Calvary Baptist Church

Pastor Ron joined the Church body at Calvary in September 2020.  He comes with 25 years experience in pastoring.  He has a heart for people and studying the Word of God.  He and his wife, Miriam, live in Whitney Point.  They have been married 35 years, and have fostered and adopted children.  Three of their sons are married, serving God, and have blessed them with 7 grandchildren.  Aside from ministry, Pastor Ron enjoys working with his beef cows, hunting and fishing.

Pastor Tim enjoys spending time with the Young Adults and teens, making biscuits and gravy, along with making many other favorite dishes loved by the Young Adults. He also enjoys spending time with his family and watching the Washington Commanders play.

My name is Desirae Leonard. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior on February 14, 2022, after a weekend trip to Word of Life Bible College. During that visit, I felt confused and a little irritated by how joyful everyone seemed. People were smiling brightly, displaying kindness and love everywhere I looked. It almost felt unreal. I thought, “There’s no way people can be this happy without a reason." But as I spent more time there, talking with my counselors and hearing their testimonies, I learned that many had faced struggles and childhood challenges similar to mine. Despite that, they had peace and joy. I couldn’t understand how that was possible. I wondered, how can someone go through all that and still be happy? Then I realized they were born again. Their past no longer defined them; it was just part of their testimony. They found new life in Christ, and I wanted that too. I was tired of feeling sad, miserable, depressed, and angry. I craved genuine joy that isn't dependent on circumstances. When I returned home, I decided I wanted that same joy. I wanted to live differently and truly know Jesus. So I accepted Him, trusting that what He did on the cross was enough to cover my sins, grant me peace, and provide joy. A few months later, on May 15, 2022, I was baptized by Pastor Ron, publicly declaring my belonging to Christ. That marked the beginning of a new, redeemed life. Not perfect, but full of hope. Today, I have a reason to smile without a reason, because I know my joy comes from the Lord.

But as I spent more time there, I began talking with my counselors and hearing their testimonies. Many of them had gone through struggles and childhood experiences similar to mine. And yet, they still had peace. They still had joy. I couldn’t understand it. I was asking myself how could you go through all that and still be happy? Then I realized they had something I didn’t: they were born again. Their past didn’t define them anymore. It was simply part of their testimony. They had found new life in Christ, and I wanted that too. I was tired of feeling sad, miserable, depressed, and angry. I wanted real joy, the kind that doesn’t depend on circumstances.

When I came home, I made the decision that I wanted that same joy. I wanted to live differently. I wanted to truly know Jesus. So I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, because what He did on the cross was enough, enough to cover my sins, enough to give me peace, enough to give me joy.

A few months later, on May 15, 2022, I was baptized by Pastor Ron, publicly declaring that I belong to Christ. That was the day I began a new life, not a perfect one, but a redeemed one. Today, I have a reason to smile for no reason at all, because I know my joy comes from the Lord.

Tony French