It all started years ago in the city of Memphis. Many do not know that the original group that started Calvary actually began their work around 1964. The group started as Fairways Baptist Church in Memphis. It was named Fairways because its location was near the former Country Golf Club in Southeast Memphis and the previous SBEC complex. The church existed under that name from approximately 1964 to 1973, with Bro. Dewayne Kingston as their Pastor. Although never a large church to start, they began to suffer in number. In late 1973, the church disbanded, sold the facilities, and relocated to Whitehaven on Finley Road. At that time, the group built a new church building there and started Finley Road Baptist Church. In the transition, Bro. Kingston left the group and at the start of Finley Road, Bro. Jimmy Breedlove became the pastor. For almost six years, the small group tried to build this church in number and grow the church body. It became apparent in 1979 that this would not be a reality. The church could no longer make its payments on the building. To avoid losing the property, they voted to disband the group and allow the BMA of Mississippi to take over the property and sell it for them. Under the direction of then Director of Missions Arnold Knight, the BMA of Mississippi bought the property. The small group of people that were meeting together was determined not to quit. They agreed to stay at that location until it sold, so the building would not be left vacant. At the same time, it was their plan to move south into Desoto County and try again with another church plant. Bro. Breedlove left their midst during this time. It took nearly two years to sell the property which discouraged the struggling group, yet they continued to meet. In the early fall of 1981, they contacted Berean Baptist Church in Memphis for help, needing someone to preach for them. At that time, Bro. Kevin Clayton was the youth director there. He agreed to preach for them in the short term, until they could relocate and find a missionary pastor. In October of 1981, they finally sold the property and netted $90,000 from the sell. At that time they asked BMA of Mississippi Missions Director, Bro. Knight, if the state would allow them to become a State Missions’ project and use the money from the sale of the old property to buy more property in Desoto County. Since this group had virtually failed two other times to successfully plant a church somewhere, there was some doubt and debate about doing it. However, the Missions’ committee and director agreed to move forward. The Berean Baptist Church in Memphis became the mother church of what became a new mission in Desoto County.
Through this time the group continued to meet. The mission consisted of Kenneth & Frances Barrett, Bob & Thelma Broom, Gloria Butler, Jack & Lola Holmes, Wilburn & Verdie Nails and Bro. & Sis. Floyd Nunn. After the sell of the property on Finley Road, they all agreed to meet in the Barrett’s home, which was in the Desoto Village Subdivision in Horn Lake, MS. Bro. Kevin Clayton continued to come and help the group during this time. The Missions Office directed the group to find a public place to meet if they were to continue as a State Missions’ project. One day in January of 1982, Bro. Jack Holmes stopped by the car auction building just south of Bullfrog Corner. He went in and asked them if they could meet there on Sundays. As it turns out, the clerk that worked there at the time was Bro. Kevin’s cousin. The auction opened its doors to the church, and they began to meet there each week and advertised as a new church meeting at that location. At this point both the mission and Bro. Kevin knew it was God’s will for him to continue his work with them. It was once said in Mississippi, that Bro. Kevin could not preach his way out of a wet paper bag, yet at that location the church grew to around 60 members. God had begun to do a work through the core group and Bro. Kevin after strategically locating them at the auction barn. For the first time the church was actually experiencing sustained growth!
They could now find land and build, but the question was where? With great excitement, they began looking all over Desoto County for land to build on and were totally open to where God would have them to be established. After many weeks and attempts, and one day long search, they came back in the direction of the auction barn where they had met earlier in the day. While stopped at the corner of then a dirt road in Church Road and at Hwy 51, Bro. Jack Holmes spotted a for sale sign that had fallen over. He got out and turned it over to find that Gaye Realty was advertising the sale of 6 acres at that corner. All of that looking and the land that God had arranged for was right there under their noses. They contacted the seller, and he had taken the 6 acres off the market. Yet he told them he would sell the 4 acres adjacent to and just north of the 6 acres. They bought the 4 acres for $28,000 in the early summer of 1982.
The land was somewhat of a dump. Three big oak trees stood out front with an old house in their midst, yet it was littered with garbage. Stoves, ice chests, bath tubs, washing machines…a virtual dumping ground. The church was able to clean it up and sell the old house that was on the property for $1500. The new owner had it moved, and it is now located on Hwy 51 just north of Hernando’s square. They were able to put that money and the remaining $62,000 into the construction of the new building. When the money ran out, they financed the remainder of the project through the revolving loan fund of the BMA of Mississippi.
They broke ground on the building in July of 1982. (Picture right) By Thanksgiving, the first building was completed and ready to be moved into. It was perhaps the biggest day to that point in the church’s history. Around 100 people were present for the first worship service in the new building. It was a glorious day, and God had clearly done a work to bring them to that point. Throughout that year, the church grew to nearly 100 people. On December 11, 1982, the church was able to organize officially into a New Testament Church. What was deemed an impossibility became a reality! All things are possible through the Lord! The church grew spiritually and in number over the next two years. By 1985, the church had grown to nearly 200 people. By that time, the Lord had been faithful to enable them to pay off the first building. Having it paid off and needing educational space, the church once again launched a building program. A huge fellowship area and much needed Sunday School classrooms were added to the south end of the original building. Within months, this building was paid off and there was again a need for additional space. Therefore, in 1986, the church built the annex located on the west side of the property. Most do not know that this building was formally named the “Milton Akers Annex” by the church body that year. Bro. Milton, Sis. Marcie Stones’ father played a vital role in building the annex. During the construction of the annex, he tragically died of a heart attack. It was a difficult event for the church and their family, but the Lord had now added the building to accommodate the youth department at Calvary.
With continued growth in the late 80’s, the church had to move to two services in the original building. After nearly two years of this schedule and with no building debt, the church once again built to add space. In the spring of 1990, a multipurpose building was constructed. By the spring of 1991, it was completed. It provided much needed Sunday School space and a large gym floor for recreation, fellowships, and our AWANA ministry. The building was named “The Clayton Building” to honor our pastor, Kevin Clayton. By the spring of 1992, the staff led the church to move the worship services to the Clayton building, so that the church could once again meet together for worship and not have a split service. After modifying the gym by adding a stage area and purchasing chairs, the gym became a worship center! For almost seven years, the church worshiped in the Clayton building with the plan to build a new sanctuary as soon as possible. Each Saturday a crew set up all the chairs for services on the gym floor, and then following services on Sunday nights the worship set up was removed. The Lord blessed the church to pay off that building in October, 1995. Once the Clayton building was paid off, the planning for the new sanctuary began in 1996. The task was greater and more expensive than anyone ever thought. The building committee spent many nights planning and praying for direction. There were many setbacks along the way as we worked with the architect. At times it seemed that the church would not be able to build a sanctuary. But Bro. Kevin and the staff knew that as long as we met in a gym, that it would hinder the church’s potential. After many meetings, much praying, and a capital fund raiser in 1997 that netted around $440,000, plans were finally drawn and approved for the new sanctuary.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in early March of 1998. (Pictured above right) The church was promised to be in the building by Thanksgiving. It didn’t come to reality as construction took from early March all the way to the new year of ‘99. Finally, after three and a half years, we saw God’s plan come to pass. The building cost the church body in excess of two million dollars. Many wondered if we would even be able to sustain the indebtedness and move forward. Since that time the church has never failed to pay the notes and has even paid towards additional principle each month. Presently, the church has a little more than eight years left to pay on the indebtedness.
There have been changes here at Calvary through the years. Individuals, families, and ministry leaders have come and gone. Many greatly contributed to the advancement of this church and the kingdom of God here at Calvary. God has blessed us with some good staff members in the past like the first Associate Pastor, John Durden (1987 – 1990),our first full time Music Minister, Chuck Henderson (1990 – 1992), our first Youth Pastor, John Newland (1991 – 1994); and our first Director of Ministries, Darrell Spigner (1992- 2003). I followed John Newland as Associate Pastor with an emphasis in youth ministry and served in that position from 1994 - 2003. Jamie Haguewood served as a part time staff member over college ministries from 1997 - 2000. Gordon Montgomery joined the staff as a Children’s minister and served from 2001 - 2003, and Jason Collier followed Jamie Haguewood as college minister and served from 2001 - 2002. Johnathan Hopper followed me working with our youth as Associate Pastor serving from 2004 - 2007. Bro. Britt Taylor was added to the staff as an Interim Worship Leader in July 2005 and served in that capacity until September of 2007. He continues now as a Ministry Associate with the church today. Most recently, in September of this year we have added Richie Thompson as an Associate Pastor in charge of worship and children’s ministries.
We have already spoken of Kevin Clayton, but for emphasis and honor we mention him again. From early fall of 1981 through October of 2003 (22 years), we had an outstanding church planter and Pastor in Dr. Kevin W. Clayton not to mention his dear wife who always worked with him, Mrs. Sabrina Clayton. After they left the ministry here, it was then that I had the distinct privilege of becoming Calvary’s pastor.
It is a new day at Calvary, and we are thankful for all God has done on this corner and in our midst. We want to “Continue the Legacy for a New Generation” to come. We exist to bring glory to our Lord and to win people for the kingdom of Christ! I look forward to all that God will do in and through this church in the future! “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20 – 21).
Presented to the Church Body and Former Members as a keepsake and submitted into official minutes of the church this the 9th day of December, 2007 on the occasion of our 25th church anniversary for the preservation of our history for future generations. Special thanks to Mrs. Amy Hayes for proofing this history and special thanks also to Dr. Clayton for providing an oral history to Bro. Lee for accuracy.
For almost six years, the small group tried to build this church in number and grow the church body. It became apparent in 1979 that this would not be a reality. The church could no longer make its payments on the building. To avoid losing the property, they voted to disband the group and allow the BMA of Mississippi to take over the property and sell it for them. Under the direction of then Director of Missions Arnold Knight, the BMA of Mississippi bought the property. The small group of people that were meeting together was determined not to quit. They agreed to stay at that location until it sold, so the building would not be left vacant. At the same time, it was their plan to move south into Desoto County and try again with another church plant. Bro. Breedlove left their midst during this time. It took nearly two years to sell the property which discouraged the struggling group, yet they continued to meet. In the early fall of 1981, they contacted Berean Baptist Church in Memphis for help, needing someone to preach for them. At that time, Bro. Kevin Clayton was the youth director there. He agreed to preach for them in the short term, until they could relocate and find a missionary pastor. In October of 1981, they finally sold the property and netted $90,000 from the sell. At that time they asked BMA of Mississippi Missions Director, Bro. Knight, if the state would allow them to become a State Missions’ project and use the money from the sale of the old property to buy more property in Desoto County. Since this group had virtually failed two other times to successfully plant a church somewhere, there was some doubt and debate about doing it. However, the Missions’ committee and director agreed to move forward. The Berean Baptist Church in Memphis became the mother church of what became a new mission in Desoto County. 
The land was somewhat of a dump. Three big oak trees stood out front with an old house in their midst, yet it was littered with garbage. Stoves, ice chests, bath tubs, washing machines…a virtual dumping ground. The church was able to clean it up and sell the old house that was on the property for $1500. The new owner had it moved, and it is now located on Hwy 51 just north of Hernando’s square. They were able to put that money and the remaining $62,000 into the construction of the new building. When the money ran out, they financed the remainder of the project through the revolving loan fund of the BMA of Mississippi. 
The church grew spiritually and in number over the next two years. By 1985, the church had grown to nearly 200 people. By that time, the Lord had been faithful to enable them to pay off the first building. Having it paid off and needing educational space, the church once again launched a building program. A huge fellowship area and much needed Sunday School classrooms were added to the south end of the original building. Within months, this building was paid off and there was again a need for additional space. Therefore, in 1986, the church built the annex located on the west side of the property. Most do not know that this building was formally named the “Milton Akers Annex” by the church body that year. Bro. Milton, Sis. Marcie Stones’ father played a vital role in building the annex. During the construction of the annex, he tragically died of a heart attack. It was a difficult event for the church and their family, but the Lord had now added the building to accommodate the youth department at Calvary. 
With continued growth in the late 80’s, the church had to move to two services in the original building. After nearly two years of this schedule and with no building debt, the church once again built to add space. In the spring of 1990, a multipurpose building was constructed. By the spring of 1991, it was completed. It provided much needed Sunday School space and a large gym floor for recreation, fellowships, and our AWANA ministry. The building was named “The Clayton Building” to honor our pastor, Kevin Clayton. By the spring of 1992, the staff led the church to move the worship services to the Clayton building, so that the church could once again meet together for worship and not have a split service. After modifying the gym by adding a stage area and purchasing chairs, the gym became a worship center! For almost seven years, the church worshiped in the Clayton building with the plan to build a new sanctuary as soon as possible. Each Saturday a crew set up all the chairs for services on the gym floor, and then following services on Sunday nights the worship set up was removed. The Lord blessed the church to pay off that building in October, 1995. 
Once the Clayton building was paid off, the planning for the new sanctuary began in 1996. The task was greater and more expensive than anyone ever thought. The building committee spent many nights planning and praying for direction. There were many setbacks along the way as we worked with the architect. At times it seemed that the church would not be able to build a sanctuary. But Bro. Kevin and the staff knew that as long as we met in a gym, that it would hinder the church’s potential. After many meetings, much praying, and a capital fund raiser in 1997 that netted around $440,000, plans were finally drawn and approved for the new sanctuary. 
Many wondered if we would even be able to sustain the indebtedness and move forward. Since that time the church has never failed to pay the notes and has even paid towards additional principle each month. Presently, the church has a little more than eight years left to pay on the indebtedness. 
greatly contributed to the advancement of this church and the kingdom of God here at Calvary. God has blessed us with some good staff members in the past like the first Associate Pastor, John Durden (1987 – 1990),our first full time Music Minister, Chuck Henderson (1990 – 1992), our first Youth Pastor, John 
Newland (1991 – 1994); and our first Director of Ministries, Darrell Spigner (1992- 2003). I followed John Newland as Associate Pastor with an emphasis in youth ministry and served in that position from 1994 - 2003. Jamie Haguewood served as a part time staff member over college ministries from 1997 - 2000. Gordon Montgomery joined the staff as a Children’s minister and served from 2001 - 2003, and Jason Collier followed Jamie Haguewood as college minister and served from 2001 - 2002. Johnathan Hopper followed me working with our youth as Associate Pastor serving from 2004 - 2007. Bro. Britt Taylor was added to the staff as an Interim Worship Leader in July 2005 and served in that capacity until September of 2007. He continues now as a Ministry Associate with the church today. Most recently, in September of this year we have added Richie Thompson as an Associate Pastor in charge of worship and children’s ministries.
We have already spoken of Kevin Clayton, but for emphasis and honor we mention him again. From early fall of 1981 through October of 2003 (22 years), we had an outstanding church planter and Pastor in Dr. Kevin W. Clayton not to mention his dear wife who always worked with him, Mrs. Sabrina Clayton. After they left the ministry here, it was then that I had the distinct privilege of becoming Calvary’s pastor.