The History of Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary Baptist was organized by Pastor John Clontz and his family in 1972, and for forty years he was faithful to his calling. He was still preaching and pastoring up into his nineties, even cutting the church grass at age 92.

Many people were reached under Bro. John's ministry over the years. God led him to begin the Calvary Christian Academy at the church, which was instrumental in giving a Christian education to scores of McMinnville children through the years. In 2015, Pastor Clontz entered the Lord's presence at the age of 95.

In 2012, the congregation called Pastor Tom Fittis to be its new pastor. Bro. Tom had been saved in Northern Ireland as a young man and came to Tennessee to study the Bible at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga.

After his Bible training he, with his wife Leslie, returned to Northern Ireland as missionaries for the next nineteen years. After returning to the United States in 2005, Tom ministered at B.I.M.I. as director of enrichment, and also was pastor at Temple Baptist Church in McMinnville for six years.

Both pastor and church are excited about what the future holds for Calvary as they embark on a new building program on the nineteen-acre property on Highway 55.