Our Heritage
HISTORY OF:
NEW CALVARY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church was constituted on February 16, 1992. Reverend Gene King and thirty-two faithful parishioners met at the home of Deacon George Gilmore for the purposes of establishing a church. The minutes of that meeting reveal that Sister Carrie Shaw proposed to name the church, “New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.” The vote to carry was unanimous and the name was adopted on February 23, 1992.
From the beginning, it was easy to see that God found favour with this inspired body of believers. Brothers Stanley Gilmore and James Leeks were nominated as Deacons and after a period of training, both were ordained. Sister Helen Gilmore served as the first Church Secretary.
During the early years of New Calvary, the membership grew steadily. Pastor King and congregation held worship services in several locations around Fayetteville with 219 West Mountain Drive as the primary site.
On June 25, 1996 New Calvary purchased the land at our present location for the purpose of building a permanent worship facility. On October 6, 1997 the church started cutting trees to clear the land for the sanctuary.
The Hand of God moved upon this congregation in a mighty way and on January 18, 1999 the congregation assembled for the groundbreaking ceremony and subsequently entered the new Sanctuary in November 1999.
In November 2000, Pastor King was inclined to move into other areas of ministry. Reverend Olu Q. Menjay assumed the leadership as the interim pastor. Under the leadership of Reverend Menjay, the Church made enormous and significant strides in developing as a worshipping body. Pastor Menjay faithfully served until February 2001 when he was accepted to complete seminary school.
In December 2001, New Calvary chose Reverend Larry Anderson to succeed Reverend Menjay and assume the pastorate at New Calvary. On February 16, 2002, exactly ten years after organizing the Church, New Calvary adopted Isaiah 40:31 as the foundational scripture to solidify its past and strengthen its future. The members readily agreed that they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint succinctly captured the struggle and victory of their efforts.
Under Pastor Anderson’s leadership, God has continued to richly bless us. New Calvary is experiencing a season of outstanding growth! New ministries are developing and a spirit of cooperation has enveloped the congregation. Widely accepted programs and activities give evidence of a genuine spirit of commitment and excitement in this Church! We thank God for our history. We now understand that trials and tribulations have come our way to mold and shape us into a triumphant church! With the strength and power of Almighty God, we look forward to collectively celebrating life as we bow together in the awesome presence of God.