1959
On August 5, 1959, a prayer meeting was held in the home of Fred Jost, with 14 people attending. The next meeting was held in Henry Edgins home the following week. On August 19, 1959, a mission was organized. John C. Denton was called as pastor.
1960
By the end of October 1959, the church had negotiated to buy property at 1755 Catherine Street in Santa Clara, which was owned by the First Baptist Church of Santa Clara, a congregation affiliated with the American Baptist Convention. The property consisted of an older building with a little less than one-half acre of land. The church met for the first time in their new building on February 16, 1960.
1961
On September 17, 1961, the church unanimously called Reverend Jimmie Barksdale as pastor. He was a seminary student when he was called. The church grew and soon there was a need for more building and parking space.
1963
The property at 3137 Forbes Avenue, where we currently meet, was purchased. The church met for two weeks in the IOOF Hall in Santa Clara while awaiting completion of the new building, which was occupied on October 20, 1963.
1966
Reverend Hugh Hayes was called as pastor on June 26, 1966. The church membership was 218 when he came. He was instrumental with youth and music groups. The organ was purchased under his pastorate
1972
In January 1972 the church called Caylor Drew Allen from Sacramento as pastor.
The Christmas season saw an intense emphasis on the Lottie Moon Foreign Missions offering, with a goal to purchase a $350 wheel for an airplane needed by Southern Baptist mission work in Ethiopia. Ray and Lauralee Lindholm, missionaries in Ethiopia, challenged the church effectively and over $500 was given.
1973
In December 1973, while adopting the 1974 budget, the church took a step of faith during a time of financial shortage and put church mission giving as the top priority, before payment of any other items.
1975
Participated in a World Missions Conference with Edward Peol, Home Missions; Kenneth Glen, Germany, Eula Stotts, former state W.M.U. Director; Jackson Day, Brazil; Mrs. John Hunter, Hungaria; and Eugene Wolf, Spanish Worker in L.A
1976
Martin Leach was called as Minister of Youth and Music in January 1976. He was very effective in work with the youth, development of regular weekly Bible studies, and discipleship growth.
1977
Theo Patnaik, a native of India and Musa Bawa, a native of Nigeria, shared with us in 1977.
1979
In the summer of 1979, the church began sharing its facilities with a Korean congregation during the afternoon.
1980
The church baptized and ordained Pastor Soo Yung Chae (Americanized to Joe Chae) as a Southern Baptist pastor in March 1980. At the same time Pastor was ordained, the church licensed three men from the Calvary congregation to preach: Jim Connell, Michael Hollingshead, and Jerry Vallotton. Ralph Longshore, the Director of the Missions Division of the State Convention brought the sermon.
1981
A Spring Bible Conference was held jointly with Trinity Baptist Church in 1981, with Dr. Fred Fisher teaching on the doctrine of election. A new arrangement with the Korean congregation began in March of 1981. Their worship time was during our Sunday School, so their children could attend our Sunday School and be taught in English.
1984
In July 1984, the Korean Congregation finally saw the fruition of five years of prayer and labor as they closed Escrow and took possession of a church building on Fleming Avenue in San Jose, previously used as a Spanish mission of Foxworthy Baptist Church. With the purchase of this property, the Koreans changed their name to Antioch Baptist Church, remaining a part of the San Jose Association.
On September 23, 1984, the church celebrated its 25th Anniversary with former pastor Hugh Hayes preaching during the morning worship.
1990
Adult Choir joined with the choirs of Trinity Baptist and Heart of the Valley Churches to perform Heaven’s Child. That was one of a few musicals we performed at Vallco Shopping Center, in addition to at church.
1994
We held several Backyard Bible Schools in different parks and a homeless shelter in the morning and afternoon, and at the church in the evening. There were 80 students, 16 teachers, and 7 people serving refreshments.
1995
Church sent Drew and Dallas Allen on a much deserved 3 month sabbatical and study leave. Max Hively, recently retired as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, served as our interim pastor during that time.
1996
The church’s 17 exterior wooden doors were rotting, and the auditorium ceiling had cracks from the 1989 earthquake. The church formed a “Reconstruction Committee” to plan the renovations, and work began in April 1996. The sanctuary was completely renovated.
Ray Graves built the wooden “cross” doors in front of the baptistery.
1997
Celebrated the 25th anniversary of Drew & Dallas’s ministry at the church. We had a nice party and time of celebration together at the church. Dr. Mike Stewart, our new Director of Missions for the Santa Clara Valley Baptist Association, was able to be a part of the events.
Calvary has always been a member of the local Baptist association and supported its work. Our adult and youth choirs participated in the Association’s “Make Us One” concerts in 1997.
1998
Youth took a mission trip to Tijuana Mexico through YUGO. 10 youth were able to participate and were accompanied by David Schmidt, Jayne Jammes, Debbi Tuck and the Graves’ new van. They had the opportunity to help with a new church start in a very poor neighborhood outside of Tijuana. While there, they conducted a morning VBS for children, sports ministry for teenaged boys, and a women’s ministry for teenaged girls and mothers home in the afternoons. They also led worship in the evenings, and each of the boys delivered a message.
Calvary has participated in ministry to the area’s Persians since 1998, when the Bay Area Persian Church began using our facilities for worship and Bible study.
2000
In October of 2000, the church called John Shirey as pastor. He and Debbie and their 6 children moved here from Southern California.
Early in his pastorate, Pastor Shirey led the church to start a renewal process. It began with a series of sessions led by Doyle Braden, Orange County Director of Missions, to examine our history and ministries and develop a shared mission statement.
2001
Youth group, led by Kyle Myers, joined a WorldChangers mission to Bremerton Washington. They helped build homes and roof houses.
Calvary’s children’s choir participated in the association’s “San Jose Concert of Love”.
2002
Youth group went with WorldChangers to Alaska
2003
Group of girls from the youth group went on a WorldChangers mission to Highland, CA. Debbie Shirey and Rosanne Hofland went as chaperones. While they were there, the girls worked on scraping and preparing houses for painting. The houses had previously been painted with lead paint, so the girls had to dress in protective gear and masks while they worked in the Southern California heat.
2004
We had a special Christmas VBS for children from a San Jose children’s shelter in 2004.
The children’s Sunday School classes have organized the church to be a part of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry
2005-2006
Youth and college-age groups made mission trips to the Gleanings work site in the Central Valley. They worked in the processing plant to dry donated fruit for distribution overseas by Youth With a Mission. Several of them came home saying they would never eat peaches again!
2016
Church called Jason Walker to be pastor. He and his family moved to California from Virginia.
2017
Church called Leo Novakovskiy to serve as interim pastor.
2018
Church called Chris Gilmore to serve as the Pastor. He and his family moved to the area from Yuma.
2023
Church called Derek Berry to serve as Pastor. Pastor Derek joined us, with his family, January of ’23 and currently serves as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church.
