| Pastor and Dona Ciociola, Lead Pastor |
Pastor Michael and Dona Ciociola have served as the Senior Pastor at Calvary Christian Center in Yuba City, CA since 1991. After graduating from Central Bible College in Springfield, MO, the Ciociolas began full-time ministry in 1968. From 1968 to 1987, Pastor Ciociola pastored 2 successful churches in the greater Chicago area. During this time, he led an older, staid congregation into a resurgence of new life, worship and fellowship. Pastor Ciociola brought both congregations from neighborhood ministries to churches with a region-wide impact.
Throughout these years, the Ciociolas began over 50 home groups for prayer, evangelism and discipleship. They launched a local TV ministry reaching over 500,000 homes with a twice-per-week one hour telecast. From 1987 to 1990, Pastor Ciociola left the pastorate and began an evangelistic ministry. During these years, he conducted evangelistic meetings throughout North America. This broadened the Ciociolas vision and enriched the annointing of the Holy Spirit on his ministry.
Since assuming the Senior Pastorate at Calvary Christian Center, the church has grown by nearly 40% and is rated in the top 5 churches in size and missions participation in Northern California and Nevada. Calvary Christian Center has mothered four new churches and has constructed and paid for each of these building projects. Because of Pastor Ciociola's heart for missions, Calvary has built a new church somewhere in the world annually as a missions project, by sending its own building team.
Pastor Ciociola has been asked to serve in many different roles due to his successes in ministry. Some of these include: Central Bible College Alumni President, Assemblies of God Graduate School Councilman, Northern California/Nevada Executive Finance Board Member, Northern California/Nevada World Missions Board Member, and currently serves as Northern California/Nevada District Sectional Presbyter for the Butte Section. Through the years, he has also done graduate study at the Hartford Seminary Foundation, completed his Master of Arts in Theology at the Orlando Bible Institute, and received his Doctor of Divinity in 1994 from I.M.I. College and Seminary.
Throughout these years, Dona has served faithfully in all aspects of ministry. In college, Dona was an accompanist for the Revivaltime Choir in Springfield, MO. She has also been a full-time Director of Music and is a Drama specialist. She has been a church musician and vocalist for over 30 years. Dona has also taught in and been involved with the administration of several Christian schools. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Education and is nearly complete.
Pastor Ciociola constantly seeks God's vision for the church and welcomes the challenge it presents. "As a church growth pastor, I want to serve a congregation which is ready to make an impact on the world, and to grow in size and scope. My goal is to minister to all the needs of the people - through all the years of their lives. I believe it is imperative to impact a community and to bring direct influence upon the disillusioned and disenfranchised."