Fairless Hills congregation is united colors of an almost megachurch

STRICTLY SPEAKING, a "megachurch" is defined as a Christian worship group that draws 2,000 people to services weekly. They're often built around a charismatic leader.

So while Calvary Full Gospel Church has the sizable flock - about 800 people routinely attend Sunday morning services - and the commanding modern look of a "mega" house of worship, sprawling mightily at of Lincoln Highway and Tyburn Road in Fairless Hills, it isn't one, precisely.

That's especially true in the leadership sense, said Pastor David Farina, noting that Calvary has six pastors. "We're committed to building God's kingdom, not any personal kingdom."

Both the leadership and the congregation are impressively diverse. Of the six pastors, two are of Latino heritage and one is African-American. The head of the church's counseling center is from Nigeria.

A few years ago, church leaders decided to purchase a flag representing the home countries of the first-generation Americans who attended regularly. They ended up with about 60.

At services, worshippers greet each other with hugs and handshakes, joining together as "sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters," Farina said. "Seeing people of all colors, social and economic backgrounds come together as one is a rare experience because there's so much of the opposite happening in the world today," he said. "We feel we're a family."

Where we worship: Calvary is at 676 Lincoln Highway in Fairless Hills, where the congregation settled about 20 years ago. (It began 50 years earlier, in nearby Morrisville.) The property once housed a grocery store and an auto shop. Also on site: Calvary's school and day-care facilities.

What we believe: The church is affiliated with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies. Farina said members believe that "every individual should have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, knowing his blood was shed so we can have forgiveness of our sins." Church members also believe in divine healing through prayer.

It happens. Most recently, Farina said, he learned that a congregant who had long relied on a cane was now standing straight after praying at Calvary's altar.

But the belief in divine healing does not preclude visiting doctors or taking advantage of medical advances. "God uses doctors," he said.

When we worship: Sunday services begin at 10 a.m. A Spanish language service is offered at 4 p.m. Wednesday prayer services are conducted in both languages at 7:30 p.m., in English in the main sanctuary and in Spanish in a small chapel.

Can't make it to church? Listen at home at 10 a.m. Sundays on WBCB, 1490 AM. The broadcast can be heard in Bucks and Mercer counties.

Or watch it live: Weekly services are also broadcast via Livestream. (Go to the church website, calvaryfullgospel.org, to find the feed.) A young soldier in the Middle East is known to tune in.

What to expect during services: Lots of music, both modern and traditional. The church has a full band as well as multiple choirs. The congregation "gets very involved, clapping and lifting their hands," Farina said. "Unless they're unable to, they stand the whole time. This is not entertainment. It's worship."

Teens take over: Members of Calvary's active youth ministry lead Sunday worship every six weeks or so.

Good works: Church volunteers prepare more than 300 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches weekly to hand out the homeless. Calvary also supports an an orphanage in Moldova.

Big moral issue we're grappling with: None. "We are called to preach the Gospel," Farina said. "You won't hear any politics from our pulpit."

Words of hope: "There is hope. Christ has the power to change lives and meet whatever needs people may have," Farina said. "Come here. We will accept you. We will love you.

"God changes people. We can't change anybody, but we do our best by trying to love them."