What we do each day will be seen by the eyes of the future. In the same way that we look back and see the blessings of our Lord on this work, we look to the future in anticipation of what those who follow behind us will remember as noteworthy.
Dr. Troy Calvert assumed the responsibilities of the pulpit on January 8, 2006. This may be thought of as one of the longest periods of transition in church history as Pastor Troy was present at the very first meeting of what became
The church experienced strong growth and was able to move into its first building located on five acres that cost $50,000 in 1973. The funds were provided by Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, parents of FBT’s first first-lady - Mrs. Mary Calvert. A second building on that same site was dedicated in 1979. In December 2000 FBT moved about five miles to its present location. These 28 acres were given to FBT by a member who was also a land developer. However, buildings and land are not the church. They are the place that the church meets.
The legacy that Pastor Calvert is working to leave to the future is one of local evangelism through aggressively pursuing personal one-on-one evangelism that includes soul winning and discipleship involving all FBT members. The legacy also includes a strong program of world evangelism, seeking a presence on every continent through support of men dedicated to evangelization through church planting. All of this is a continuation of the past—FBT is a living church built on the firmest of foundations. World evangelism has been central to the life of FBT since the very beginning. Contributing regularly to the support of one missionary-evangelist in 1970, our missions family currently includes some 285 families, a few organizations, and a year’s support for about a dozen U.S.-based church planters. Among those church planters are men sent out of FBT with their first year’s salary fully underwritten.
We are grateful to God for choosing numerous families from FBT to serve Him as church planters in foreign lands or to plant new churches in the
Another aspect of our efforts toward world evangelism is Dr. Bud Calvert’s continuing efforts through the International Conference on World Evangelism (ICWE). A number of years ago, God burdened Dr. Calvert’s heart with the need to educate young pastors and remind seasoned pastors of the primacy of world evangelism in the life of every church. Two regional conventions were held early on in an effort to bring fundamental pastors and missionary-evangelists together for a time of encouragement. Presently, Dr. Calvert is conducting smaller meetings that are hosted by local pastors, as well as speaking in Bible colleges and seminaries.
In 2008, we are asking the Lord to “Increase Our Faith” just as the disciples did in Luke 17:5. We specifically desire to Grow as we walk with the Lord, to Know as we feast on His Word, and to Go as we follow His lead in our lives. To God be the glory for the great things that He has done, and continues to do, through the ministry of Fairfax Baptist Temple!
