r t g s , d r - - s - d e e , w n e y COVER STORY 19 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Chapel, it was for the body of Christ… It's remarkable that under his leadership Calvary Chapel has been used to reach across denominational lines, to reach across socioeconomic lines, beyond racial lines, beyond political lines to unite the Church of Jesus Christ… And this impacts our community because where there's unity the Lord commands a blessing.” Pastor Bill Mitchell, of Boca Raton Community Church, agreed. “I think what Doug and Suzanne brought to the setting was a raised bar of character – that’s saying your family matters, your personal integrity matters, how you treat people matters - and his ability, with his humility, to build coalitions or collegial settings is one of his greatest strengths.” A heart for vulnerable children Before being appointed lead pastor, Sauder helped form 4KIDS in 2000 leading the organization as president until 2014 while also serving as family pastor. As a former educator, youth pastor and foster parent, he is a passionate advocate for kids in crisis. He and Suzanne Sauder, his wife of 31 years, have four sons. Their first son, Jordan, passed away due to a genetic disorder at nine months old. They welcomed Jackson through private adoption, had a biological son, Kaden, and ultimately adopted their youngest son, Kennedy, through foster care. Affectionately calling them his “sons of thunder,” Pastor Doug is quick to say, “We are so blessed to have them! “Foster care and adoption is the greatest way that I see how God loves me. Ephesians 1 says God adopted me. It was His pleasure and His will, which means he wanted to adopt me, and it brought him great joy. In living and being a foster or adoptive parent, you get a window into the heart of God, so it’s not just a verse you read, it’s an experience you have with your family and with God. So my DNA is always driven that way. So if we could only do one thing at Calvary, we’re going to help vulnerable children.” Getting to know Doug Sauder through 4KIDS, Tom Hendriske, lead pastor at Rio Vista Church, said he knew Doug was the right man to lead Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. “I saw his humility, his integrity, his faith - he is a tremendous communicator - but his greatest gift is the gift of leadership. Perhaps from his experience at 4KIDS, Doug understood that to really capture the foster care issue for Jesus, we need more than Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, we need the church in South Florida, and so he came to the lead pastor position with the mindset of “we're better together,” and he's done a beautiful job.” Robey Barnes, lead pastor at CityRev Church in Pembroke Pines, said “God has used Doug's leadership, and others, in a key way to shift the landscape of the South Florida Church. When he stepped in, there was a season of real brokenness, hurt and concern in the Church across South Florida. Doug stepped into a very difficult space and brought true godly strength, humility and wisdom that not only stabilized an essential church in our region, but then leveraged that platform to bring unity among churches in South Florida… And Suzanne can't be left out of the equation because she has been a warrior fighting alongside her husband for the Kingdom of God, for truth and for justice.” Katy Mills, executive director of communications and engagement at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, said, “I met Doug in his 30ies, so he was ready to run into the mess of anything God called him to run towards with a fierce conviction, and one of our favorite sayings in ministry here has been, ‘the revolution is still on!’ I still see that in him every day, even in very hard situations or challenging moments. There’s still this commitment to the mission that’s unwavering, so I think he hasn’t changed that much.” However, the role has not come without challenges. Asked how taking on the role of lead pastor has impacted him and his family, Sauder said, “I think in leadership and life the burden and the blessing go up in weight together. We’ve gotten to see incredible blessings. That part is exhilarating. When I get home on Sunday, my wife asks what was your favorite part of the weekend, and it’s always [during the altar call] when people come forward with tears in their eyes and you know their whole life is going to change. I get to watch life change in a scope I hadn’t seen before. In the same way the burden also increases - the burden of decisions, the burden of brokenness. There is so much at Calvary with the school, the church, and Calvary House. On a weekly basis you’re dealing with death, divorce, overdose and all the disappointments and burdens and pressures. They also go Calvary Chapel’s 72-acre Fort Lauderdale campus, located at 2401 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Credit: Calvary Chapel (Contunued on page 20)
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