astor Bruce was born and raised in Michigan in a loving family. By God's gift of grace, Bruce was saved in 1968 through faith as he believed in and received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. Romans 8:28 has become Bruce's life verse. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Bruce graduated from Durand Area High School in 1974, and went on to graduate from Central Michigan University. He taught and coached at the high school level & was a youth pastor while completing his Master's Degree in School Administration. Then Bruce was called to NJ to serve as the State Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Later, he attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Illinois and while serving as youth & mission's pastor at Libertyville Baptist Church he was ordained. Bruce was then called to serve as an assistant pastor in Venice, Florida.
In 1989, Bruce attended the School of Ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa under Pastor Chuck Smith. He received a certificate of ordination from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa in 1991. God has used the equipping and experience he received there in the verse by verse teaching of God's Word, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the worship of God in spirit and truth, and the grace that changes everything to help form Bruce into the man & minister he is today.
In 1991 Bruce was called back to NJ where He served as pastor of Calvary Chapel Four Winds for eleven years.
On June 30, 2002 after much prayer and seeking God's direction, Pastor Bruce began teaching the Bible to a group of like-minded believers who were gathering weekly at a gazebo in Atlantic Highlands. That is where Jesus Fellowship began as a new church!
Pastor Bruce has enjoyed being affiliated with Calvary Chapel pastors across the United States and around the world since 1989. He presently serves on the Board of Advisors for Pastor George Bryson and Calvary Chapel Church Planting Missions (CCCPM) reaching out in Russia with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Bruce and his wife, Karen, both share the deepest love and respect for Pastor Chuck Smith and his wife, Kay. They are eternally grateful for being allowing to serve the Lord with such a loving ministry. TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
