Way back in 1972, 49 Odessans decided to start a church on the far north side of town and now, 50 years later, it turns out that their idea was a good one.
Calvary Baptist Church observed its half century milestone on April 24 and Pastor James Bishop, having been there since 1989, definitely felt a part of that history.
Having followed the Revs. Robert Cheek from 1972-79, Loys Vess from ’79-’80 and Guy Roberts from ’80-’89, the Rev. Bishop credited the church members and trustees for being so encouraging to his wife Sherry and him and their son Tony.
“It’s just loving the people, loving your community, being faithful to where the Lord put you and being content with what you have,” he said. “We have certainly enjoyed our time and we thank the Lord that we have been here this long. He has given us peace to be here and we’re thankful for that. Bloom where you’re planted.”
Bishop is a native of Athens in East Texas who earned a bachelor’s degree at Baptist Christian College in Shreveport, La., a master’s at Bethany Theological Seminary in Dothan, Ala., and a doctorate at Calvary Baptist College in Melbourne, Fla., before serving the Bible Baptist Church in Clyde, east of Abilene, for four years prior to the Bishops’ arrival in Odessa. Their son is a minister in Grape Creek, north-northwest of San Angelo.
Their 8644 Andrews Highway church averages 100 people at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
“I preach about salvation and the doctrines of the Bible about receiving Christ as your personal savior and being saved,” Bishop said. “I about preach God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the doctrines about the rapture of the coming of the Lord, that he is coming back to receive his church and set up his kingdom after the tribulation, the pouring out of the wrath of God on the world and those who have rejected Christ.
“When we came here 33 years ago, most of this area behind us was just fields. 87th Street didn’t run all the way to the Loop till just a few years ago. There has been a significant change for sure.”
The church’s youth director is the Rev. Matthew Sanchez. Its secretary is Christy New.
