In 1980, a 24-year-old Bob Coy left the Las Vegasmusic industry to become an associate pastor in that city's Calvary Chapel. Five years later, Coy headed to South Florida, and founded Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. As years went on, CCFL's location changed from on the Fort Lauderdale beach, to a funeral home, a storefront behind Albertsons, and a warehouse. In 1999, CCFL relocated to a tract of land formerly owned by Harris Corporation, which now has a 3,800 seat sanctuary, children and youth ministries, and includes a skateboard park. In October 2003, CCFL sued Broward County for $1 for its initial refusal to allow the church to display a large cross and sign reading "Jesus is the reason for the season" in a holiday lights attraction at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, which drew around 250,000 visitors each year. Calvary won the suit the next month and was allowed to display the message. In April 2014, Senior Pastor Bob Coy resigned after confessing to an admitted struggle with adultery and an addiction to pornography. The following month, Doug Sauder was nominated to take Coy's place, and then confirmed by the board of directors to be the new lead pastor for Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. In response to the nomination, the church body and those familiar with Pastor Doug Sauder's spiritual character and competency responded with unanimous support and enthusiasm.
Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale's mission statement is to "make disciples", coming from the Bible verse Matthew 28:19. Another mission statement of the church is to connect people to God, connect people to people, and connect people to outreach. "Our Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of the Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our lead pastor and the board of directors is the Church's final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application." CCFL believes that the Bible is the foundation of Christianity and inspired by God. The church believes in the Holy Trinity and that the only way to get into Heaven is by getting "saved" through Jesus Christ. The church also believes that the act of baptism is not required to become a Christian but does support baptism as a proclamation to the public that a person is saved through Christ.
