In the Trinity of the God-head; one God eternally existing in three Persons– Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I John 5:6-7.

In the personality, deity and work of the Holy Spirit, John 14:26, the third Person in the Trinity, I John 5:6-7.

In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:14, as the Son of God and God the Son, John 10:29-30.

In Jesus’ virgin birth; that He was conceived by the Holy Ghost and is, therefore, God manifested in the flesh, Matthew 1:18-25.

In Jesus’ substitutionary death; that the Son of God gave “His own life a ransom for many”, I Timothy 2:5-6, and “bore our sins in His own body on the tree”, I Peter 2:24.

In the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 1:1-3, that He ascended into Heaven, Acts 1:9-11, and that He is now at the right hand of God the Father as our Priest, Hebrews 10:10-12, and Advocate, I John 2:1.

In the visible, glorious, imminent, and bodily return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be pre-millennial, I Thessalonians 4:16-18.

In the reality and personality of Satan, Isaiah 14:12-15.

In the special creation of the universe, Genesis 1:1, and man, Genesis 1:27.

In the sin, fall, and depravity of the human race through Adam, Romans 5:12, therefore, in the necessity of regeneration by the New Birth, Ephesians 2:4-8.

In the Church organization as a body of baptized believers, Acts 2:41-42, gathered together by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of carrying out the principles and precepts of God’s Word, I Corinthians 2:12-13, and in the Church organism as the mystical body of Christ, of which He is the living head and of which, regenerate believers are members only, I Corinthians 12:12-27.

In the immersion of the believer in water as the only Biblical form of baptism, Acts 8:35-39.

In the partaking of the Bread and the Cup in the Communion Service as a privilege peculiar only to those who are in Christ, I Corinthians 11:26-28.

In the bodily resurrection and translation of the believer at Christ’s return,
I Thessalonians 4: 16-17.
In the bodily resurrection and judgment of unbelievers after the Millennial reign of Christ, Revelation 20: 1 1-15.

In the eternal security of the believer on earth, John 10:28-30, and in the eternal blessedness of the righteous in Heaven, Revelation 21 :1-4, and in the eternal existence and punishment of the wicked in the Lake of Fire, Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:11-15.

Calvary Baptist Church was built on the foundation of God’s Word. For 80 years we have been a lighthouse to The Valley to guide people to a saving knowledge of God. In 1935 a group of people broke off from the First Baptist Church in Athens and met in the home of William Gable. They called the Reverend David Jordon as their first pastor. As they grew they organized the members as a church body and moved into the East Athens Community Hall. Shortly thereafter they moved to the Maney Building on Main Street. While there they were incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania as an Independent Baptist Church. In 1940 the church procured a loan for $575 to buy land on Susquehanna Street. A group of men from the church tore down the Greens Landing School House for $101 and used the 13,000 board feet of lumber they salvaged to start their new building. The total cost of the building was $3000. When they had their dedication in December the appraised value of the church was $10,000. In 1943 they held a special mortgage burning service.

Soon after they purchased a home on Maple Street to be used for a parsonage. In 1946 Calvary held a special three day celebration of preaching and special music as they celebrated 10 years of service to God. Later that year they built an addition to the building to double its size. New ministries were added with Dial-a-Devotion and Boys Brigade. The church had another mortgage burning service in 1964. There were many improvements to the church during this time; the sanctuary was updated with paneling, new lights and a new piano. The parsonage kitchen was totally remodeled and a new furnace was installed. The membership and the offerings doubled during this time. We were able to triple our missionary giving and the Sunday School was averaging 178. The decision was made to take 35% off the top of our church offerings and use it directly for missions.In 1968 we procured a loan from the Athens National Bank for $72,000 with a 20 year mortgage and the current building on Pine Street was constructed. We sold our old church building for $1 to the Gospel Chapel on Talmadge Hill in Waverly New York. The new building was appraised at $150,000. Our Sunday School attendance that year was an average of 175. Awana had a closing program for awards with over 200 in attendance. That summer VBS had a record attendance of 169 boys and girls.In 1972 the Agnes Flood hit Athens. It destroyed the parsonage and the first floor of the church was flooded out. Our Pastor and many families had their homes destroyed. We purchased a house on Hugh Street for a new parsonage. We continued all our ministries, including Awana, during clean up and reconstruction. In 1974 we purchased the property adjacent to the church on Lily Avenue giving us space for outdoor activities and future expansion. In 1983 we had the mortgage burning for our current property. Our 20 year mortgage was paid off in less than 15 years; even with the flood damage and purchasing new properties. We bought our current parsonage next to the church and continued to make improvement to the church. We moved the nursery to the first level to make room for a handicap accessible lift, handicap bathroom and coat room. In 2011 Calvary held a three day conference to celebrate ministering to our community for 75 years. We have had 13 pastors, two youth pastors and one summer intern youth pastor. All glory, praise and honor goes to the Lord for what has been accomplished. Great is God’s faithfulness.

Calvary Baptist Church sits on a beautiful spacious property with lots of room to grow and expand. We are on a very busy cross-over street and close to three local schools. Athens is a small rural community between two rivers and rolling hills. We have a small town atmosphere while being close to large cities such as: Corning, New York, 45 minutes; Elmira, New York, 30 minutes; Binghamton, New York, 40 minutes; New York City, 5 hours; Scranton, Pennsylvania, 90 minutes and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 90 minutes. Our membership and attendees draw from Athens Boro, Athens Township, Sayre, South Waverly, Ulster, Towanda and other little communities in Pennsylvania. We also draw people, from Waverly and Chemung, New York.

Our church building was stick-built in 1968. We have two levels, both of which have paved parking lots and entrances. The lower level has six classrooms, a Sunday School office, a Christian Education office, baby/toddler nursery, ladies’ and men’s restrooms, a large storage area with attached utility room, a full-sized kitchen with modern appliances and a 45 foot by 38 foot gym that doubles as dining room fellowship hall. The upper level is accessed by two separate stairways or an enclosed lift for the handicapped. This level has the Pastor’s office with a joined but separate secretary’s office. There is large handicapped accessible unisex bathroom, a large coat room, two more classrooms, a small library and the sanctuary. The 2400 square foot sanctuary has pew seating for 240 people, a sound booth and 28 foot by 15 foot platform with a baptistry. We have a new upright grand piano and a full size church organ.

The parsonage is on a double lot adjacent to the church building. It is a two-story older home, approximately1900 square foot, with upgrades and improvements. It has four bedrooms, one full and one 3/4 bathroom, large eat-in kitchen with separate dining area. And first floor laundry area with newer appliances. There is a 27 foot by 15 foot living room across the front of the house, with fully enclosed front porch, with lots of windows. New carpeting was installed throughout the house and energy efficient windows added. There is a large natural gas fireplace in the living room and central air-conditioning for the house.

Maintenance and projects for upgrading the church building and parsonage are ongoing.