A New Season at Calvary
We honor Pastor Shawn Thornton for 16 years of faithful ministry and celebrate Calvary’s next Senior Pastor, Brian Howard
Pastor Shawn Thornton and his wife, Lesli.
Pastor Brian Howard and his wife, Dani, and his children Grace, Noah, and Hope.
A letter from Pastor Shawn
Dear Calvary Family,
We serve an amazing, sovereign God who works in unlikely and surprising ways.
After much prayer and seeking the Lord’s guidance, Lesli and I want to share news of an upcoming transition in our lives and ministry. This March, I will step into the role of President of Joni & Friends, a Christ-centered global ministry serving individuals and families affected by disability. This opportunity to work alongside the ministry’s founder, Joni Eareckson Tada, and help advance the Gospel within a community of people so close to our hearts is one we believe God has unmistakably called us to pursue.
This decision was not made lightly. Lesli and I deeply love Calvary and were fully committed to the elders’ very gracious transition plan for the years ahead. In that plan, I envisioned continuing as a teaching pastor and shepherd here for the rest of my ministry career. But Proverbs 16:9 has guided us during this unexpected journey: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” God made His direction clear as He opened doors we never anticipated, and we are stepping forward in faith, trusting His perfect will.
Even as my role changes and since Joni and Friends is in nearby Agoura Hills, Calvary will remain our church home. We love this church family; nothing and no one has ever given us any reason to seek new opportunities. Lesli and I plan to stay deeply connected as members, serving, tithing, and supporting Pastor Brian, the Elders, the staff, and the congregation. We look forward to being a part of the future of this wonderful church that has been our home for over sixteen years.
I’m honored that Pastor Brian and the Elders have asked me to continue preaching six to eight weekends a year and teaching weeknight Bible classes when possible. We plan to remain active in our small group, and Lesli will continue serving in the nursery. We’re excited to sit under Pastor Brian Howard’s leadership, shepherding, and teaching as he steps into the senior pastor role—a role for which God has clearly gifted, prepared, and called him.
Lesli and I wish we could sit down with each of you personally to share the surprising journey we have been on with the Lord in this, but of course, that isn’t possible. We thought it best to get this news out as early and as clearly as possible to everyone in the Calvary family at the same time. To ensure everyone hears my heart and the details of this transition, our elders, Pastor Brian Howard, and I will share more with you during this weekend’s services and at a special congregational gathering at 5:00pm on Sunday, February 2nd.
While this news may stir mixed emotions (ours, too), please know we are confident in our Lord’s plans for Calvary. By God’s grace, our church, staff, and elders are as strong and healthy as ever. Calvary will continue to echo our founding pastor, Larry Dewitt, who called on us to always “make much of Jesus” in all we do. Lesli and I eagerly anticipate all God will do in and through this church as we watch Him bring Calvary’s 2030 vision to life!
I am profoundly grateful for each of you who make up the Calvary family and the way you have loved on me and my family over the years. Please pray for me as I step into this new season of ministry and for Calvary as it continues to make disciples who live and love like Jesus!
With deep love and sincere gratitude,
Shawn Thornton, Calvary’s Current Senior Pastor
Calvary Community Church
A letter from Pastor Brian Howard
Dear Calvary Family,
As you receive the news of Pastor Shawn’s new season of ministry and the plan for Calvary going forward, I want to share four things with you today.
First, I want to express my appreciation, admiration, and love for Pastor Shawn Thornton. I met Pastor Shawn almost 15 years ago when I was a 21-year-old intern at Calvary. Not long after that, he took an interest in my life and ministry and began to pour into me in an intentional and life-changing way. Nobody has had a more significant influence on my life and ministry, and I consider it one of the great kindnesses of God in my life that I have been shaped by his ministry wisdom and experience. Pastor Shawn is a world-class shepherd, Bible teacher, and organizational leader. Over the past 16 years, he has demonstrated love and faithfulness toward our church family, leading us through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He is and always has been a man of great integrity and is the same person behind the scenes that he is on the platform. His departure from our staff (even though he and Lesli will still be attending and participating members of Calvary) is something my wife and I are grieving, even as we are excited about his expanded ministry influence and voice at Joni & Friends.
Second, I want to express how deeply my wife, Dani, and I love Calvary Community Church. Dani grew up at this church and for her, our kids, and me, this church is home, and the people of Calvary are our family. Our church is filled with men, women, and children who love God, know His Word, love one another, and make a difference in our community, and all of this inspires me daily to become more like Jesus. From our founding nearly 50 years ago in the Hungry Tiger restaurant to the warehouse days to our remarkable current campus, our church has always been filled with bold faith and courageous leaders. I am aware now more than ever that our current leadership stands on the shoulders of giants.
Third, I want to express my energy and excitement for the future of our church. As I step into this role, I am grateful for a healthy Elder Board, a talented church staff, an energized group of volunteer leaders, and a generous congregation that is all in on our 2030 Vision. This vision, which Pastor Shawn and I worked on together for years, will continue to be the roadmap for our church going forward, and I look forward to seeing the core values and key outcomes come to life in the years ahead. As I step into this leadership role, I ask for your prayers for wisdom, knowing that God gives generously to all who ask without finding fault. (James 1:5)
Finally, I want you to know that this church will always only be about Jesus. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. When the days of this age have passed, and all our names are forgotten, His great name will be exalted among the nations and glorified in the heavens. His death on the cross for our sins and resurrection from the grave will be the central message of the church until He returns in glory to judge the living and the dead. Now and forevermore, it’s all about Jesus!
May God bless you as you seek to live and love like Jesus!
Grace & Peace,
Brian Howard, Calvary’s Next Senior Pastor
Calvary Community Church
A letter from Rick Bartlett, Chairman of the Elder Board
Dear Calvary Family,
My name is Rick Bartlett, and I am the Chairman of the Elder Board at Calvary Community Church. On behalf of the Elders at Calvary, I want to share a few things that will hopefully bring clarity, transparency, and encouragement to the Calvary family as we receive the news of Pastor Shawn’s new role at Joni & Friends.
First, on behalf of the church that he has served so faithfully, I want to thank Pastor Shawn for bringing his gifting, leadership, and heart for ministry to Calvary for more than 15 years. As an incredible Bible teacher, a nurturing shepherd of God’s people, and a compelling visionary leader, Shawn has left an indelible impression on the culture, mission, and people of Calvary Community Church. I’m personally blessed beyond measure to have known him as my pastor, and I trust that his impact on God’s kingdom will continue to grow as he steps into his new role at Joni & Friends.
Next, I’d like to briefly review the transition strategy that will lead to Brian Howard becoming our new senior pastor. You may recall that in early 2021, the Elders launched a 16-month process to determine if Pastor Brian was the right person for the senior pastor role. That process involved monthly discussions with Pastor Brian about theology, ministry and vision, and interviews with fellow Calvary staff members who had worked with Pastor Brian since he started his ministry at the church. In June of 2022, the Elder Board unanimously and enthusiastically approved calling Pastor Brian to be the next senior pastor at Calvary Community Church, and later that year we shared the framework for a transition process that we expected to last over the next several years.
Late last week, when Pastor Shawn informed us of his decision to leave Calvary and become the president of Joni & Friends, the Calvary Elder Board immediately met, prayed, and once again unanimously and enthusiastically confirmed the plan to have Pastor Brian lead our church in the role of senior pastor. While our original transition timeline has indeed been condensed, we are certain that Pastor Brian Howard is currently ready to lead our church forward, and we are confident he has all the resources necessary to do so effectively.
You will hear directly from Pastor Brian, but I also want to express how excited I am for our church family to get to know him as our senior pastor. Over the last several years, I have watched him grow from a gifted and enthusiastic teacher of God’s Word into a highly functional leader and an incredibly passionate visionary. He has an immense knowledge of God’s Word, a deep love of God’s people, and a relentless desire for people to know the life-giving hope of Jesus Christ. We are all truly blessed that God has called him to ministry at Calvary, and I trust that our church will mightily impact our world for God’s kingdom under his leadership. [Pictured L-R: Rick Bartlett, Pastor Shawn Thornton, Lesli Thorton, Dani Howard, Pastor Brian Howard, Dan Smith (also on the elder board.)]
God’s hand has indeed been on Calvary since its founding almost 50 years ago, and it has been heartening to see Him at work in this very transition process, even as we adjust some of our expectations and timing. Over the last few days, I’ve been reminded of Proverbs 16:9 which Pastor Shawn also referenced above, “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” As we move forward, we will always strive to honor God as we plan our future, seeking His will as we make decisions, trusting that He will take us where He wants us to go for our good and His glory…until Christ returns.
This coming weekend, you will have the opportunity to hear directly from Pastor Shawn and Pastor Brian in our Saturday and Sunday services as well as in a special congregational meeting on Sunday evening at 5:00pm.
May God bless you as you seek to live and love like Jesus!
In His service,
Rick Bartlett, Elder Chairman
Calvary Community Church
Questions about timeline
Our Senior Pastor leadership transition between Pastor Shawn and Pastor Brian was announced to the congregation in September 2022 as part of our 2030 Vision. It was also published in our 2030 Vision Magazine, which you can find here. The recent announcement about Pastor Shawn becoming the President of Joni & Friends was announced via email on Tuesday, January 28th.
Pastor Shawn will preach his final sermon as Senior Pastor on the weekend of March 8-9, 2025.
Yes! On Sunday, March 9th, we will celebrate Pastor Shawn’s ministry with a reception after church. Additionally, we will have opportunities to express gratitude and encouragement to Pastor Shawn and Lesli before that time.
In January, the Board of Directors at Joni and Friends voted to extend an offer to Pastor Shawn for the role of President. The following day our Elder Board met to process this news, followed by our Executive leadership Team and then our whole staff. The email to the congregation went out the day after the staff was informed. The team at Joni and Friends worked with our timeline on communicating to their constituencies. Our greatest desire was to communicate as quickly and clearly as possible to avoid confusion.
In offering the role, the Joni and Friends board graciously offered Pastor Shawn 6 weeks to finish well at Calvary and make the transition smooth. This was an attempt to balance the organizational need for Shawn to begin his leadership at Joni and Friends with the desire to give people at Calvary time to process Pastor Shawn’s departure and celebrate his ministry.
Beginning March 10, 2025, Pastor Brian Howard will be the Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church. We will have an installation service for Pastor Brian on Sunday, May 4th.
Questions about Pastor Shawn Thornton
Pastor Shawn will become the President of Joni and Friends, an international ministry focused on bringing practical help and Gospel hope to people with disabilities around the world. He will have the opportunity to work with Joni Earekson Tada in leading the staff worldwide toward accomplishing their vision of “A world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ.”
Pastor Shawn has long admired the ministry of Joni Earekson Tada and the ministry of Joni and Friends. He has served on their board of directors and was a founding board member for the Joni and Friends Foundation. This role is an opportunity for Pastor Shawn to bring many of the wonderful things that have happened in Calvary’s Special Abilities Ministry to the global church. Pastor Shawn’s ministry experience, heart for the hurting, love for the local church, and leadership expertise make this a great fit for him in this season of his life.
Following March 9th, Pastor Shawn will no longer be an employee of Calvary. However, he will continue to preach, teach classes, provide insight, and work with our leadership when asked.
Yes! Pastor Shawn is a gifted preacher, and the intention is to continue to have him use his gift to bless the Calvary body on a regular basis. In the coming year, you can expect Pastor Shawn to preach 6-8 times in our weekend services.
Pastor Shawn did not seek this role and had every intention of staying at Calvary after he stepped out of the Senior Pastor role. When he was approached by Joni and Friends about the role, he agreed to have his name considered but did not believe that he would make it through the interview process as the top candidate. During this time, Pastor Shawn and Lesli sought the Lord in prayer together about this move, and both came to the surprising conclusion that they had peace that if the role was offered to them, it would be their next step.
Pastor Shawn initiated and introduced the plan to step out of the Senior Pastor role with the Elders in 2021. After over 18 months of discussion, planning, and prayer, the Elders announced this plan to the congregation in September 2022. The January 2025 decision to take the role of President of Joni and Friends was also Pastor Shawn’s decision, and that was communicated to the elders, staff, and congregation by Pastor Shawn.
Pastor Shawn has made it clear that this decision was not in any way, shape, or form driven by anything negative at Calvary. He maintains great relationships with the elders, staff, and the congregation and our leadership is grieving his departure, even as we celebrate the impact he will make at Joni and Friends.
Yes! The Thorntons will still attend Calvary, serve at Calvary, give to Calvary, attend their small group, and be members at our church.
The succession plan is part of the 2030 Vision! We believe this fits with our commitment to decisively empower our next generation to reach the world for Jesus. Pastor Shawn and Pastor Brian worked on this vision together with the Elders and it will remain the roadmap for our church in the coming years.
The Thorntons are making a major change and while they are excited about God’s hand over this new season, they are also grieving the departure from the Calvary staff. In the coming weeks, you can offer encouragement, kind words, and gratitude for Pastor Shawn’s 16 years as Senior Pastor at Calvary. You can pray for them as they step into a new assignment, asking the Lord for peace, comfort, and vision for the season ahead of them.
Questions about Pastor Brian Howard
Beginning March 10, 2025, Pastor Brian Howard will be the Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church.
Beginning in early 2021, the Elders launched a 16-month process to determine if Pastor Brian was the right person for the Senior Pastor Role. That process involved monthly conversations with Brian about theology, ministry leadership, and vision. Each elder was a part of interviewing a Calvary staff member who had worked with Brian on a regular basis since he started his ministry at the church. In June of 2022, the Elder Board unanimously and enthusiastically approved calling Pastor Brian to be the next Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church. Following the news of Pastor Shawn’s new role at Joni and Friends in January 2025, the Elders immediately met, prayed, and then unanimously and enthusiastically confirmed the plan to have Pastor Brian to have Pastor Brian lead forward as the Senior Pastor.
No. Given the role Pastor Brian has played in our church, the Elders believed that the best course of action would be to first thoroughly interview him and discern if he would be who God is calling into this role. Given the clear and unanimous decision the board made regarding this call, the Elders did not believe interviewing external candidates to be necessary.
Pastor Brian began serving at Calvary in 2007 as a volunteer small group leader in the high school ministry. He would later become an intern and then serve in various student ministries roles before becoming the High School Pastor in 2012. After a remarkable 7 years of growth and momentum in our high school ministry, Pastor Brian transitioned out of the High School Pastor role in 2019 and into the role of teaching pastor, where he continued to teach, lead, and shape the ministry of our church. Pastor Brian’s passion for the Word of God, heart for evangelism, love for people, and clarity of communication have been of great encouragement to our church over the past 17 years.
Yes! In addition to being available in the lobby and by appointment in the offices during the week, Pastor Brian and Dani will host a number of receptions where you can meet he and Dani, hear their story and heart for Calvary, and ask questions. Those receptions will happen in May and will be communicated to the body when there is an opportunity to sign up and attend.
Pastor Brian and Dani love Pastor Shawn and Lesli, and any encouragement, love, appreciation, and care that is shown to the Thorntons means a great deal to the Howards. In addition to that, you can pray for the Howard family, including their three young children, that God would help them adjust to Pastor Brian’s new role, schedule, responsibilities, and pressures. You can send him messages of encouragement, give a word of kindness when you see him and above all, pray for wisdom for Pastor Brian as he leads our church forward.
Other Questions
Pastor Brian will be the primary voice in the pulpit. Pastor Shawn will preach regularly as the second voice, and others, including guests and other pastors on staff, will preach when asked.
For now, the role of teaching pastor at Calvary will remain open. Pastor Brian will be the primary voice in the pulpit, followed by Pastor Shawn, and then others as invited. We may have someone else fill the role of Teaching Pastor at some point, but we have no plans to do so now.
Pastor Brian, the Executive Leadership team, and the Elders remain committed to the Calvary 2030 Vision. While change will inevitably happen in seasons ahead as it always does at Calvary, we remain committed to our vision, values, and direction as a church.
This is a big announcement in the life of our church, and many will have a hard time hearing and processing it. Pastor Shawn has been our beloved pastor for 16 years and it is normal to grieve his departure from this role. Many have expressed feeling a mixture of sadness about Pastor Shawn and excitement for Pastor Brian. Both are good emotions, and both can be held at the same time. If you would like to talk to someone at Calvary about your grief, we invite you to call our minister on call line at 818.991.8040. The minister on call may not be able to answer all your questions, but they will be able to speak with you, pray with you, and help you know God’s presence in the midst of this change.
If you have a question, please email it to care@calvarywestlake.org
May God bless you as you seek to live & love like Jesus
