Christmas is a season filled with lights, music, and celebration, but at its heart is a message the world still desperately needs: Hope has come, and His name is Jesus.

This December, Calvary Baptist Church invites you and your family to experience the story of Jesus’ birth through a brand-new presentation called A Night of Hope.

The wonder of Christmas will come to life before your very eyes through an original experience featuring dramatic storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and custom music, each written and produced specifically for Calvary. A live orchestra, stunning scenery, and a cast and crew of more than 400 people will help portray the journey to Bethlehem and the manger, highlighted by our beloved Living Nativity—including elements like majestic kings, camels, and flying angels!

For 90 unforgettable minutes, the story that changed the world will come alive on stage, reminding us that the birth of Jesus brought hope for every person in every generation.

A Night of Hope will take place December 17–20, and we would love for you to be part of it. We are now looking for volunteers to help bring this presentation to life. If you are interested, please scan the code or visit our website to view serving opportunities and sign up.

Calvary Serves at the Food Bank
Saturday, April 25 :: 10:00am - Noon
Calvary volunteers join up with the Food Bank in their mission to alleviate hunger in Central Louisiana by packing boxes to distribute to needy families.

Our middle school students (grades 6–8) recently had the opportunity to serve at Mission Arlington in Texas, and what they accomplished was incredible.

Mission Arlington is a faith-based nonprofit that serves people in need by providing free help like food, clothing, financial assistance, and spiritual support to meet physical and spiritual needs in the community.

Our students worked hard behind the scenes preparing for an Easter outreach by loading and unloading trucks, setting up hundreds of chairs, organizing supplies, and helping prepare over 90,000 eggsfor kids to hunt. They also installed fencing for the family activities with hands-on, physically demanding work.

Beyond the preparation, students built meaningful connections in a local apartment community. They went door to door, spent time with children, and shared the Gospel, often overcoming language barriers with joy and care. Even through long days and exhaustion, they chose to serve with enthusiasm and compassion.

This kind of impact is only possible because of a church that supports and invests in the next generation. From leaders to volunteers to those who prayed and gave, it took all of us to make this trip happen.

We’re incredibly proud of these students, not just for what they did, but for how they live out their faith.

June 1-5
A fun filled God centered week for kids pre-K3 thru grade 5. While many people claim to know about Jesus, many are in the dark about who He really is. Jesus is the light of the world! (John 8:12) During VBS kids will explore all the ways light brightens, illuminates, reflects, and reveals.

For children who have COMPLETED Pre-K 4 (turn 5 by September 30, 2026) through Grade 5.

May 7 :: Prayer Service
Noon-1:00pm :: Alexandria Campus :: Chapel
The National Day of Prayer is an annual holiday that serves to encourage Americans to pray, meditate, and repent. Join our church, and thousands more, across the country in praying for our nation.

In addition to our prayer service, we will have a come & go prayer time in our Prayer Room (just off the lobby) open from 8:30am-5:30pm.

Vacation Bible school
June 1-5
A fun filled God centered week for kids pre-K3 thru grade 5. While many people claim to know about Jesus, many are in the dark about who He really is. Jesus is the light of the world! (John 8:12) During VBS kids will explore all the ways light brightens, illuminates, reflects, and reveals.
Registration opens April 1.

High School Mountain Camp
Our High School Mountain Camp is July 6-10, 2026. Don't miss out on this amazing chance to get away in God's creation with your friends and worship together. Camp is a fun and exhilarating way to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and build deeper connections with your friends! Register today! Cost is $425.

Middle School Camp
Middle School Camp 2026 is a 4-day, 3-night camp on July 28th - 31st, 2026, at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center in Woodworth, LA. The total cost for camp is $275. This is for students who will be completing the 5th, 6th, or 7th grade in the 2025-2026 school year. Summer camp is filled with incredible Bible teaching, worship through songs, and small group discussion time. Students will experience a variety of outdoor activities like the ropes course, field and court sports, lake toys, swimming, and bazooka ball. Students will be staying in cabins to build memories and friendships throughout the time of camp!
Invite friends and sign up today!

Grades 3 and 4 Summer Camp
We will be bringing our present Grades 3 and 4 children to Children’s Camp at Tall Timbers July 13- 16. Children will experience Bible Study, Worship, Recreation and more! We will travel by church vans to Tall Timbers.

A list of recent births, sympathies, and members saying thank you to Calvary for ministering to recent needs. Information is updated bi-monthly.

Senior Adults - Our very first Missions Month project day was on March 19 where we assembled Evangelism Eggs to hand out in the community prior to Easter. We had a GREAT turnout of more than 40 seniors who drank coffee, fellowshipped, and put together 250 egg gift bags. Inside each egg is a scroll that tells the real story of Easter “in an eggshell,” small trinkets that go with the story, and an invitation to our Easter services. We prayed over the eggs for direction as they are handed out in the community and that they may touch the lives of those who receive them.

Bible Drill is so much more than just learning the books of the Bible. It’s a discipleship program for children and youth (grades 4 to 12) designed to help them memorize Scripture, learn the books of the Bible, and quickly locate key passages. Participants build Bible skills through games and drills, typically competing at the church, district, and state levels, all to encourage a deeper familiarity with God’s Word.

Our church is represented at the children, middle school, and high school levels. On March 22, almost all of our students advanced to the district drill, where they competed for spots in the upcoming state drill on April 18, hosted right here at Calvary. Congratulations to our team of 29 students, and thanks to our amazing volunteers for their leadership!

BeSO “Live”
April 24-25, 2026 :: College Students & Young Adults

Becoming Something Live is an event where college students and young adults can connect with fellow believers and have their questions about faith and life answered in an encouraging and supportive environment. We will meet at Calvary at 9:00am Friday and return on Saturday around 11:00pm. Registration is required and the cost is $50. calvarynet.net/register.

April 19 :: 1:00 pm :: Calvary Hall
Discover Calvary is the class for those who want to discover more about the ministries of Calvary and for those who want to become members. Come and discover your place at Calvary! Please enter at our Community Entrance.

March 29 :: 5:00-6:00pm :: Chapel
Join us for a dedicated time of intentional prayer for our church and community as we seek the Lord and strive to lead everyone to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Make plans to join us this Easter Sunday, April 5, for our Easter resurrection celebration.

Alexandria - 9:00am and 11:00am
Identical services at 9 AM and 11 AM. No life groups.

Woodworth - 10:00am

Jesus is risen!

The Women’s Retreat, held March 13–15, was an opportunity for women to step away from the distractions of everyday life and spend intentional time with the Lord and with one another. Centered on the theme “My Story, His Glory,” the weekend focused on how God works through every season of our lives and uses us to proclaim His glory to our world.

Throughout the retreat, women explored the lives of several women in the Bible and saw how God worked through their stories. These moments served as reminders that God is also at work in our own lives, shaping our experiences and redeeming our struggles for His purposes. Women were encouraged to reflect on their personal journeys and consider how God has moved in their lives. They were challenged to share their stories as a testimony of His grace and transforming power.

The retreat also included worship through meaningful small group discussions, times of singing together, and even a fun craft activity. Most importantly, it was a time for many to lay down burdens and surrender control to the Lord, experiencing the freedom that comes from trusting Him fully.

A total of 72 women attended the retreat, including 46 participants, making it a refreshing and encouraging weekend as women grew closer to God and to one another, leaving reminded that every story can point to His glory.

Sunday, March 29 :: Both Services

At Calvary, we regularly gather to observe the Lord’s Supper, a meaningful time when believers remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.

If you are a follower of Christ who has trusted Him for salvation, we invite you to join us in this sacred moment of remembrance, gratitude, and worship as we reflect on the grace given to us through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Three men from our church recently traveled to northern Uganda as part of our ongoing missions partnership focused on pastoral training, church strengthening, and spreading the gospel. What they experienced confirms something we continue to see year after year: God is building His Church.

Across this region, 73 church leaders from Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have now completed a ten-course Bible Curriculum Training Program. Our church provided caps and gowns for the recent graduates. These graduates have been equipped with sound doctrine, theological foundations, and practical ministry training to shepherd churches and disciple believers in some of the most spiritually and economically challenged areas of East Africa.

Each graduation is more than a ceremony; it is a commissioning. Many participants have never had the opportunity for formal education, making this achievement especially meaningful. But the greater celebration is what comes next: trained leaders returning to villages, refugee communities, and border regions prepared to faithfully teach God’s Word. When local believers are equipped to reach their own people, the gospel multiplies in sustainable and culturally rooted ways.

The team also visited ministries serving refugee camps near the South Sudan border, where hundreds of thousands have fled violence and instability. Resources are limited, schools are overcrowded, and daily life is difficult. Yet even in these communities God is on the move! Indigenous Ugandans and South Sudanese refugees gather together, boldly united in Christ, demonstrating that hope is not confined by circumstance.

At Bright Angel Primary School, founded by Pastor Joseph and Jessica, children are receiving both quality education and biblical instruction. In regions where access to clean water and school resources remains a challenge, Christian education becomes both a practical investment and an eternal one.

The team also visited with Brian Arimpa of Refugee Charity Initiative as he plants a church and works to build a school in another underserved area. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to long-term discipleship rather than short-term relief.

The needs are great, but so is the love of our African brothers and sisters in Christ. Their joy, gratitude, and unwavering faith stand as a testimony that Jesus is alive and at work in Uganda. God is raising up leaders. He is strengthening families. He is expanding His Kingdom.

We are grateful to be part of what He is doing!

Recently, our first graders received their very own Bibles, a meaningful step in their journey of faith. Placing God’s Word into their hands is more than a tradition. It is our prayer that they will grow to know, understand, and treasure Scripture for a lifetime. We are thankful for the faithful leaders who pour into them each week and teach them to love Jesus through His Word. We also remember and honor the legacy of Ms. Colleen McCalmont, whose years of devoted service in first grade Sunday School continue to shape the next generation.

We recently gathered for our annual Missions Connection to celebrate what God has done through missions and to look ahead at opportunities for the coming year. In 2025, our church continued to serve locally and globally through prayer, giving, and going. A major milestone was reached as Calvary gave $292,000 to the World Missions Offering, the highest in our history, helping take the gospel to the nations.

2025 Missions Highlights

Nepal | shared by John Theriot (on behalf of Jessica Swanson): Medical teams served remote communities while supporting local believers facing persecution. One woman, injured after being attacked for attending church, received mobility assistance through the clinic ministry. This testimony reminded us that willingness to serve allows God to use even simple gifts to make an eternal impact.

Canada (Okotoks Church Plant) | shared by Alanna Sistrunk: Teams supported the new Cornerstone Church plant by building relationships in the community through outreach events and a large local festival. Follow-up conversations with residents demonstrated how consistent presence opens doors for the gospel in unchurched areas.

Honduras (Bethel Church Partnership) | shared by Susan Broussard: A new three-year church-to-church partnership began focusing on discipleship and long-term spiritual growth. Teams worked with a local congregation eager to deepen their faith and reach their community, emphasizing sustainable ministry beyond one-time outreach.

Local Missions – Cenla Pregnancy Center | shared by Lacy Townsend: The center served 607 clients across three locations, conducting 477 ultrasounds, with many mothers choosing life after receiving care and support. Volunteers, donations, and prayer partnerships continue to provide both practical help and gospel hope to families in crisis.

Local Missions – Fostering Community | shared by Terry Taylor: This ministry supports foster families and children through clothing, resources, and personal care. Volunteers provide stability and encouragement to families facing difficult transitions, demonstrating Christ’s love to vulnerable children in our region.

Local Missions – The Manna House | shared by Kathy Ward: Life Groups serve meals regularly to individuals experiencing homelessness and hardship. Consistent service creates opportunities for conversation, encouragement, and practical care within our community.

2026 Opportunities

In the coming year, Calvary members will have opportunities to participate in both local and international missions, including:

Send Relief Serve Tour – Monroe, Louisiana (August) | A church-wide mission opportunity designed for ages 12+, offering community outreach, children’s ministry, and service projects. A great family opportunity serving Louisiana people!

Honduras (June) | Medical, children’s ministry, and evangelism teams continuing the local Bethel Church partnership.

Nepal (November) | Medical mission trip supporting clinics and local pastors.

Canada (May)  | Ongoing support of the Cornerstone Church plant and upcoming marriage retreat.

Additional opportunities include South Asia, France, local ministry partnerships, and evangelism training to reach international communities in our area.

Calvary seeks to involve every member in missions. We encourage everyone to participate through prayer, serving locally, or joining a mission team as the Lord leads.

Join us this Wednesday @ 6:00 pm!

We’re excited for everything happening on Wednesday nights this spring! There’s something for everyone: KidzJAM for kids, Pursuit & The Forge for Middle & High School students, Adult Support Groups, Choir & Orchestra rehearsals, and new Adult Growth Group options:
Family Worship Practices 101 - taught by Jonathon & Keri Murphy in Calvary Hall
Bible Study Basics - taught by Christian Stubbs & Clay Iles in Room A218

February 22 :: 1:30pm-3:30pm :: 3rd Floor

We are gathering to honor Mrs. Thelma Boothe for her many years of faithful service overseeing our church libraries. Please join us for this come-and-go event as wecelebrate her dedication and ministry to our church.

March 26-28

See “The Great Gatsby” at the Saenger Theatre, eat at the Oceana Grill, tour the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, enjoying shopping, and more! Registration opens online at calvarynet.net/register and in-office Tuesday, February 10. The cost of the trip is $300 per person. Find all the details on the registration page.

A 6-week study focused on Becoming the Man You Were Created to Be Instead of Who the World Says You Are.

Men, YOU are invited to attend this unique Bible Study and be encouraged, challenged, and equipped to reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously, and invest eternally in your families and community.

Breakfast is included in your registration. Cost: $25

Sunday, February 15 :: 4:00pm :: Calvary Hall

Hear testimonies about what happened in missions in 2025 and learn about all the local opportunities we have in 2026 as well as international trips!

On February 1, we were delighted to have our KidzJAM and Student Choirs join us in leading worship alongside our Adult Choir, Orchestra, and Praise Team. It was a special joy to see multiple generations lifting their voices together. KidzJAM, made up of children from 5th grade and under, and our Student Choir, consisting of grades 6–12, brought energy, enthusiasm, and heartfelt praise to our worship time. They did a fantastic job!

We want to thank their dedicated leaders who invest so faithfully in these young people, modeling Christlikeness and helping them grow in both musical skills and a love for worship. What a blessing to see our church family worship the Lord together!