With jubilant praise and immeasurable gratitude, Mount Calvary Baptist Church celebrates 50 years of serving God and the communities of Suisun, Fairfield and surrounding cities in Northern California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Under courageous and visionary leadership, and unwavering obedience to God’s plan for Mount Calvary, we have accomplished far more than we could have ever fathomed. Yet, God has a spectrum of work remaining for us to do.

We have been given a sacred mandate to impact people of all ethnicities and status on a regional, state, national and global level. God has entrusted Mount Calvary with unimaginable resources, divine connections and collaborative relationships to “Make Things Happen,” and to be the church that meets human needs.

We are humbled by God’s specific assignment to us, and His esteemed blessings that have an endless oasis, and that began 50 years ago.

Mount Calvary’s humble beginnings stretch back to 1962. A few local residents, many of them neighbors, friends, relatives and fellow airmen stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, sought to organize a church. They met in the home of a local resident. Although this small group of believers met regularly, it wasn’t until a year later on New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 1963 after the 11:00 a.m. worship service, that they organized Calvary Baptist Church of Suisun City. In this same year, the members changed the church’s name to “Mount Calvary Baptist Church” and appointed Rev. Claybon Lea as pastor.

Six months later, the church moved from an apartment to a building on Boynton Avenue in Suisun. In July 1969, the church was incorporated by the State of California. By May 1970, the church purchased 1.08 acres of land and a sanctuary located at 601 Mulberry Street, Suisun City (currently our Suisun Campus at 601 Whispering Bay Lane).

With a larger facility and an expansion of ministries, under the direction of Pastor Lea, the church reached out into the community, which was pivotal to our exponential growth and became the hallmark of Mount Calvary.

• In August 1970, the church partnered with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)to provide low-income and moderate-income housing in Fairfield. The following year, construction was completed on a 92-unit apartment complex located in Fairfield on East Alaska Avenue, known as Monument Arms. This opportunity profoundly impacted the community as Mount Calvary was the first church to provide low-income housing on a large scale in the Tri-City area. These units are still owned and maintained by Mount Calvary.
• We birthed a Prison Ministry. Today, this ministry includes pen pal letters to those who are incarcerated and valuable resources to help men and women after they’re paroled.
• Mount Calvary started a Food Pantry. To service our Food Pantry, we partnered with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Food is picked up from the Food Bank in Fairfield by dedicated and organized volunteers, primarily from our Body, and taken to the church’s Fellowship Hall. The church also purchases food from its budget and from generous donations of members who contribute food as well.
• Spearheaded by Sis. Mary Cooper, food is repackaged in bulk for the average family and separated into bags for those with and without cooking facilities. No photo ID or income information is required of anyone. During special events and holidays, our Food Pantry’s servants add special touches to the bags such as dyed eggs at Easter. The Food Pantry provides other miscellaneous items to all who arrive that may include a First-Aid kit, Clothing and other apparel – all donated by Mount Calvary members.
• We provide overnight shelter to the homeless population once a month at our Suisun Campus. Known as a Nomadic Shelter and directed by Sis. Sharon Poston, this ministry provides meals to our guests as well as good conversation and warm fellowship.
• Evangelism has always been a major component of our ministry. In the early days, Rev. Lea led the church in Continuous Witness Training to learn how to effectively share Christ with the community. This ministry continues today under Dr. Lea’s leadership. Minister Anthony “Tony” Adams and his team conduct dynamic “street ministry.” They travel to places where the downtrodden and the impoverish gather, many of whom are fighting homelessness, battling drug addictions or other horrific issues. They minister the love of Jesus to everyone from gang bangers and wannabe gangsters to business and home owners. If basic medical care is required, they receive help from servant nurses and doctors. This ministry team also attempts to be a bridge that connects and unites the community, police officers and firefighters.
• Under Dr. Lea’s leadership, Mount Calvary partnered with Habitat for Humanity.Through this relationship, in 2009, 2010 and in 2013, we organized “Build Day.” This day is always dedicated to helping to build new homes or rebuild foreclosed homes. Since joining Habitat for Humanity, USA, we have partnered with Habitat for Humanity in Ghana, West Africa to help villagers build their own houses. In addition, we equip them to pay it forward so that their people could move from huts built with leaves and trees to foundation-solid houses.
• Mount Calvary ministers at local apartment complexes such as Rockwell Manor and distributes backpacks to school-aged tenants. We prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or other meal choices through our ministry Operation Brown Bag.

Our continued community service is in line with our core values to demonstratively share our Lord’s care and concern for humanity. We seek to emulate Jesus’ love in action and meet all people wherever they may be in life.

In 2012, Mount Calvary Church has been recognized by the local court system for the tremendous work we’ve done in the juvenile system. The 5^th Sunday in May was declared “Mission Day” at Mount Calvary by Mission Solano of Fairfield. On this day, Chief Executive Director Ron Marlette presents Mount Calvary with a proclamation signifying the excellent work it has done in the community.

In addition to meeting the needs of people, we believe in tooling people for success in life through education. Our beloved founding pastor valued education. He wanted people to be educated and to know about their history, particularly African-Americans. He dreamed of a library and resource center that would provide information, so all people would know the history of Africa and the contributions of blacks in the world and the USA, especially as it relates to Christianity and the Black Church experience.

• In 1991, the church opened to the public the first African-American Heritage Library in Solano County at the Suisun Campus. This library was later renamed the Claybon Lea Memorial Library and relocated to the Fairfield Campus. On Sunday, October 26, 2006, Mount Calvary held a grand opening in honor of Rev. Lea who transitioned from his earthly mission to his just reward on October 27, 2002. Coupled with the establishment of the library was the African Enterprise Network, which was designed to showcase and make available authentic African art, fabric and clothing.
• Our library solidifies Rev. Lea’s conviction regarding the significance and value of literacy, as well as his vision of a literary cultural center in Solano County. During Black History Month in 2013, an exhibit of children’s books, fiction and nonfiction materials, artwork and DVDs, most of which from the library, were displayed. This superb educational exhibit, organized by Church Librarian, Sis. Carrie Donaldson received an overwhelming response and received media attention. Moreover, our Black History Month display and vision for a literary cultural center in Solano County captured the attention and sparked the interest of politicians in Solano County and Washington, D.C.
• Continuing our support of education, on February 5, 2007, Mount Calvary’s Scholarship Ministry, spearheaded by Sis. Louise McNeill presented our first annual Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Fair and Family Night. This effort, in partnership with U-CAN (United College Action Network) and Success Consortium, became a phenomenal success and is open to the public. Today, admission representatives from more than 30 HBCUs visit each year offering students and parents’ information on admissions, financial aid and scholarships. Each year students receive on-the-spot admissions and scholarships to HBCUs. Scholarship awards continue to soar into the millions of dollars.
• Year-round events and other college-related workshops are also hosted by the Scholarship Ministry and open to the public. Local business owners and businesses, along with California colleges and universities participate in these events. This ministry also offers and provides access to various other scholarships. Other education pursuits include our Youth summer tutoring program, led by Sis. Deotha Wolfe.

Jesus commissions us to go make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).

• In 1982, Mount Calvary began to realize its global outreach missionwhen the church purchased and shipped a power generator to Agambi Memorial Baptist Church in Eku, Nigeria. Mount Calvary traveled to Ghana, West Africa in 2006 to participate in the ground breaking ceremonies for a mechanized water system (wells). Partnering with Help Is on the Way Ministries, the California State Baptist Convention and other churches, the Tokuranu Water Project was completed in 2007. This water system supplies more than 6,000 people with clean water to cook, to drink, to wash clothes and to bathe. Our current foreign mission endeavors led by Minister Anthony “Tony” Adams, include Haiti, the Philippines, the Samoan Islands and Mexico, as well as Puerto Rico.

Pastor Emeritus Lea spearheaded countless and astonishing pursuits during his tenure, most of which remain vibrant and impacting to this day. On October 26, 1997, during a 34-year Pastor’s Appreciation celebration, he announced his retirement. A year later, a special business meeting was held and members unanimously voted for Dr. Claybon Lea Jr., as his father’s successor. Dr. Lea resigned from the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Englewood, NJ, upon accepting the call to become our pastor. He and his wife, Sis. Janel, relocated to Fairfield along with their two children at the time, Claybon III and Jillian. They were blessed to have two more children after relocating, Christopher and Jessica. Dr. Lea officially became the pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church on January 1, 1999. Since he has taken the helm, he has steered the church with remarkable jet speed and extraordinary leadership.

• In 2001, a church newsletter, “Commissioned!” was created and in January 2003, a newly formatted publication was mailed to members and friends. We transitioned into our own Inaugural “Word and Worship” magazine issue in 2005. Using cutting edge software, high-speed and high-tech equipment, and a staff of skilled members, we have been equipped to present a professionally designed publication at our Fairfield campus site. Under the direction of Sis. Katie Sherman, “Word and Worship” is published four times a year and distributed nationally and globally, if requested. It is also available online to our Internet visitors.

Under Dr. Lea’s leadership the church experienced such exponential growth that we outgrew the Suisun Campus as our sole location. Consequently, Dr. Lea led us to a 48,000 sq. ft. building which would become our new campus. The Fairfield Campus, located at 1735 Enterprise Drive, Building 3, in Fairfield, California, was a $4.5 million purchase in addition to a $1.5 million renovation project, which includes a 900+ seat sanctuary, a 200+ seat fellowship hall, a state-of-the-art nursery, a conference room, a high-tech audio/visual room, numerous multi-purpose rooms, administrative offices and a 300+ spaced parking lot. On Mother’s Day Sunday, May 9, 2004, the church moved from 601 Whispering Bay Lane to its new Fairfield Campus site. Dr. Lea proclaimed: We are the church of the “Joshua Generation.”

In December, Mount Calvary re-opened the Suisun Campus with a noon Bible study, and on Sunday, January 1, 2005, worship services resumed. We are now one church in two locations and a multi-ethnic ministry that includes a Spanish ministry and sign language.

Along with our new sanctuary, an additional administrative wing was completed providing more office space, a larger library and classrooms for Christian Education materialized in 2006. This new wing is equipped with a state-of-the-art computer lab. On Saturday, June 24, Mount Calvary opened the Didasko Christian Bookstore. In Greek, Didasko means “to teach, to educate, to train and to learn.” Our bookstore is a licensed retail business stocked with various Christian-related materials and setup to place special orders for merchandise not available in the store.

• Didasko Bookstore embodies our mission statement: “To lead individuals into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ and equip them for service to God and humanity.” Our store manager is Sis. Adrienne Edington.
• In June, 2007, Dr. Jerome King, a son of Mount Calvary became our Executive Pastor. As Executive Pastor, his role was to focus on the staff and work with the administration in the day-to-day affairs of the church. His expertise as a theological educator, administrative practitioner, consultant and speaker greatly enhanced the church body. His extensive studies in leadership coupled with his vast experience, aided in mobilizing volunteers to engage in service. Dr. King helped Dr. Lea to lead Mount Calvary in establishing its current mission statement, core values, visions and goals.
• In April, 2009, the Mount Calvary “Twelve Tribes Family Ministry Care Plan” was developed to accomplish the goal of “core ministry teams.” Partnering with the Pastor, the ministry teams’ responsibilities are to minister to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of each member. To accomplish this endeavor, teams were selected to become “tribe leaders” of members who are divided alphabetically by their last names.
• Rev. David L. Reaves became the first full-time Youth & Colligate Pastor at Mount Calvary on July 4, 2010. Worship for this age group is held in The Zoe Center, Youth Sanctuary. Our vision for this facility included a deli and coffee shop, Christian school, gymnasium, larger bookstore and much more.
• On October 22, 2011, our Wi-Fi deli and coffee shop, He Brews It! Cafe, held its grand opening. It is open to the public six days a week. It is a top-notched, full-fledged café with delectable delicacies and an available room that can be reserved for meetings.
• We see a day when we will purchase the 94,000 square feet facility just across the parking lot from the Fairfield Campus location. Meanwhile, the church membership continues to grow spiritually and numerically. More than 4,500 people have been added to the membership. In 2005, “Outreach Magazine” listed Mount Calvary as one of the 100 fastest-growing U.S. churches after completing a church growth study.

With “Five-Star” quality as its standard, Mount Calvary continues to pursue quality and excellence through the development of ministries that help us fulfill our mission statement: Our mission is to lead individuals into a DYNAMIC relationship with Jesus Christ and to equip them for service to God and humanity. Expressions, of our commitment to our mission is found in our innovative community outreach programs such as a weekly hour-long radio broadcast on 1190 AM (KDYA), “The Light.”

In addition, we provide four consecutive Sunday worship services with Internet-TV global streaming, plus Tuesday Noon and evening Bible studies, conferences, dramatic presentations, concerts, etc.

Our picturesque purple church is seen from the freeway. We purpose, however, to be the church beyond the four walls. We are challenged to do all the Lord has called us to with an artful blend of robust flavor and gourmet flair.

Fifty years ago, Pastor Emeritus Lea answered the call to make a difference in the lives of people locally, nationally and globally. He equipped saints with the tools necessary to be a blessing to others and to grow in their Christian walk. He served God’s people for 36 years and Dr. Lea has done the same for 14 years, providing Spirit-led leadership. We have been blessed to witness 50 years of meaningful ministry in this local community and the world. Because of a solid foundation and the spiritual fire that has burned in the bosom of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, Mount Calvary is now the oldest African American Baptist church in the Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun region. Since the church’s birth, more than 23 preachers have been licensed and of that number, 21 were ordained. God has used one of those preachers and our pastor, Dr. Claybon Lea, Jr., along with Sis. Carol V. Lea, to keep the church moving redemptively into the future. Amazing endeavours continue to be achieved as we tread an uncompromising and unapologetic path toward what Dr. Lea identifies as “brighter horizons, larger territories, more challenges, greater conquests, bigger vision and incalculable opportunities.” With God’s help and as we stand together on the Rock, Jesus Christ our Lord, we will continue to build on the past 50 years. We will stampede into the future with another 50 years in view, impacting the world with our witness. The Lord has done great things for and through Mount Calvary Baptist Church, whereof we are glad. To God be the glory!