wrong crowd. At seven, his family moved to Manhattan Beach, where a life-changing moment occurred. At ten, Bill overheard a beachside Bible study, heard the gospel, and gave his life to Christ.
His life initially changed dramatically. His Christ-like innocence attracted surfers at his junior high, introducing him to the surfing world. But over time, surfing became his obsession, replacing God. By high school, he was drinking, partying, and drifting further from faith.
In high school, he met Danita, who stood apart from the party scene. They married and moved to Hawaii in 1967, where Bill launched a successful surfboard business. Outwardly, he had it all—but inwardly, he was empty. He turned to drugs, alcohol, and Eastern Mysticism, becoming distant from his wife and children.
One night in Waikiki, he encountered a man preaching about Jesus. Intrigued and spiritually broken, Bill prayed to receive Christ once again. His life began to change—this time deeply and permanently. He reconciled with his family, surrounded himself with believers, and opened his home for Bible studies on the North Shore.
Inspired by Pastor Chuck Smith’s teachings, Bill was ordained and started North Shore Christian Fellowship, later founding Calvary Chapel Honolulu in the early 1980s. The church grew from small gatherings to a large campus in Aiea, including a school, café, radio station, and gym.
Today, Bill continues teaching the Bible and crafting surfboards. He often restores old boards, drawing spiritual parallels—like his board named “Lazarus,” once beaten by the ocean but renewed by the hands of a master craftsman. It’s a reflection of God’s power to restore broken lives.
Bill and Danita have three children, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His life is a testimony of redemption, purpose, and enduring hope.
After Pastor Chuck went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2013, he was honored with one of the largest “paddle outs” ever held at Huntington Beach. Surfers formed a massive circle, shouting out Bible verses and sharing memories—both believers and non-believers united in tribute.
The paddle out and a commemorative surfboard represent not only Pastor Chuck’s life and legacy but also the roots of the Jesus Movement—where surfers and seekers first heard the gospel on those same sands. For Calvary Old Bridge, the board stands as a symbol of that rich spiritual heritage.
Both the surfboard and the paddle out served as a way of returning to Pastor Chuck’s roots. Being a surfer himself, he would often preach to hippies on that very beach in the 1960s.
Not only does the surfboard honor the life and work of Chuck Smith and Jesus Movement, it is a symbol of our own history here at Calvary Old Bridge.
