About

 HISTORY OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH              The Calvary Baptist Church started with prayer meetings in the home of Rev. & Mrs. James & Bernyce Clausell in the late 1950’s. During this time period, ten persons accepted Christ and became candidates for baptism and wanted to be of the Missionary Baptist Faith. On March 2, 1958, the organizational procedures were carried out to start a church called Calvary. Later a plot of land was located on the corner of Joe Louis & Arizona streets and the building was erected in 1959. Rev. James Aaron Clausell served as pastor for 20 years until his failing health caused him to retire in 1978. One month later, the church voted in his wife, Rev. Bernyce H. Clausell as pastor. This made history in that she became the only female Baptist pastor in Northwest Florida. She remained pastor to 18 years, retiring on her 80th birthday. On this day, she passed the torch to her assistant pastor, Rev. Minnie K. Ford who became Calvary’s third pastor. In 1998, Calvary called its fourth pastor, Rev. Kevin L. Johnson, a 25 year old young preacher who attended Calvary with his family as a child. During his pastorate we were blessed to move into a larger facility at 1915 Dale St. The blessing of the new sanctuary took place on Calvary’s 50th anniversary, March of 2008.It was a “Golden Anniversary”. Throughout all 50 years, Calvary was affiliated with the First Bethlehem Baptist Association and the General Baptist Convention of Florida. Both founders were active officers with Rev. James Aaron Clausell serving as State Bible Expositor and Rev. Bernyce Clausell serving as state Registrar and Dean of Congress of Christian Education. A new chapter was begun in 2013 when the Calvary Baptist church and Major Care Ministries merged together as one church. The Rev. James Harris was voted in as pastor of this merging congregation and the church was called “Calvary Ministries.” Three years later, Calvary rises again with new leadership under Bishop Craig P. Riley. It was another merger with Bishop Riley’s church called Cornerstone Baptist. Therefore our church was fondly known as “Calvary the Cornerstone missionary Baptist Church. In the month of March 2019, one month after Bishop Riley’s retirement, we entered a new season called Covid19. We followed suit with other churches and closed the sanctuary for two years. During this time services was held on a conference line. On Easter Sunday, 2021 Calvary rose again and opened its doors for service. Many of the members did not return and new leadership was voted in. Rev. Mary Clausell Lewis became the interim pastor. After a few months an official pastoral search was launched. Through this search we met the one that God had sent. On first Sunday in January, 2022, Elder Jacob Turner preached his first sermon as pastor at Calvary Baptist Church. He is our 7th pastor which is the number of perfection. Blessed be the name of the Lord.