About Skip Heitzig

Skip Heitzig is a native of southern California and experienced the volatile days of the counter-culture in the late ’60's and early ’70's. Though raised in a religious home, Skip saw religion as a dead-end street with no answers. As a young musician, he got caught up in drugs and had an arrest for two felonies. By 18, he had ventured into the spirit world of astral projection and automatic writing, and as was the case with drugs, he again found no answers. By 1973, the Jesus Movement was in full swing, with many young people committing their lives to Jesus Christ. This also happened to be the same year Skip left his family's home and moved to the San Francisco Bay area to enroll in college and escape his Christian friends who were trying to "convert" him. But God had a different plan for Skip's life. One day, alone in his brother's apartment in San Jose, Skip was watching TV and became mesmerized by Billy Graham. The gospel message penetrated Skip's soul, and he knelt down and prayed to receive Christ.

Skip returned to southern California and began his studies under Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa until 1981. After marrying Lenya, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked in the medical field of radiology. In 1982, Skip began a home Bible study which eventually grew into Calvary of Albuquerque. In 1988 and 1989, Calvary of Albuquerque was considered the fastest growing church in America, according to a church survey by Dr. John Vaughn. Today, Calvary of Albuquerque ministers every weekend to over 14,000 adults and their children. Several other churches have spun off from Calvary of Albuquerque, including churches in Arizona, Colorado, and other parts of New Mexico.

Skip, along with Lenya and their teenage son, moved back to California in January 2004 to serve as senior pastor at Ocean Hills Community Church in San Juan Capistrano. Skip served in this capacity until July 2006, when he and Lenya returned to Albuquerque to once again serve as senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque.

Skip continues to reach out to many people across the nation and throughout the world through his multimedia ministry, including a nationwide half-hour radio program called The Connection.

Skip also helps equip others for living according to God's principles through his writings. His recent books include When God Prays, How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It (revised), and Jesus Up Close. He also published a series of Lifestyle booklets. Booklets especially applicable to our state of current affairs are A Biblical Response to Terror and Confronting Your Culture.

Skip earned his B.A. and M.A. from Trinity Seminary. He currently serves on several Boards of Directors, including Samaritan's Purse.

Visit The Connection's website at:
http://www.connectiononline.org