Meet a Member

I grew up in Sunday School and church, but never was personally presented the gospel. In 1960 at 22 years of age, I joined a Baptist church in Des Plaines, Illinois which did not require a personal salvation testimony nor baptism to be a member.

In 1970, while in business in Chicago I heard of First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. After visiting the church there, I with my family felt led to go to First Baptist Church where there was a strong emphasis on soulwinning. It was there while attending a class on soulwinning that I realized my need of Jesus. So I invited the Lord into my heart to be my Savior and was baptized the next Sunday.

Shortly after getting saved and baptized at First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana I began to be active in the church’s soulwinning program and then eventually surrendered to full time ministry. After getting my Bachelor of Religious Education degree from Hyles-Anderson College I spent the next 30 years plus pastoring churches.

After I resigned my last church in Lake Wales, Florida my wife Jane and I felt led of the Lord to move back to our home-town of Olney in 2007.  However, we didn’t want to move to Olney unless there was a strong Independent Baptist Church to serve and worship in. So we visited the Calvary Baptist Church the year before our move and was very impressed with Calvary and the leadership under Pastor Chris Jennette. The unity of Calvary is outstanding and is a tremendous testimony to the love of our Savior by the entire congregation. Serving the Lord at Calvary in my older years is a blessing and an encouragement to continue to grow in our Lord and Savior.       

- Rev. George Fritschle