Senior Pastor Eric Ward
Eric Ward has served as the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Villages since November 2025. Prior to this role, Eric was an integral part of Calvary Chapel Melbourne/Viera since 2003, serving as an associate pastor from 2010 until his transition to the Villages. Throughout his ministry, he has led numerous departments, conferences, and missions trips. Before moving to Florida, he also served faithfully at Calvary Chapel Baltimore for 11 years.
Educational Background & Ministry Philosophy
Over his decades in ministry, Pastor Eric has been a dedicated student of theology, apologetics, hermeneutics, and Biblical studies. He has a deep passion for teaching God’s Word verse by verse, always maintaining a strong emphasis on practical, personal application.
His formal and practical studies include:
Christian Leaders Institute
Calvary Chapel School of Ministry (at Calvary Chapel Melbourne)
Disciple’s Bible College (at Calvary Chapel Eau Gallie, where he helped launch the program)
Eric has studied at Christian Leader’s Institute, and Calvary Chapel School of Ministry at Calvary Chapel Melbourne. He also helped to start the Disciple’s Bible College at Calvary Chapel Eau Gallie.
Family & Personal Life
Pastor Eric was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, before relocating to Florida in 2003. He has been married to his lovely wife, Dyan—a native of Broward County, Florida—for more than 34 years. Together, they have a 26-year-old son who is currently serving the Lord as a teacher at Calvary Chapel Academy in Melbourne, Florida. “Together, they share a deep passion for loving, teaching, and serving God’s people.”
Pastor Eric and Dyan are incredibly excited to be a part of the Calvary Chapel Villages family. They look forward to continuing to build relationships within the community and being used by God to lead the church into its next season of growth.