CARIBOU, Maine — With its membership once decimated to a congregation of only nine after the Loring Air Force Base closed nearly 20 years ago, The Calvary Baptist Church of Caribou is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year of continuous worship and work for the Lord.
“For many years after the closure of Loring, there were many area residents who assumed the church closed as well,” described Deacon and Anniversary Chair Terry Sandusky, who has been with the church for 36 years. “The good news is the church did not close and today, it continues to be a growing congregation.
Sandusky said that church attendance dropped by 80 percent when the base closed, “but today the church has recovered and continues to grow.”
In 1962, a number of Air Force families from the southern United States that were stationed at Loring AFB came together and decided to start a Southern Baptist Church. With the assistance of the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board, these families began meeting and in 1963 Calvary Baptist Church was constituted as the second Southern Baptist Church in New England — a distinction it retains to this day.
Between 1963 and the closing of Loring AFB in 1994, the church had over 1400 members come and go from the church as families were stationed at the base for two to four years.
During those years, Calvary Baptist was referred to as the “military” church because 70-80 percent of its membership consisted of people attached to Loring AFB or the Ashland Bomb Run Test Site, Sandusky explained.
“The church experienced a low membership of nine members after the base closed, but the nine never lost faith with the Lord,” he said, adding that the current average attendance is close to 90 each Sunday.
“The church has not faltered in its mission efforts having sent a mission team to Mexico in 2012 and launched a new French speaking church start in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada,” Sandusky said. Additionally, the church has participated in Caribou Cares for Kids, repainted the Teague Park playground equipment and conducted many vacation Bible schools for many Caribou children. This year the church has again arranged to do another fix-up and repair project with the Caribou Recreation Department and is planning a mission trip to Honduras in 2014.
“We have much to celebrate,” Sandusky said. “God has been more than good to His church.”
Now that the church reached this anniversary milestone, the membership will celebrate its 50-year history with a two-day celebration on Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21. On evening of the 20th, church members will host a hamburger and hot dog cookout with some praise singing, storytelling and a historical video presentation. On the Sunday, they will praise and worship the Lord for His loving work through the church.
“Then — in true Baptist fashion — dinner on the grounds will be served with plenty of good food,” Sandusky said.
Two former pastors are returning and will join in these events; Reverends David Creech and Randy Bond will be here to help with the celebration. Reverend Creech was Calvary’s longest serving pastor, having led the church for twenty years. Reverend Bond was the church’s most recent pastor having led the church for four years. The church’s Associate Pastor, Josh Presley, and current Interim Pastor will lead the church’s rededication worship service on Sunday.
Throughout the years, the congregation has been a very committed, family-oriented group of individuals whose closeness and support of one-another has helped the church thrive.
“There’s a lot of personal support for one another, and I think that has a lot to do with our success,” Sandusky said.
The anniversary activities are open to all current and former members of the church, as well as to all who wish to join in the celebration.
“ Let us know if you can be with us,” Sandusky said, mentioning that an RSVP is not required but would be helpful in the planning.
Those wishing to RSVP may do so by calling 463-6608 and leaving a message.
Additional information about the church and its activities can be obtained by visiting www.cbccaribou.com, where a list of worship times, activities and recent sermons can be found.
