Pastor Willy's Blog

September 4th marks the 50th anniversary of marriage for my Mom and Dad, Erinie and Judy Rice. Our family gathered last weekend to celebrate the milestone. I am so very grateful for their legacy of love and faithfulness.

About 5 years ago, when our current campus was being constructed, I wandered down the road a few blocks and found Bayview Baptist Church. I knew very little about the church except that it was a Southern Baptist Church and that it was predominantly African-American. I called the pastor Walter Campbell. We met, went to lunch and a genuine friendship and partnership in ministry began.

The new school year for CCHS begin this week. Our enrollment is surging and the spiritual environment around our school is exciting. Some very good things are happening and I've never been more excited about this ministry and its potential to impact lives in a great way.

Four years ago she graduated High School. Two weeks ago she graduated college. In between she made life long friends, so very many memories, and prepared for her future. She also met a man and now in three days I am supposed to give her away—that’s what they call it isn’t it? Give her away. How precisely am I supposed to give her away?

The Calvary Christian High School (CCHS) graduation for the class of 2010 was held Friday night. It was a night of great encouragement. As we celebrated the graduating class of CCHS, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude.

Our oldest daughter, Amanda Leigh is getting married on Saturday, June 5 at Calvary. We're happy to invite the entire church family to come and join with us in this blessed occasion. Please consider this your personal invitation to come and join us.

Skip Dvornik will step aside as Calvary’s Executive Pastor this Sunday (May 30). He will be missed. His story is intertwined with the redemptive history of this church. Long before he served as a pastor Skip loved this church and God used this church to impact his life. It was just over 13 years ago as a successful young lawyer that he heard God’s call to ministry, sold his law practice, and joined the staff at Calvary as the Associate Pastor to then Pastor Bill Anderson.

It sits on a hillside in Alabama. 29 years ago I left Calvary as a High School graduate and followed the Spirit’s call to that hillside and for four years attended college at Samford University. And so now 25 years later I found myself returned to that hillside and I watched my first born walk across the stage and graduate as well.

In studying the biblical concept of resurrection the question of cremation often surfaces. If God is literally going to raise our earthly bodies and transform them into eternal bodies is it wrong to destroy the earthly body through cremation?

Last week our football coach at Calvary, Chris Rivera, resigned after 4 seasons. He is moivng on the other ministry opportuntities but he will be missed at Calvary. He made a big difference in the lives of our students and laid a great foundation for the future.

Now we have a practical simple way you can make a difference for a Haitian family. Through Buckets of Hope you can fill a 5 gallon bucket with enough food to feed a Haitian family for a week. Learn how you can make a difference!

As we watch the terrible news unfolding in Haiti the first question most of us are asking is, "How can we help?" Fortunately we already have a partnership in Haiti that will provide an effective way to get resources to those who need them most.

On Sunday, December 20 we announced and celebrated the results of our Vision for Life campaign. I am thrilled to share with you the totals of our three year commitments and the first fruits offering.

Every year I preach the message "Come Before Winter" from II Timothy 4:9,21. This Sunday, December 13 is the day. I first heard a "Come Before Winter" message while I was in college and it has stuck with me every since. Sometimes people want to know where the idea first came from and here is that story.

There is still time to participate in Calvary's Vision for Life campaign. Celebration Sunday is December 20 and there are still a few more days to get your commitment or first fruits offering in. It will be a historic announcement and I hope you will be part of this great offering.

Our Vision for Life campaign climaxed Sunday with our Commitment Sunday. Months of preparation paid off as hundreds of people made sacrificial commitments towards a great vision. Soon we'll know the results.

Calvary's Vision for Life continues through November. On November 8 we are announcing a new partnership with the Florida Baptist Childrens Home. This new partnership will lauunch a groundbreaking ministry in the Tampa Bay are to care for children who need a home.

Calvary's Vision for Life campaign laucnhed Sunday with great excitement. The Calvary family is leanring about the next step in our journey together and people are already praying about their commitment to turn our vision into a victory. These are exciting times at Calvary.

Our annual Judgment House presentation is this weekend at Calvary. Every year this massive effort catalyzes our people in an effort that presents the gospel to several thousands. I know this year will be no different and that once again lives will be changed.

Oh my! I just have to write about what a great day yesterday was with Travis Cottrell leading in worship. It was just fabulous. I am so grateful for our church where there is such freedom and joy. Travis is just a wonderful worship leader and to see our folks worshipping with such exuberance and expression was something that made me very grateful.

I am looking forward to our Calvary Cares Day this Saturday. These semi-annual days have become favorites of mine as hundreds of Calvary members fan out across the county to serve our community in practical ways. We’ve been able to bless thousands of people as we live out the truth of Matthew 5:16. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Sunday was a wonderful day for Cheryl and me and our family. Thanks for marking our 5th anniversary at Calvary with such a kind and thoughtful remembrance...

It was 5 years ago this month that our ministry began at Calvary. So very much has happened . God has been faithful to His promise to retore His people to health. Today we celebrate a healthy church with a virbant future. We should not forget all that God has done or fail to br thankful that He has led us all the way...

Mary Wallace was a fixture at Calvary for many years. Today I attended her memorial service and thought about all the times I was encouraged by her kindness. She will be missed...

The Intelligent Design movement argues that the best scientific data available disproves Darwinism and suggests that life was intelligently designed. We're blessed to have one of Calvary's own who is also a great author and speaker in the ID movement. He will teach at Calvary this Sunday...

Calvary Christian Hgh School begins classes on Wednesday, August 19th. This is the 10th year of ministry at CCHS. There is only one reason for a church to have a school and that is to fulfill its purpose and mission. That focus has been reemphasized as this new year begins...

A few days ago while hiking through the Smoky Mountains a young man asked me a momentous question. I knew it was coming but it still made me swallow hard...

We spent some time last week in the North Carolina mountains as part of a study break. I was reminded on the need to simply be still in God's presence. Some things can only be heard, seen, discerned when all the surrounding noise and clutter is gone...

I heard someone say, "if you don't come away, one day you'll come apart." So I'm stepping away for a few days to pray about the next year and seek God's direction. Along the way Cheryl and I will take some time in the mountains to hike which we really enjoy. See you soon...

There were two funerals today, Joe Collins and Michael Jackson. Many of you don't know Joe, and everyone has heard of Michael. It reminds me of two roads, one popular and well trodden and the other steep and narrow. It's a difference worth noting...

Thanks for checking out the new blog. This is a great way to communicate and keep you updated about things happening at Calvary and in the world around us...