[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 148 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN 
                         THE CITY OF BELLFLOWER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 15, 2010

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower in the 34th 
Congressional District. I ask my colleagues to please join me along 
with the church's pastor, Dr. Michael Melton Kalapp, and his nearly 800 
parishioners, in celebrating this significant milestone. In honor of 
the occasion, I would like to submit into the Record a detailed 
historical overview provided by the church chronicling its incredible 
growth throughout Calvary's many years of spiritual service to families 
in Bellflower and throughout the world.

           A History of Calvary Baptist Church in Bellflower

                    (By the Calvary Baptist Church)

       In September, 1935, a group of 14 believers, led by 
     Reverend True H. Maxfield, sought to start a place of worship 
     in the Bellflower area after holding a successful tent 
     meeting. A lot located at Santa Ana and Mayne was purchased 
     for $275. Two months later, on November 11, 1935, a group of 
     men began erecting a small building that would become The 
     First Fundamental Church of Bellflower.
       In 1943, the church changed its name to Calvary Baptist 
     Church of Bellflower. By 1949, the church boasted 175 members 
     and new property was purchased--``way out in the country''--
     on Ardis Avenue. It was there that volunteers built the new 
     church, which held its first service on December 23, 1949. A 
     farming community at the time, Bellflower would not become 
     the 59th city in the County of Los Angeles until 1957.
       In 1950, the church membership nearly doubled to 340 and 
     additional property around the church was purchased. Seven 
     years later, in 1957, Calvary expanded its ministry to 
     support the Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO. The 
     church also supported the Pima Indians in Arizona.
       On June 16, 1963, after several years of leadership 
     changes, Dr. H. Frank Collins and his family began their 
     ministry at Calvary. Building on the church's rich history of 
     reaching out to the community, Dr. Collins led the church to 
     purchase a bus to provide members without transportation the 
     opportunity to come to Calvary to worship. At its peak, this 
     effort would grow to include 17 buses, transporting nearly 
     600 people to church weekly.
       During Dr. Collins' 26-year ministry, he led the church 
     through its largest expansion in buildings, membership and 
     outreach. Unfortunately, rising costs would eventually end 
     the church's bus ministry, as well as its television (Channel 
     9) and radio programming (on KGER 1390 AM).
       Calvary, however, continued to grow in other ways.
       In 1984, the completion of the H. Frank Collins/Calvary 
     Baptist Church Family Center enabled the church to expand its 
     ministry for its members and the community. This multi-
     purpose facility contains classrooms, a board room, 
     counseling rooms, office space, a full-service kitchen, 
     showers, gymnasium, and banquet seating for approximately 400 
     people.
       Upon Dr. Collins' retirement in May 1990, Dr. Michael 
     Kalapp became Calvary's new pastor. Under his leadership, 
     Bible-centered life groups, and one-on-one mentorship 
     programs were launched.
       Four years later, when Calvary purchased the last remaining 
     parcel of property on what is today the church campus, 
     Calvary realized its dream of having a Missions home. Today, 
     the facility serves as a Missions House and Missions 
     Apartment, giving the church's missionaries a place to rest 
     while in the United States. During the first decade of this 
     century, Calvary was instrumental in the planting of new 
     churches in Sauharita, AZ; Banning, CA; and Boston, MA. 
     Calvary has also given more than $1.5 million to missionary 
     work in far reaching places such as Africa, China, Japan and 
     the Philippines.
       Calvary's growing ministries encompass a wide variety of 
     community programs and initiatives. On a weekly basis, 
     Calvary provides the facilities and works with other local 
     churches to feed, shower, and cloth people who are homeless. 
     Church members donate food for its food pantry that serves 
     more than 100 families a year. This Thanksgiving, church 
     members will serve dinner to more than 500 people in the 
     community. To help individuals fighting addictions, Calvary 
     operates a ``Celebrate Recovery'' church-based spiritual 
     support program. The church also provides space for weekly 
     Nicotine and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. This past October, 
     more than a thousand people from throughout the area enjoyed 
     a free fun-filled day of games, face painting and other 
     activities at its annual Harvest Festival. The church also 
     hosted the Children's Summer Spectacular--a day camp for more 
     than 60 children from throughout the community that includes 
     Bible study, field trips and other activities. Parishioners 
     also donate the labor, supplies and funds each year to 
     ``makeover'' homes to members in need.
       To raise funds for its missionaries, Calvary holds a 
     Christmas boutique in late October. Handmade items by 
     parishioners are sold at the annual boutique to raise funds 
     for the church's mission work in this country and around the 
     world. This year's boutique raised more than $7,000. Calvary 
     also holds a parking lot sale featuring donated items by 
     church members to raise funds for its missions. This year's 
     event generated $3,000.
       As Calvary celebrates its 75 year anniversary, the church 
     is extremely proud that its central message to its 
     congregation since its founding ``way out in the country'' 
     has always remained devoutly the same: to ``LOVE GOD, LOVE 
     PEOPLE AND CHANGE THE WORLD.''

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