On a quiet stretch of Wilson Avenue in Hanover, Pennsylvania, just steps from the Mathias Center and across the street from rolling York County neighborhoods, a single congregation has been gathering under one name since 1954. Calvary Bible Church of Hanover, PA, identifies with IFCA International and has spent more than seven decades working out a simple motto: To Know Him and Make Him Known. The building the church calls home today was constructed in 1976 on land purchased that same year, with a sanctuary that originally seated over a thousand people, and at the time was the largest church facility in York County. Generations of families have grown up inside those walls, and the rhythm of Sunday School, morning worship, and a packed Wednesday evening program still shapes the week for hundreds of Hanover-area believers.
Seven Decades on Wilson Avenue
The Calvary Bible Church story began in 1954, when several families stepped away from the Independent Fundamental Church of Hanover and began meeting for Sunday worship in the Grange Hall on John Street. Wednesday nights they gathered for prayer at a rented parsonage on 7½ Mt. Royal Avenue. They called themselves Calvary Bible Church, and within months the Reverend Paul Wilt, then twenty-five years old and known for his teaching gifts and a wide heart for missions, accepted the call as their first pastor. He was welcomed by a group of about thirty-five. On February 16, 1955, a special meeting of the congregation approved the Constitution and by-laws, and the church was officially chartered. Eighteen charter members were received on April 6, and the first board of elders took shape with Edgar Long as president, Elmer Walker as vice president, Harry Rother as secretary, and Charles Boyer as treasurer. Carlton Kessler was the first Sunday School superintendent.
The first year, 1955, saw ten people accept Christ as Savior and an average Sunday morning attendance of forty-five. The young church already had a global instinct: its first missionaries, Pete and May Stehfest, were supported at thirty-five dollars a month, alongside Dave and Beth Russell in Bolivia and nine other missionaries and organizations. Rev. Wilt also launched an annual Missions Conference that year, the first of its kind in the area. By August 1956, the church had purchased a plot of land on Flickinger Road and built a combination parsonage and church, a ranch-style structure with a small apartment for the Wilts in the east end and a sanctuary seating 170 in the rest of the building, completed largely by the members themselves. Sunday school met in the basement.
Rev. Wilt resigned in 1958 to teach at Westmont College in California, leaving Sunday morning attendance averaging 100. A period of transition followed, with three short-term leaders before Chester Joines was called in October 1963 by a congregational vote of thirteen to one. Soon a nearby Missionary Bible Baptist Church split, and many of those who left found their way to Calvary, swelling attendance and prompting rapid building. In 1965, Calvary joined IFCA International. A new church building was erected on Flickinger Road in 1967, and growth continued through the late sixties and seventies.
In 1976, land was purchased on Wilson Avenue, and the present church was built, with a sanctuary that could seat over a thousand. Church growth continued through the late seventies and early eighties, swelling to a Sunday morning attendance of over 800 by the mid-eighties. In 1982, Rev. Joines spearheaded the formation of American Technical Outreach Ministries, later renamed International Partnership Ministries, which began providing technical assistance to national ministries in Haiti. A 1985 expansion added a one-million-dollar education wing with classrooms, a full gymnasium, a commercial kitchen, and The Shepherd's Fold Daycare on the second floor. By the late eighties the church had a full staff of five pastors and three secretaries.
Rev. Joines resigned in 1992, and Rev. Henry Johnson was called as senior pastor in 1993, ushering in a new season of outreach ministries, including the July 4th God and Country Night, Family Vacation Bible School, Thanksgiving and Christmas Adopt-A-Family, the September ministry kick-off celebration, and the Sportsman's Outreach. A major renovation in 2001 refreshed the sanctuary, foyer, and offices. Dr. Johnson resigned in 2004, and Dr. Ron Gibson served as interim until Dr. Michael Osladil arrived in 2006 as the church's fifth full-time senior pastor. Under his leadership the church adopted a new vision and motto, "Seeking the Lost, Equipping the Found," and launched an expansion of small group Bible studies, DivorceCare, GriefShare, Fun in the Son, ESL classes, and the evangelism team known as the GO Team. Dr. Osladil retired in 2017 after more than ten years. In November 2019, Rev. Dominic Aquilino joined Calvary as senior pastor, and in May 2023, Rev. Jason White was hired as Associate Pastor for Ministry Coordination, with Pastor Rob Greene's title becoming Associate Pastor for Youth and Family. Hannah Greene came on staff as Director of Children's Ministries in July 2023.
A Sunday at Calvary
Sunday at Calvary Bible Church follows a familiar three-beat rhythm. Sunday School for all ages meets at 9:30 AM, the Morning Worship Service begins at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary, and Evening Worship gathers at 6:30 PM. The morning service is livestreamed on YouTube, with the most recent sermons archived and available to watch any time.
Music is central to the morning gathering. The church describes its worship style as a blend of traditional hymns and current songs, supported by a dedicated team of orchestra members and song leaders. The focus, the church says, is not on human tradition but on Jesus Christ alone. Visitors will find a wide variety of dress in the services, from casual to more put-together, with no formal dress code.
For those arriving for the first time, the Welcome Center sits directly in front as you enter. There, greeters and Calvary Ambassadors can answer questions, point you to the right classroom, and help families with children settle in. Communion is observed in morning worship services periodically through the year, and a calendar of those services is available on the church's event page.
Children and Teens at CBC
Children are a serious priority at Calvary Bible Church, and the children's wing has its own entrance from the back parking lot, marked Entrance F. Inside, visitors are likely to be greeted by Hannah Greene, the Director of Children's Ministry, who can direct families either to the Family Connection Service, where families can worship together, or to the age-appropriate class for their child. All Children's Ministry workers have passed a background check and have been cleared through the state of Pennsylvania.
On Sunday mornings, Nursery care is available for children from infancy through age five, with playtime, snack, prayer, singing, a Bible story, and crafts. Sunday School for kindergarten through sixth grade meets at 9:30 AM and uses songs, Bible stories, games, prayer, discussion, and crafts. Kids' Worship is held during the 10:30 AM adult service, with two classes: kindergarten through second grade and third through sixth grade. A check-in center in the children's wing helps families find the right room.
On Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, Awana clubs meet under the banner "Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed." The program reaches boys and girls from age three through sixth grade with Bible verse memorization, game time in the gym, and a strong emphasis on the gospel. The summer brings Kids' Camp, a week of day and overnight camping held each July at Penn Grove Retreat for children entering kindergarten through sixth grade, with crafts, games, swimming, special events, guest speakers, music, missions, and a snack shop. Vacation Bible School is offered every summer on site for children four years old through sixth grade, drawing both church and community families.
The Shepherd's Fold Daycare, a state-licensed child care center that grew out of the 1985 education wing addition, has been a ministry of the church for decades. The daycare operates from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM, though it is not currently accepting new enrollments.
For teens, Teen Group meets Wednesdays from 6:15 to 8:15 PM in Room 106, accessed through Entrance G, and includes a game time, announcements, a message from Scripture, and small group time. A wide range of activities, ministries, and social events round out the calendar, with a printed Teen Calendar released each year. Sunday mornings the teens meet at 9:30 AM for a short, focused time in the Word using the Gospel Project curriculum. The current theme is "A Shipwrecked Faith," exploring what the Bible says about weak and wrecked faiths and the attitudes that cause them. Adult leaders are intentional about relationships, with a conviction that the most important relationship a teenager can ever have is with Jesus Christ.
Women's, Men's, and Adult Ministries
The Women's Ministry exists to encourage women in every stage of life and to develop the gifts God has given them. A Wednesday evening Bible study brings ladies of all ages together from 6:30 to 8:00 PM for various topical and book studies through the ministry year. The Ladies' Connection Sunday School class meets Sundays at 9:30 AM, designed to exalt the Savior and edify one another through discipleship, prayer, and encouragement. The Ladies' Fellowship Bible Study gathers on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 9:30 AM for a Bible study, sharing, and prayer. Other opportunities include Pins and Needles, a sewing group that produces items for outreach ministries, a Tuesday-evening volleyball ministry for teen girls and ladies thirteen and up, a Meal Ministry that provides home-cooked or purchased meals to those recovering from surgery or welcoming a new baby, and a Funeral Luncheons team that serves families after the loss of a loved one. The Women's Conference, held in the spring and often on site, has featured speakers such as Micah Maddox, Nicki Koziarz, Debbie Stuart, and Denise Pass.
The Men's Ministry exists to equip men for wholehearted worship and obedience in Jesus Christ as fathers, husbands, brothers, leaders, and ambassadors for God. A Men's Breakfast meets the first Saturday of every other month at 7:00 AM in Boyer Hall, with meetings in January, March, May, July, and November in 2026. The Men's Meat-Up gathers on the first Friday of every other month at 6:00 PM in Boyer Hall, with a shared meal, a time in God's Word, and often ice cream and games. A Men's Bible Study meets on Wednesday evenings in the fall. Daddy Daughter Date Night is a semi-formal spring event for fathers, grandfathers, and daughters. The Dad and Son Day of Fun happens each summer. The Guard Your Heart Fellowship is a group of men who want to become more effective guardians of their hearts, meeting Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM. The annual Men's Retreat has been held at Camp Calvary in Bernville, Pennsylvania, with special speakers, five meals, and access to a pool, pond, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, mini golf, disc golf, ping pong, a climbing wall, a workout gym, a snack and coffee shop, and gun ranges.
Adult Sunday School classes meet at 9:30 AM each Sunday from September through June, with classes and descriptions updated each September. The music ministry welcomes participants from first grade through adult, with choirs, ensembles, and instrument groups, and the choir practices on Thursday evenings. The Precept inductive Bible study method is offered at five different levels, with classes held in the morning and evening on Tuesdays in Room 201, using Entrance F, and involving approximately five hours a week of personal study. Small Groups bring people together for shared care and biblical love. The Dead Preachers Society, a summer book club led by Pastor Dom and Mike Robinson, walks through classic works by old theologians. DivorceCare and GriefShare, both thirteen-week support groups, run on an ongoing basis, and Calvary Ambassadors offers activities for folks 55 and older, from bus trips to Sight and Sound theater in Lancaster to summer picnics. Co-Ed Softball, for ages thirteen and up, runs through the warm months.
Music and the Arts
Music is a deeply felt ministry at Calvary. The adult choir and orchestra rehearse weekly and lead worship in the Sunday services, with seasonal events and a children's musical program each year. Mike Hokkanen, an elder who once served as a Russian interpreter in the United States Air Force, plays in the orchestra, and Laura Sterner coordinates music and children's musicals. Choir practice is held in Room 114 and the Sanctuary, with periodic extra rehearsals in the lead-up to the annual GO Conference.
Global Outreach Conference and Mission Support
Calvary currently supports more than thirty global missionaries and organizations, with approximately twenty-two percent of the church's budget devoted to that work. Members have participated in cross-cultural trips over the years, including long-running partnerships that sent Greg and Marquette Garvick to a children's home in Guatemala for thirteen years. The annual Global Outreach Conference, also called the GO Conference, is a marquee week on the calendar, with the church inviting friends from around the world to share what God is doing among the nations, anchored in Revelation 5:9: by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. The conference typically features a brochure with a full schedule, a choir and orchestra presentation, an MLT meeting, a children's missions emphasis, and small group breakouts, with sign-ups available for events that require them.
On the local side, the Salt and Light team engages the Hanover community with events like Epic Inflatables Family Fun Day and Trunk or Treat, while the Adopt-A-Family collection each Thanksgiving and Christmas gathers coats, gifts, and food for families in need. Calvary Cares is the church's long-standing care ministry for members who are hospitalized, in rehab or nursing care, at home with physical needs, or shut in. Its three-fold emphasis is encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11), prayer support (James 5:16), and bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). Practical ways to participate include visiting, calling, sending a card, or taking a meal.
Support Ministries: DivorceCare, GriefShare, and ESL
Two of the church's most-used support ministries grew out of partnerships with national organizations. DivorceCare is a thirteen-week support group open to anyone, regardless of the cause of their situation, meeting Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM in Room 122 (Entrance B) and led by Larry and Linda Myers. GriefShare, a thirteen-week program for those grieving the loss of a loved one, meets Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM in the same room, also led by Larry and Linda Myers. Both run on an ongoing basis.
The Adult Language Outreach program offers English classes in a classroom setting, with conversation, grammar, reading, and writing at four different ability levels. Programs for children and youth and care for infants are also available. Bilingual staff can register Spanish-speaking students, who are welcomed alongside their English-learning neighbors.
What Calvary Believes
Calvary Bible Church's doctrinal statement affirms that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original languages, and the supreme and final authority in faith and life. The church confesses one God eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms the full deity and true humanity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, burial, bodily resurrection, ascension, and present intercession. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ's finished work, with believers born again, indwelt, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. The church practices water baptism by immersion and observes the Lord's Supper as a commemoration of Christ's death.
The church's vision statement, "To know Him and make Him known," is fleshed out in five commitments. Calvary aspires to make the cross central to all it does, to celebrate the Bible by diligently studying and applying it to everyday life, to be a united body of believers in which each person is growing in Christlikeness together, to be concerned for the spiritual and physical welfare of its neighbors both in Hanover and around the world, and to adopt a lifestyle of worship as a grateful response to all God is and does.
The church's constitution includes a Statement on Marriage and Sexuality that defines marriage as the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime and reserves the church's facilities and pastoral services for weddings consistent with that definition. The statement emphasizes that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, and that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, and dignity.
Leadership
Pastor Dom Aquilino has served as senior pastor since November 2019. A graduate of Montana State University (BA, 1999) and Capital Bible Seminary (MDiv, 2002), he previously served churches in Missouri and Michigan, and is known for his expository preaching and his affinity for famous dead preachers. He is married to Jen, and they have two children, Jonathan and Bethany, plus a dog named Bosco.
Pastor Rob Greene has been on the Calvary staff since October 2007 and now serves as Associate Pastor for Youth and Family. Saved at the age of twenty-three, he attended Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, where he met his wife Cindy, who earned a counseling degree. Before joining Calvary, he spent six years as a full-time youth pastor in Oklahoma. The Greenes have three children: Rachel, Hannah, and Josiah.
Pastor Jason White joined the team in May 2023 as Associate Pastor for Ministry Coordination. A graduate of Lancaster Bible College, he was saved at eleven, served as a CEF summer missionary, and met his wife Andrea while in college. They married in 2002 and have six sons: Samuel, Henry, Paul, Thomas, Benjamin, and Evan. His "three strand rope" verses are Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians 4:17, and Proverbs 14:4.
Hannah Greene, Director of Children's Ministry, joined the team in July 2023. A Hanover native who grew up attending Calvary, she was saved at age seven, holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Biblical Studies from Lancaster Bible College, and has a clear calling to see children learn and grow in their relationship with God.
The Elder Board includes Scott Witmer (President), who has attended Calvary since 1985 and served in VBS, Adopt-A-Family, Children's Sunday School, and the Finance Committee; Jack West (Vice President), who moved to Hanover in late 2021 and joined the church in 2022 and serves in the nursery alongside his wife Sharon; Nate Swanger (Secretary), a thirteen-year member of the church who serves as a youth leader; Chris Baeuerlein, a member since the early 2000s who sings in the choir and coaches the Awana quizzing team with his wife Jessica; Greg Garvick, who was saved at Calvary in 1986 and has served in numerous ministries, including thirteen years of trips to a children's home in Guatemala; Mike Hokkanen, a 1949 native of Tacoma, Washington, who plays in the orchestra, attends two small groups, enjoys Precept Bible Study, and helps with Ambassador planning; and Mike Robinson, who has served in Adult Sunday School, Children's Church, Vacation Bible School, Men's Group, AWANA, and Prayer Meeting across his years in ministry.
The administrative team is led by Lisa Watson, who has served as Administrator since 2015, having been part of the church since moving to Hanover in 2009. Lisa and her husband Kenny, the church's treasurer and AWANA Games Director, have three children. The Staff Ministry Assistants include Lauren Osladil, Laura Sterner, Trisha Ellis, Becca Lippy, and Lindsey Reiker. Dave Vandusen serves as Facility Manager, having joined the staff in May 2022 after a thirty-seven-year career as a Master Technician for Toyota. He and his wife Charlene have four daughters and seven grandchildren.
Visiting and Connecting
Calvary Bible Church is located at 603 Wilson Avenue in Hanover, Pennsylvania, with the Mathias Center a short walk away at 605 Wilson Avenue. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at 717-632-3954, and a contact form is available on the church's home page. Giving can be set up as automatic monthly, given one time, or used to register and pay for an event. The weekly bulletin, monthly newsletter, and sermon archive are all available, and the church maintains an active YouTube channel, Facebook page, and Instagram presence for those who want to stay connected between Sundays.
For seventy years and counting, the people of Calvary Bible Church have found their home on Wilson Avenue, a community of believers seeking to know Christ and to make Him known in Hanover and to the ends of the earth.