Calvin & Esther Lee
Santa Barbara
Calvin Lee
I’m the son of Chinese immigrants and grew up chasing achievement—perfect grades, high test scores, top college admissions (yes, I was that kid in your class). But even as I hit every milestone, I felt hollow—proud yet insecure, always needing the next win to feel like somebody.
Coming into college, I started asking the bigger questions: Why am I working so hard? What’s the point of my life? Is there a God? Through mentors at church and studying the Bible, I discovered a God who knows the worst about me and yet still loves me. His grace was something to receive, not achieve. In January 2007, I made Jesus my Lord and Savior. For the first time, I felt full and at peace.
Since then, it’s been quite a ride. In 2013, my wife and I joined a team to start a collegiate church at UCLA (where I was training to become a pediatrician). It’s been thrilling to see lives changed by Jesus, and even more thrilling to be part of the Body of Christ He’s using to do it. Recently, after some time practicing as a pediatrician, I left medicine to step into full-time ministry.
I love coffee, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, basketball, and doing life with Esther and our kids.
Esther Lee
My life was completely changed during my freshman year of college when I came to a humbling realization: no matter how put-together my life looked—good grades, college acceptance, popularity—I was still a sinner in need of a Savior. None of those achievements could fill the growing emptiness I felt inside. That changed when I personally encountered Jesus for the first time, through a group of Christians who genuinely lived out the Scriptures and loved one another deeply. Their joy, peace, and authenticity were so compelling that I had to find out why. More than 15 years later, I’m now part of that same community. Together, we raise our kids, meet the needs of our neighbors & students on our campuses, and gather daily to read the Bible and try to live it out. Much of our free time is joyfully spent figuring out how we can share the gospel with as many people as possible! My husband, Calvin, and I—along with our two kids, Audrey and Grant—love being in ministry. Our children especially enjoy spending time with the many college students who visit our home and share their lives with us. We’re deeply thankful for the privilege of being part of God’s grand rescue mission! Besides this, I love milk tea & cheesecake, lakes & beaches, and wish I could bring everyone to my favorite place, Yosemite.