At 300 N. Blake Street in Lake Charles, Mount Calvary Baptist Church is known for a ministry that began in 1930 with 46 members and developed into a congregation with Sunday worship, Bible teaching, choral music, missions, and distinct ministries for children, youth, men, and women. Four pastors have shaped its history, while building projects, ministry expansions, and a continuing emphasis on spiritual growth have marked its life.
From the First Building Fund to a Larger Church
Rev. D.J. Jones was the first pastor, and Sis. Daisey Jones was the First Lady. Jones organized the first Building Fund Committee and directed much of the church's early building. Membership reached approximately 1,100 in 1958. He served for 29 years until his death in August 1959.
Rev. Horace C. Allison became the first full-time pastor in November 1959, with Sis. Elma Allison as First Lady. The $20,000 mortgage was paid off in October 1962, and many ministries were created during Allison's 30 years of preaching and teaching. He served until June 1989.
Rev. Robert L. Owens began in December 1989, with Sis. Brenda Owens as First Lady. In August 1991, additional property was purchased, Mission One became Senior Mission, the Senior Choir and Gospel Choir became the Inspirational Choir, and Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops were organized. Seven deacon trainees were selected, and three deaconesses were appointed. The congregation also endured a church split in 1991.
Rev. Elmore Garner has led Mount Calvary since January 1992, with Sis. Renae' Garner as First Lady. In his first year, 313 people joined by letter or Christian experience, 230 by baptism, and nine renewed their membership. Under his leadership, three ministers and ten deacons have been ordained, twelve people have been called into ministry, and seventeen deaconesses have been appointed. The church also bought a parsonage and six additional properties, erected a marquee, and renovated its upstairs classrooms, outdoor kitchen, bathrooms, foyer, fellowship hall, sanctuary, and business office.
Sunday School at Nine, Worship at Ten
Fulfillment Hour Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday, followed by Sunday Morning Worship at 10:00 a.m. The 10:00 gathering is called a Worship Experience, and Mount Calvary welcomes people to worship and grow in the Word of God. Worship is held at 300 N. Blake Street in Lake Charles.
A morning prayer call begins at 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday by dialing 516-259-9958. Worship is livestreamed through Facebook Live as Mount Calvary Lake Charles and YouTube as Mount Calvary BC Lake Charles through the church's livestream.
Fulfillment Hour and the Church's Younger Generation
Fulfillment Hour Sunday School and Vacation Bible School are under Bro. Oscar Harmon. Their purpose is biblical ministry for people throughout the community through teaching, evangelism, and outreach. Children's Church, coordinated by Sis. RoxAnn Clark, is held on the first and fourth Sundays during services, with activities and biblical studies designed to lead children into worship.
Girls 4 Christ serves girls ages six through 18, teaching self-worth and purity with heart, soul, mind, and strength and helping them grow stronger in God's Word. The Youth Ministry, led by Youth Director Sis. Nicole Greene, serves unmarried young people ages 12 through 24 through biblical instruction and positive role models. It also brings youth into home and foreign missions efforts and promotes activities that combine fun and fellowship.
Young Voices of Praise gives children and youth a way to deepen their relationship with Jesus through singing and praise. Choir Matrons Sis. Christine Bellamy, Sis. Anna Harmon, and Sis. Nonica Parker lead this ministry.
Gospel Songs, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
The adult Inspirational Choir, led by President Sis. Dora Kennison, seeks to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through song and strengthen the church's music ministry. Its purpose includes admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The choir's history reaches back to the 1991 merger of the former Senior Choir and Gospel Choir.
The Men Choir is led by President Bro. Alphonso Spencer. Its presence adds another choral expression to Mount Calvary's emphasis on worship, fellowship, and the musical ministry of the congregation.
Deacons, Welcome, and Family Service
Deacon Ministry Chairman Bro. Henry White describes his team's work as leadership guided by biblical principles, personal relationships with the congregation, service to people's needs, and assistance to the pastor. Deaconess Ministry President Sis. Beverly Henry leads a ministry grounded in the Acts model of women serving others. It addresses both physical and spiritual needs.
Hospitality Ministry President Sis. RoxAnn Clark leads a ministry geared toward visitors and members. Usher Ministry President Bro. Aubery Matthews coordinates men and women who seat worshippers in an orderly and courteous way. The Brotherhood Ministry under President Bro. Linton Johnson, Jr., promotes fellowship, stewardship, Christian education, and evangelism among men. The Senior Women's Auxiliary under President Sis. Barbara Hardy promotes missions, stewardship, fellowship, Christian education, and evangelism.
The former Women's and Men's Conferences now form one Family Conference. The church's named areas also include the Social Justice Commission, with each ministry contributing to its ongoing congregational life.
Relationship With God and One Another
Mount Calvary teaches that Christian faith is about relationships with God and with other people. Jesus reveals what is essential in both relationships. He lived in awareness of God's presence, placed trust in God, and welcomed anyone who would respond to his invitation to a relationship of intimacy and faithfulness.
Church membership identifies a person with others committed to following Jesus and represents a lifetime of learning and growth in relationship with God and one another. It also provides a way to witness to faith within the Christian community. Mount Calvary is a member of the New Light Missionary and Educational Baptist Association and the Louisiana Home and Foreign Missions Baptist State Convention, Incorporated.
Pastor Elmore Garner's Continuing Call
Pastor Garner was called into ministry in March 1981 and first pastored Saint James Baptist Church in Ticfaw, Louisiana, and Sweet Home Baptist Church in Albany, Louisiana. His evangelistic work carried him across Louisiana and into California, Colorado, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. He has served Mount Calvary since January 1992. In 1995, he led a group of believers from the church and surrounding area to Jerusalem, where he preached and baptized those believers in the River of Jordan.
He attended Union Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans and earned a Master of Theology degree in April 2001. A doctorate was conferred by Christian Bible College of New Orleans. His stated greatest desire is to serve Christ and walk worthy of his calling. His favorite verse is John 9:4: "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."
That work continues at Mount Calvary through Fulfillment Hour Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., Sunday Morning Worship at 10:00 a.m., weekday morning prayer, and ministries centered on biblical teaching, worship, service, fellowship, and missions.