Title

Calvary

Also known as “Golgotha” or “the place of the skull,” Calvary is a small hill outside old Jerusalem where our Lord Jesus was crucified.  We take this name for our church because what greater thing than that our Lord died on a cross to pay the price for our sins?  We celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection: his sacrifice and his rising again from the dead that we may live forever in victory with him. Our name is a continual reminder of his victory over death!  

Baptist

We are unapologetically Baptist in our beliefs and practices because of our conviction that this is the most biblically accurate understanding.  The Bible, the Word of the living God, is the only rule to direct us in worship and Christian life.  We are a separate people, called to live according to the direction of Scripture.  We believe that the church is made up of a regenerate membership:  first, we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, and only then are we baptized by immersion in water in the form Scripture specifies.  Our membership is called to witness the gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded in the 66 books of the Bible to all who would hear us. Our church is independent from all denominational oversight and associations.  We choose our own pastors and deacons: men evidencing lives directed by the Spirit of God.

Church

By “church” we mean to be everything the New Testament has to say about an organized body of believers.  We are among the living stones from which Christ’s church is built!  We intend to be as authentic as we can in this life, but yet we realize also that we are not yet made perfect.  We see ourselves as a group of people under the continual process of the Lord's refining, as in the smelting of silver, to be made more and more like our Lord Jesus in everything we say and do.  We are a work in progress, far from completion, but our great desire is to be finished, made whole and complete as God intends for us to be.

We would love the opportunity not only to tell you more about who we are, but to find out more about you.  You won’t find any perfect people, but you will find people with hearts for the Lord. 

Trusting wholly in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, believing in the teachings and practices of Baptist principles as follows:

• There is only one God existing in three Divine Persons:  the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit  (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 3:17, John 1:1-14, Acts 5:1-4)
• The preeminence of Jesus Christ as our Divine Lord and Savior, being born of a virgin, crucified on a cross, and resurrected from the dead  (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Colossians 1:15-20)
• The supreme authority of the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice  (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
• The necessity of the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the interpretation of the Bible  (Hebrews 2:4, 2 Peter 1:12-21)
• That sinful mankind must trust only in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to receive new life and eternal life (John 3:16, Acts 16:30, Romans 3:23 and 6:23)
• A regenerate church membership  (Acts 2:37-41)
• The beautiful symbolic ordinances of Believer's Baptism by immersion and partaking of the Lord's Supper in obedience to the commands of Christ  (Acts 8:26-39, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34)
• The independence of the local church, yet its interdependence in fellowship with churches of like faith  (Galatians 1:2,
  3 John 5-10)
• The spiritual unity of all believers  (1 Corinthians 12:7-13)
• A world-wide program of missionary endeavor and evangelism  (Matthew 28:18-20)
• The imminent return of Jesus Christ to earth for His Church  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-5:2)
• Pre-millennial, Pre-tribulation rapture of the Church  (Revelation 20:1-6, Matthew 24:30-31, Ezekiel 34:12-16)

The mission of Calvary Baptist Church is to:

• Express our love for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God through worship in Spirit and Truth;
• Proclaim His Word and strengthen the Body of Christ to obey God and love one another;
• Advance the gospel in word and deed to lead people to Christ;
• Pray that future generations and we will trust, honor, and glorify our God.

The vision of Calvary Baptist Church is to acclaim the Lordship of Christ through Biblically-based styles of worship and praise; incorporate believers into the church family through nurturing, discipleship, and fellowship; and affirm the love and salvation of God through service to our community and beyond.

As the members and fellowship of Calvary Baptist Church, we believe that the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God.  As we read and learn from the scriptures, we understand that the only way to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven is through the establishing of a relationship with God through regeneration.  This is made possible by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the shedding of His blood, granting the remission and forgiveness of our sins.  We are reborn as a result of our faith in His grace that saves us and trhough that grace our salvation is secure throughout eternity.  Also, as traditionally Baptist in doctrine, we accept baptism in the form of total immersion, exceptions being made only for physical and mental conditions.

1. We believe that Christ-ordained teaching is the catalyst for transformation in each individual's life and in the church.  This includes teaching for life change.  (Romans 12:7, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and James 1:23-25)
2. We believe that God loves the unsaved person.  God hates sin but loves the sinner.  We should have the same attitude.  Evangelism is a priority of our church.  (Luke 5:30-32, Luke 15, Matthew 18:14)
3. We believe that the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.  This is accomplished by sensitively relating to our culture through our facility, printed materials, technology, and use of the arts.  (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
4. We believe that as Christ's followers we should have genuine hunger for continuous spiritual growth.  This includes the concepts of personal authenticity, character, and completeness.  (Ephesians 4:25-26 and 32, Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 1:6)
5. We believe that the church should operate as a unified community of servants with men and women faithfully and responsibly using their spiritual gifts in terms of servanthood and ministry calling.  (1 Corinthians 12 and 14, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and Psalm 133:1)
6. We believe that loving relationships should permeate every aspect of church life, demonstrated by love-driven ministries and relationship-building through fellowship.  (1 Corinthians 13, Nehemiah 3, Luke 10:1, John 13:34-35)
7. We are committed to always strive to do our very best, that excellence honors God.  This includes discipleship and accountability.  (Luke 6:12-13, Acts 2:44-47, Colossians 3:15)
8. We believe that the pursuit of full devotion to Christ and His cause becomes our natural drive when we are reborn.  This includes the heartfelt practice of stewardship, servanthood, humility, and the passionate pursuit of Kingdom goals.  (1 Kings 11:4, Philippians 2:1-11, 2 Corinthians 8:7)