Chuck Smith, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif., and author of several books, is recovering from a mild stroke. Smith, 82, was taken to a hospital Dec. 27.

"Pastor Chuck has made great progress and is being released this week from rehabilitation," an update on the church's Web site said this week. "He is hoping to resume his old schedule as soon as possible."

Considered the father of the "Jesus Movement" phenomenon in Southern California in the 1970s, Smith has written several books, including Living Water: The Power of the Holy Spirit in Your Life, Why Grace Changes Everything and Charisma Versus Charismania--all published by The Word for Today.

In December 1965, Smith became the pastor of a 25-person congregation. In 1968, Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana, Calif., broke away from the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel denomination, and hundreds of churches are now part of the Calvary Chapel fellowship, The Orange County Register reported.

Besides being a pastor and author, Smith is highly regarded as a radio show host, speaker and teacher--mentoring many other pastors and authors, including Greg Laurie, Mike MacIntosh, Raul Ries and Skip Heitzig.

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