Gospel Advance

Philosophy

Jesus left the church with an incredible task: to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matt. 28:19). The history of the church is the history of the gradual fulfillment of this “Great Commission.” The reality, however, is that much remains undone. In every nation worldwide, and in each U.S. city, multitudes still need to hear the good news of the saving work of Jesus Christ. Calvary Baptist Church seeks to obey Christ’s Great Commission by engaging the lost on two fronts: globally and locally. We support the global spread of the gospel through mission trips and partnerships with missionaries, church planters, and translators who live across the world. We support the local spread of the gospel through outreaches in our own community and in other parts of the country.

Global Missions

In one of His final meetings with His disciples, the risen Christ told them, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). That commission to the uttermost part of the earth has propelled the spread of the gospel for 2,000 years. Today, according to Joshua Project, some 3.2 billion people live in unreached people groups. That means they live in a group where less than 2% of the populace (and often much less than that) believes the gospel. God has assured us in His word that He and His Son will have worshippers from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). Until Christ returns, one of the major tasks of the church is to be vigilant in taking the light of the gospel, by the power of the Spirit, into the places where the darkness of unbelief is still thick. Calvary participates in this work of global gospel advance through partnerships with overseas gospel workers, supporting them through prayer and through material support.

Local Outreach & Evangelism

Just as God desires worshippers from Cambodia, Colombia, and Cameroon, He desires them from Carroll County, Maryland, as well. We take the gospel of Christ to our community, ultimately, because the one true and living God is worthy of our worship (Revelation 4:11). The greatest tragedy in the world today is that millions of people are living life while completely ignoring Him, the most wonderful, glorious, and loving Being in the universe. Thousands of people in our area do not know the joy of peace with God through the saving work of Christ. Because we love our neighbors, our greatest goal is their greatest good: salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7).

Mission Trips & Teams from Calvary

There is a lot of value in seeing the spiritual need of the world up-close. Another way that we support gospel advance is by participating in it by visiting places where God is working outside our local area. Calvary Baptist Church has sent mission teams to Quebec, Haiti, New York, Wyoming, and Utah to assist church planters and other ministries with gospel outreaches. Teams like this help us to “look on the fields” (John 4:35), to partner in ministry with the faithful servants, and to encourage missionaries in the Lord’s work (Colossians 4:11; 2 Timothy 1:16).