Nov. 2, 2009 issue
Virginia church on a ‘rebuilding’ mission
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewPage:
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HAMPTON, Va. — Calvary Community Church packs a lot into its space.
From left, Nicole Francisco, Julia Dukes and Darlene Dockery sing praise and worship songs to begin an Oct. 20 Constiuency Leaders Council visit to Calvary Community Church in Hampton, Va. — Photo by Celeste Kennel-Shank/MWR
One room serves as a school nap room, a children’s church room and a dance practice room. Another area is a sanctuary, gymnasium and cafeteria.
“Every inch of our building is for multiple purposes,” said Glen Guyton, the church’s former director of student ministries.
The Constituency Leaders Council of Mennonite Church USA visited the 1,100-member congregation Oct. 20 during its semiannual meetings.
Glen Guyton, MC USA denominational minister for Intercultural Relations, said the church — like Nehemiah, who led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls in the Old Testament — should see the needs around them and involve their neighbors in the work.
“Every person has to be a part of the rebuilding process,” he said. “A missional church sees its community not as it is but as God desires it to be.”
Calvary’s mission includes a school for 138 students, with a preschool for 2-year-olds through third grade, to provide Christian values and high-quality education to area children.
There is also a graphics and printing department for in-house needs and outside customers, and an ex-prisoner re-entry ministry. The congregation also mentors young adults to be part of MC USA. Overall, the church employs 68 people.
The church ministers to an economically diverse group, said Leslie Francisco III, senior pastor along with his wife, Natalie.
“We have from the guttermost to the uttermost,” he said. “On a Sunday morning you might have a doctor sitting next to a plumber.”
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