Getting To Know Us
The Rich History of Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise
The Rich History of Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise
The roots of Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise go back to December of 1940. A number of believers were meeting in various homes in the Paradise area, but soon decided they needed a permanent place for worship and outreach. They rented the old school house in Magalia, California. The Magalia Union Church was invited to meet with the home groups and the two united to worship the Lord. It was not long, however, before the unified group believed it was the leading of the Lord to establish a solid Bible teaching Baptist Church.
In January 1941, with the assistance of Grace Baptist Church of Chico, the two groups joined to form Calvary Baptist Church of Magalia. On January 26, 1941, the church called Pastor Vernon Harrah as its first Pastor and on March 2, 1941, Calvary Baptist Church of Magalia observed their first Communion Service. In December 1941, the church purchased the C.W. Beeler Building, located at the corner of Black Olive and Birch Street in Paradise, and the church moved to Paradise. The congregation changed its name to what it is today, Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise. In July 1944, the church voted to join the national association, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) and also the state association, the California Regular Baptist Churches (CARBC). The congregation remains a member of both to this day.
The church voted to purchase an acre of ground on the corner of Clark Road and Nunneley Road in 1946 with the intention of establishing a more suitable and permanent home for the congregation. In 1960, the church purchased an adjoining property. These two pieces form one home for the present church.
The first building constructed on the property was a fellowship hall dedicated in February 1947. Sunday services continued in that building until Easter Sunday 1950, when the new auditorium was completed. The congregation would continue building, adding an educational building in 1960’s and a gymnasium in 1980’s. Both buildings were essential to the operation of Paradise Christian School.
Throughout its history, Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise has faithfully taught the Word of God. Its members have sought to live their lives for Christ and serve Him in whatever areas He would lead. Several members of the church have gone out to serve as missionaries throughout the world. Today Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise continues to teach the truths of God’s Word, just as the founders of the church sought to do and desired to see. Our members seek to live their lives for Christ and seek to serve Him as He may lead. The original concerns of those members in the early 40’s remain today within the hearts of our membership. We desire for a solid, Gospel preaching, Bible teaching New Testament Church in Paradise, California.
In addition, Calvary Baptist Church has a rich history with the community of Paradise. In the Fall of 1950, a Christian day school was started, which operated until 1952. In September of 1966, Paradise Christian School was established and served the community for over 40 years. After the closure of Paradise Christian School, Calvary Baptist Church made their facilities available to Champion Christian School and to Achieve Charter High School, in addition, it opened up its gymnasium to local charter schools so their basketball teams would have a place to practice.
The events of November 8, 2018 changed the community forever. On this date a fire, which would become known as the Camp Fire, devastated the Town of Paradise and its surrounding areas. Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise was not exempt from the tragedy of that day. All the facilities were lost in the Camp Fire. Over three quarters of our members lost their homes and they were forced to move from the area. Tragically, we lost one member to the fire; though we know she is with the Lord, we continue to miss her. While it has been a trying experience for our church family, those who remain continue to meet to worship and praise God for all He has done and will be doing. We do not know what the future holds for our church, but we stand firm in the knowledge that God has a purpose for us. We look forward to His leading as we move forward in the life of our church. We invite you to join us as we continue our journey of service to God in the Town of Paradise.
Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise is in the process of rebuilding. Please pray for us as we seek the will of God moving forward. In December 1940, Paradise believers united to obey Christ, to worship, and to serve the Lord Jesus. They had a great desire to see the lost come to Christ, for the believer to grow in one’s walk with the Lord through serving and loving one another, and to see a strong Bible teaching church serve the spiritual needs of the community of Paradise. Those objectives have not changed.
Today, over 80 years later, Calvary Baptist Church continues to seek the lost for Christ and to build up believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our ambition to help each one to grow in his or her understanding of God’s Word, and to be a partner in one’s Christian maturity and walk with the Lord. We desire to love and serve one another, to relish the love of God, and to serve the Lord according to His will. These Biblical doctrines are the foundation of the history and the hope for the future of Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (NASB)
Romans 12: 1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)
In January 1941, with the assistance of Grace Baptist Church of Chico, the two groups joined to form Calvary Baptist Church of Magalia. On January 26, 1941, the church called Pastor Vernon Harrah as its first Pastor and on March 2, 1941, Calvary Baptist Church of Magalia observed their first Communion Service. In December 1941, the church purchased the C.W. Beeler Building, located at the corner of Black Olive and Birch Street in Paradise, and the church moved to Paradise. The congregation changed its name to what it is today, Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise. In July 1944, the church voted to join the national association, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC) and also the state association, the California Regular Baptist Churches (CARBC). The congregation remains a member of both to this day.
The church voted to purchase an acre of ground on the corner of Clark Road and Nunneley Road in 1946 with the intention of establishing a more suitable and permanent home for the congregation. In 1960, the church purchased an adjoining property. These two pieces form one home for the present church.
The first building constructed on the property was a fellowship hall dedicated in February 1947. Sunday services continued in that building until Easter Sunday 1950, when the new auditorium was completed. The congregation would continue building, adding an educational building in 1960’s and a gymnasium in 1980’s. Both buildings were essential to the operation of Paradise Christian School.
Throughout its history, Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise has faithfully taught the Word of God. Its members have sought to live their lives for Christ and serve Him in whatever areas He would lead. Several members of the church have gone out to serve as missionaries throughout the world. Today Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise continues to teach the truths of God’s Word, just as the founders of the church sought to do and desired to see. Our members seek to live their lives for Christ and seek to serve Him as He may lead. The original concerns of those members in the early 40’s remain today within the hearts of our membership. We desire for a solid, Gospel preaching, Bible teaching New Testament Church in Paradise, California.
In addition, Calvary Baptist Church has a rich history with the community of Paradise. In the Fall of 1950, a Christian day school was started, which operated until 1952. In September of 1966, Paradise Christian School was established and served the community for over 40 years. After the closure of Paradise Christian School, Calvary Baptist Church made their facilities available to Champion Christian School and to Achieve Charter High School, in addition, it opened up its gymnasium to local charter schools so their basketball teams would have a place to practice.
The events of November 8, 2018 changed the community forever. On this date a fire, which would become known as the Camp Fire, devastated the Town of Paradise and its surrounding areas. Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise was not exempt from the tragedy of that day. All the facilities were lost in the Camp Fire. Over three quarters of our members lost their homes and they were forced to move from the area. Tragically, we lost one member to the fire; though we know she is with the Lord, we continue to miss her. While it has been a trying experience for our church family, those who remain continue to meet to worship and praise God for all He has done and will be doing. We do not know what the future holds for our church, but we stand firm in the knowledge that God has a purpose for us. We look forward to His leading as we move forward in the life of our church. We invite you to join us as we continue our journey of service to God in the Town of Paradise.
Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise is in the process of rebuilding. Please pray for us as we seek the will of God moving forward. In December 1940, Paradise believers united to obey Christ, to worship, and to serve the Lord Jesus. They had a great desire to see the lost come to Christ, for the believer to grow in one’s walk with the Lord through serving and loving one another, and to see a strong Bible teaching church serve the spiritual needs of the community of Paradise. Those objectives have not changed.
Today, over 80 years later, Calvary Baptist Church continues to seek the lost for Christ and to build up believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is our ambition to help each one to grow in his or her understanding of God’s Word, and to be a partner in one’s Christian maturity and walk with the Lord. We desire to love and serve one another, to relish the love of God, and to serve the Lord according to His will. These Biblical doctrines are the foundation of the history and the hope for the future of Calvary Baptist Church of Paradise.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (NASB)
Romans 12: 1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)