Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 127, Number 5, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 29 January 2004 — Page 6

Page A6

Advance News • Thursday, January 29. 2004

Calvary Baptist celebrates 44th anniversary

Calvary Baptist celebrated its 44th anniversary Jan. 18 with a special service Sunday morning which included special recognition of former pastors, former members and visitors. A special anniversary dinner followed the morning service. Dr. Gary Gillmore of South Bend was the special speaker and preached Sunday through Friday in their Winter Revival Meetings. Two of their former pastors also spoke briefly of their years here in Nappanee. One of them was Evangelist Fred Ritchardson who still makes his home in the Nappanee area. He was the founder of the church as the history synopsis below indicates. The other speaker was Earl Lightfoot who served the church in the 1980's who has retired and he also lives in Nappanee. He is currently a member of the church and still has speaking engagements here in northern Indiana from time to time. A number of former members were also in attendance for the celebration. What follows is the story of how Calvary Baptist came into existence here in Nappanee, and its history through its 44 years. CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF NAPPANEE BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 1960 - 2004 Evangelist and Mrs. Fred R. Ritchardson, Jr., having been burdened for many years for the establishing of an independent, Bible-believing, Bible preaching, New Testament witness for Christ in the City of Nappanee, were led by the Holy Spirit of God to take some time out of a fruitful eleven years of full-time evangelistic ministry. They returned to their home near Nappanee in midDecember 1959 to make a house-to-house canvas in search of others with the same burden. After a number of weeks calling, with the help of other ministers and Christians, the city was about half canvassed, and a few people had made known their desire to help establish such a Baptist Church. The first meeting was held on a stormy winter night of January 19, 1960. With the temperature near zero and many roads drifting, eighteen persons came to the meeting which was held in the old Park Pavilion in Nappanee.

Milk is available with all meals. WOODVIEW ELEM. FRIDAY, JAN. 1.6 Shaved turkey sandwich, potato wedges, orange slices or pears, cookie MONDAY, JAN. 19 Sloppy joe sandwich, com, sherbet or pears, chips TUESDAY, JAN. 20 Pepperoni pizza, broccoli w/cheese, apple w/dip or mixed fruit WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, pineapple or peaches, cookie

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THURSDAY, JAN. 22 Beef stew, com muffin, lettuce salad, mandarin oranges or applesauce NAPPANEE ELEM. LUNCH MONDAY, FEB. 2 Beef & noodles, mashed potatoes, roll, peaches or pineapple TUESDAY, FEB. 3 Mini com dogs, potato wedges, pears or jello WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 Cheese pizza, com, strawberries or applesauce, ice cream THURSDAY, FEB. 5 Nacho

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Rev. Richard Killian, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bremen brought a Bible message, and then Evangelist Ritchardson stated the need of a church in Nappanee, and what it would stand for and preach. After a prayer meeting, all were asked to pray for and help start this new work of faith. Of the ten people from Nappanee, eight said they would. Evangelist Ritchardson then stated that believing God was in this work, he had already booked the building for services that week. The first prayer meeting was only two nights later, with eight people attending. The following Sunday, Jan. 24. the first Sunday School was held with 23 attending; 27 in the morning worship; and 17 for the Sunday night meeting. The offering for that first week was $43.35. Services continued to be held in the Old Park building, which cost us $25 a week for our three services. God blessed in meeting the needs and in the first month three souls were saved. After many weeks of working on the Church Constitution it was adopted by the congregation in April 1960 with the church being officially named Calvary Baptist Church of Nappanee. Then in May, it

bean dip, tortilla chips, lettuce salad, mixed fruit or cherry whip FRIDAY, FEB. 6 Meatballs, breadsticks, peas, mandarin oranges or sherbet NAPPANEE ELEM. BREAKFAST MONDAY, FEB. 2 Scrambled eggs TUESDAY, FEB. 3 Breakfast burrito WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4 Waffles

Community

Calvary Baptist Church

was necessary to move their meeting place to homes and at times, the City Library was open to us. But once again they had to move and take their traveling sign in search of a new place to meet. Then the Lord opened the door to a large four-room apartment above the U-Du-Laundry in Nappanee. which was owned by a Christian man, Dean Baker. Here, the ever-growing church continued to praise God for a place to worship, and even during the hot summer months this apartment was filled with an average attendance for July in Sunday School - 35.4; Worship - 27.2; Sunday night - 28.4; prayer meeting -16.75; and an average offering of $59.08 per week. Again God had showed us that His hand was upon this work. For months much praying, work, and planning had gone in the seeking of God's will in what He would have us do regarding a building of our own in which to meet. Many, inquiries had been made regarding the renting or buying the closed church building on East Market and Elm Streets,-but this seemed almost an impossibility for just a few. It was then they began to make plans to buy

THURSDAY, FEB. 5 Cereal & yogurt FRIDAY, FEB. 6 Breakfast pizza WAKARUSA ELEM. FRIDAY, JAN. 16 —Sack lunch sub sandwich, celery w/peanut butter, juice bar, grapes, cookie MONDAY, JAN. 19 Ham corn, sherbet, pears, chips Chicken arid noodles,hashed potatoes, pineapple, {teaches, cookie WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 Pepperoni pizza, broccoli w/cheese, apple w/dip, mixed fruit THURSDAY, JAN. 22 Beef stew, com muffin, lettuce salad, mandarin oranges, applesauce

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land and build a home which they could use for worship. However, God once again led them back to the church as new doors were opened. After a time of negotiation with Mr. R. Amott, real estate agent in charge of selling of the church, a contract was signed for the purchase of the First United Brethren in Christ Church and parsonage for the sum of $33,000, between Calvary Baptist Church and the Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church of Nappanee, on August 20,1960 in the office of Amott. A down payment check was then presented to Mr. Amott of $6,600 and the keys were given to Evangelist Ritchardson, the pastor. The following morning at 9 a.m., a prayer meeting was held in the church while the pastor grasped the bell rope in his hands and the old bell began to ring for the first time in many months, sending forth its words of welcome for all to come to the first service in their new place of worship. Calvary Baptist Church has had seven pastors. On March 13,1964. Rev. Vernon Shaw came to serve as pastor. Under his faithful ministry, covering 13 years, the church grew spiritually and numerically. It was during time of service that a payment on the present facility was completed and a mortgage burning service took place on April 21,1974. He served until July 4,1977. Pastor Larry Wilson was directed of the Lord to accept the call as pastor of the church and served from November 1977 to July 31,1983. Like his predecessors, the Lord used him to touch many lives and motivate the flock to greater spiritual heights. On Dec. 20, 1983, Earl Lightfoot came to serve the Lord at Calvary. His years of service proved to be productive in many ways. Pastor Norman McVey served from October 1987 through May of 1994 and he was followed by Pastor Randy Hibbs, who served until August of 2002. In November 2002 the current pastor, Darrel Flaming, began his ministry at Calvary. Pastor Flaming's philosophy of ministry is simply to promote the singing of the time-honored hymns of the faith, the faithful giving of tithes and offerings and the preaching of the whole counsel of God’s Word. Calvary Baptist Church is still the fundamental, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching, independent, Baptist Church it started out to be.

NWMS FRIDAY, JAN. 16 choose one; chicken quesadilla, turkey croissant, chef salad; choose two: tossed salad, tater tots, pears, sherbet, fresh fruit MONDAY, JAN. 19 choose one: sausage gravy w/biscuit, roast beef sandwich, chef salad; choose two; tossed salad, hash brown, apple- . sauce, frnit juice, fresh fru.t TUESDAY, JAN.'SO choose one: beef stew w/biscuit, pizza burger sandwich sandwich, chef salad; choose two: tossed salad, baby carrots w/dip, baked apple, mandarin oranges, fresh fruit WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 choose one: chicken fajitas, sloppy

joe sandwich, chef salad; choose two: tossed salad, com, pears, mixed fruit, fresh fruit THURSDAY, JAN. 22 choose one: spaghetti w/breadstick, sub sandwich, chef salad; choose two: tossed salad, green beans, chocolate pudding, pineapple, fresh fruit NWHS FRIDAY, JAN. 16 choose one: cliitkto cjnesadilla pizza, fish sandwich, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, salad bar, yogurt; choose two: tossed salad, potato wedges, raw veggies w/dip, coleslaw, pineapple, smoothies, fresh fruit MONDAY, JAN. 19 SWAP DAY TUESDAY, JAN. 20 choose one: beef stew, chicken filet sandwich, cold turkey club wrap, salad bar, yogurt; choose two: tossed salad, curly fries, peaches, mixed fruit, fresh fruit WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 choose one: taco bar, turkey club wrap, yogurt; choose two: blueberry jello, fresh fruit THURSDAY, JAN. 22 choose one: chicken nuggets, hot roast beef and cheese sandwich, turkey club wrap, salad bar, yogurt; choose two: tossed salad, baked beans, kosher dill spears, orange wedges, pineapple, fresh fruit Teen Leadership Conference set Students from local high schools will be attending the Elkhart County Drive Rite conference on Feb. 10 from 9:30 a.m.-l:30 p.m. at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. The Elkhart County Safe Kids Coalition, State Farm Insurance, and Tobacco Control of Elkhart County sponsor this conference. This is the 12th year for the Drive Rite Conference, formerly known as Buckle Your Bod. The purpose of the event is for student leaders to formulate a plan they can take back to their school to encourage safe driving habits among peers. While the focus used to be on promoting seatbelt use, Hollie Lambert, coordinator stresses that it has gone beyond that. “Driving is a huge responsibility and teens need more experience before we begin handing over the keys.” Areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving, and driving offenders will be covered by various agencies. Displays will be presented by the Governor’s Council on Dangerous and Impaired Driving, State Farm Insurance, Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department, and Center for Community Justice. One local high school will be presented with a trophy for putting forth the most effort in forwarding issues of safe teen driving. The trophy is sponsored by State Farm Insurance agent, Georgia King-Evans.