Chip Lusko, Christian Media Visionary, Passes Away at 72

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A celebration of life will be held on Monday, April 8, at 10 am at Calvary Church’s Osuna campus to honor Chip Lusko. Chip went home to be with Jesus on April 2, after battling pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by family and loved ones in his final hours, most notably his wife, Larissa, and his children.

Born in Michigan in 1951, Chip had a life-changing encounter with the Jesus of the Bible in 1977 in Maui. That salvation decision changed his life—and the trajectory of his career in radio. Chip would no longer be playing rock and roll hits on the radio. Instead, a series of connections with Greg Laurie and Calvary Chapel would stoke his love for Jesus and turn into a lifelong mission to spread the gospel locally and around the world.

Chip’s vision to use every possible media channel to spread the good news was evident when he spoke with Calvary Chapel Magazine in 2020: “Some want to keep operating in the same ways, but we are responsible to reach our communities. We don’t need to water down the Word; we keep our message consistent.” 

His career path included several stops at Christian radio stations around the country, until his passion to combine the freshest ideas in media with the ultimate message of the gospel found a home at Connection Communications, the media ministry of Calvary Church. There, Chip helped drive the creative direction and vision. He provided radio marketing expertise for decades and was actively involved in finding new ways to share the truth of Jesus Christ around the world.

Through his work at the Connect with Skip Heitzig ministry and KLYT 88.3 FM, Chip was able to be a voice for many passion projects inspired by his lifelong faith, like ministries to widows and orphans, prison ministries, and missions to places like Uganda.

Calvary Church’s Osuna campus is located at 4001 Osuna Road NE. For those unable to attend the celebration of life in person, a livestream will be available at calvarynm.church at 10 am (MDT) and on the radio at KLYT 88.3 FM, Chip’s most recent radio home.

In lieu of flowers, the Lusko family requests donations to support Beverly Rich, a widowed missionary who works with widows, orphans, and prisoners in Uganda. Chip had a heart to support the work and share the love of Jesus with “the least of these.” Donations can be made online at cabq.us/uganda.

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