In March 1975, Calvary Temple Baptist Church opened

its doors at 3601 Indiana under the leadership of Rev.

E.L. Freeman. The eight charter members were E. L.

Freeman, Ethell Freeman, Versie Howard, James

Howard, Helen Williams, Arvesta Schine, Maggie

Freeman, and C. Cole.

In the spring of 1976, Calvary moved to a new facility

at 3501 Elmwood, and we burned the mortgage in

November 1984.

In March 1986, our first lady, Sis. Ethell Freeman, went

home to be with the Lord. She was a devoted

member and friend, and she is greatly missed.

In 1988, our founder and pastor, Rev. E. L. Freeman,

retired. In November 2005, the Lord called him home

to receive his “reward.” Rev. Freeman was a humble

man who loved the Lord. His commitment and loyalty

to this church and community will never be forgotten.

We will always honor his life by continuing the path he

laid before us.

In July 1988, Calvary held installation services for its

newly elected pastor, Rev. Eric D. Williams. Under

Pastor Williams’ leadership, the congregation has

grown significantly in numbers. The passion for

outreach and service to hurting people began to take

root, evidenced by the development of a preschool,

summer youth programs, and a food pantry.

When HIV/AIDS began to reach pandemic numbers,

Calvary expanded its ministry by reaching out to

individuals and families who were infected or affected

by the disease. This ministry gives a voice to those

whose cries are seldom heard. The goal is to reduce

new infections and equip congregations to provide

resources for people in need. The Calvary Community

Outreach Program (CCON) was formed as a nonprofit

organization to respond to emerging community

needs.

In June 1997, Calvary held dedication services for its

newly purchased building at 2940 Holmes. This facility

allowed us to expand our childcare program and food

pantry with the intent of bringing “souls to Christ.”

With the blessing of a larger facility, we reached

further into the community, opening our doors for

neighborhood meetings, health fairs, and social

gatherings.

The Lord began showing us the masses of people

who struggle with various health conditions. Many of

these could be addressed with regular exercise and

information. We were able to partner with CCON to

purchase and renovate the building next door to the

church. Today it is known as the Calvary Community

Wellness Center. It is a 10,000 square foot fitness

center with state-of-the-art equipment that is

available for the Kansas City community.

The Lord has given us instructions on the things that

He wanted us to accomplish. There have been times

when the path was clear and other times we just had

to have faith and trust that we were doing His Will.

During those times of uncertainty, there was never a

spirit of giving up or despair—just a strong belief that

God was on our side and with His might and strength,

ALL things were possible. We believe it, we stand on

it, we proclaim it—all in the name of Jesus Christ!