Services
began November 1920 with Harry O. Fry serving as the first pastor and in
1921 the first church building on Thirty-sixth Street was purchased. A.
Kirtley Johnson served as pastor from January - April of 1925, and L.A. Byrd served from June 1925 - January 1927.
D.B.
Eastep served as senior pastor from 1927 - March 1962. Under
his leadership the church moved to its present location, and in 1939 three
building programs were undertaken, the radio ministry and the library began.
This was also the first year for FBS, the seven-year Whole Bible Study Course
(a seven year survey of the entire Bible in Bible School) and support for
home and foreign missions. In 1955 the church employed the first minister
of music and in 1961 the first associate pastor.
Warren
W. Wiersbe, associate pastor since 1961, became senior pastor
on the death of Dr. Eastep and served from March 1962 - August 1971. Highlights
of his ministry were the building of the present main auditorium in
1963 seating 2,000, adding a youth pastor to the staff, the summer camp
program for the youth and the tape ministry.
Galen
Call came as youth pastor in 1969 and served for a time
as interim pastor. He served as senior pastor from 1972 - October 1979.
He started Calvary Christian School in 1973, the senior adult ministry,
added adult couples' classes to Bible School and began the annual Missions
Conference.
Randall
Faulkner came as assistant pastor in 1973 and served as
interim pastor from October 1979 - June 1980. He served as senior pastor
from June 1980 - December 1989. During his pastorate, Calvary began Evangelism
Explosion, the Wednesday evening Awana ministry, the pastoral care ministry
and the missionary pantry.
Charles
U. Wagner came to serve as senior pastor after Wilbert Welch
served from January 1990 - January 1991 as interim pastor and served
from January 1991 - April 2003. Under his leadership two additions took
place, the building of the multipurpose building (The Center) and the
purchase of the Cherry Factory. The pastoral staff increased from six
to ten and many new ministries began such as the Women's and Men's Ministries
and Tower. The radio ministry expanded, Evangelism restarted, many new
missionaries were added through the Faith Promise program and the membership
increased. Calvary continued to be known for its outstanding preaching,
Bible teaching and worldwide outreach.