Last week, Calvary Baptist Church, a beacon of both spiritual and social activism, celebrated its 76th anniversary. Despite its humble beginnings, the church’s impact on the spiritual, economic, and political landscape of Ouachita Parish has been profound and far-reaching.
Founded on October 18, 1948, by Harriett Green and a small group of committed members who had left St. Joseph Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist quickly became more than just a place of worship. It became a center for community leadership and a driving force for change. Among its founding members were influential figures like Brother J.E. Wilson, Sr., Oneida Britton, and Mary Cox Johnson. These pioneers, along with others such as Sister Minnie B. Wingard and Piccola Dunnings, helped shape a church that fostered spiritual growth and advocated for social justice and equality.
From the start, Calvary Baptist was unique. Though it…
