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From My Heart... "WHERE THERE IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH" - PROVERBS 29:18 We gather this weekend to review the past and to ask God for His blessing and power as we anticipate the future. We celebrate 75 years of faithful, God-blessed ministry in the city of Philadelphia, one of the largest cities in America. God in His infinite wisdom and glorious plan, placed in the heart of an evangelist, Dr. Theodore Elsner to come to Philadelphia and start a church. Dr. Elsner obeyed and Calvary Memorial Church was born. Many outstanding preachers have graced our pulpit over these 75 years and we praise God for the souls that have been saved, the lives that have been changed and the homes that have been reunited To God be all the glory. The past has been glorious but the crowning glory is yet to come. Calvary Memorial Church is the Lord's Church and He will continue to use this ministry to win Northeast Philadelphia to Himself. My prayer is that Calvary Memorial Church will continue to be a courageous, compassionate, character-filled fellowship, faithful to the inerrant, infallible Word of God. May each future year be as dear as these past 75 years that have brought us together to love God and His Word and each other. God Bless You, Dr. George J. Rebsamen, Jr. Pastor Calvary Memorial Church 7200 Roosevelt Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19149 Ph 215.332.1676 / Fax 215.332.2566 Web: www.calvarymemorialchurch.org Email: info@calvarymemorialchurch.org AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN! This is truly a crowning weekend in the life of our church. Through the wonders of media, we have reviewed the past 75 years and the many untold blessings upon our beloved church. It has been exciting as we went down memory lane. God has strengthened our faith as we reviewed the past. Hallelujah! Thank you Mrs. Millie Dienert, the daughter of the Founder of our church, for being with us and sharing your heart at the celebration banquet. The 75th Anniversary Celebration Highlights of Calvary Memorial Church May 19 and 20, 2007 Saturday, May 19 - Celebration Banquet in the FLC Special Guest Speaker: Mrs. Millie Dienert Sunday, May 20 - Morning Worship Service Special Guest Speaker: Missionary Bill Born Mission Aviation Fellowship Sunday, May 20 - Evening Service Celebration Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Mel Floyd Neighborhood Crusades A Special Thanks to... 75TH ANNIVERSARY PLANNING COMMITTEE: Banquet Decorations - Diane Veacock Gathering of Pictures - Mark Veacock Video Presentation of Church History - Ken Spressart Honoring the Former Pastors - Bud Veltman (pictures) Honor Family Members of Charter Members That Still Attend Our Church - Dottie Mattern 75TH Anniversary Booklet - Ken & Eileen Spressart, Barbara & Alan Jackson, Kelly Stigelman Missionaries to be Contacted for Video Presentation - Ed Ridings Set-Up Tables for Banquet & Take Down - Chuck Stigelman & Dick Murphy 75th Anniversary Banquet Meal - Bill Johnson 2
The Hymnz As a result of the 2000 World Missions Conference, the Pastor and THE HYMNZ went to India in September 2003 to minister together at the Missionary Conference of Hindustan Bible Institute, Bible College and Seminary. THE HYMNZ were so well received that they also sang in high schools, colleges, universities as well as other churches. This began a partnership with Dr. Bobby Gupta and Hindustan Bible Institute that continues to this day. In The Beginning... Broad and Master Streets Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1895, Dr. Theodore Elsner was educated at New York University. He bid farewell to the business world, and having completed his theological training, was ordained in 1919. He traveled for thirteen years as guest evangelist in various churches in forty-four states. After having the privilege of preaching from the pulpit of so many different prominent denominations, he came to the conclusion that there should be a Non-Sectarian house of Prayer, Praise and Peace for all mankind in one of our major eastern cities. The Lord led him to Philadelphia, which Dr. Elsner felt was very fitting as the birthplace of our nation. Dr. Theodore Elsner -Founder... In The Future The past is always a launching pad for the future. What does God have for Calvary Memorial Church in the next 75 years? There is so much more that needs to be done for the glory of God. In the next three years, the area surrounding our church needs to become familiar with Calvary Memorial Church through various outreach opportunities. A media ministry must be launched to win Northeast Philadelphia for Jesus Christ. Dear friends, let us never take our hands off the plow and may we never forget that the God who has supplied all of our needs in the past will continue to meet each need as we faithfully serve Him. We must finish strong. With the help of two prominent Christian businessmen, one of whom encouraged him by stating that his vision, sounds as if it is of God, Dr. Elsner came to Philadelphia in 1931, during the depths of the Great Depression years, and began the Gospel Radio ministry over WRAX. This was the first nondenominational daily devotional broadcast in the area and it continued without interruption for many years. Eighteen months later, as an outgrowth of this thriving radio ministry, the Philadelphia Gospel Tabernacle began services at Broad and Master Streets, which was formerly the site of the Broad Street Baptist Church. The first service was reportedly filled beyond capacity 30 minutes prior to the start of the service. Philadelphia Gospel Tabernacle, Broad and Master 10
Broad and Master Streets (cont.) The rapidly growing congregation of the Philadelphia Gospel Tabernacle was chartered on April 19, 1933. The Broad and Master property was purchased on June 17, 1937. Many well known evangelists of the day, including Billy Sunday and Gypsy Smith, preached there and furthered the growth and expansion of this ministry. Precious Children Learning Center As a result of the building of the Family Life Center, in September 1989, The Precious Children Learning Center Preschool and Kindergarten began. Everyday boys and girls love coming to our school where the Bible is taught and their academic curiosity is challenged. Wednesday Night Dinners Move To The Northeast In 1953, the congregation moved to the Northeast section of the city. The Broad and Master property was sold to the Cornerstone Baptist Church and the entire corner at Roosevelt Blvd. and St. Vincent Street was purchased by the Board of Trustees from A.P. Orleans & Company. For over five years, services were held in a variety of places. During the summer months, the congregation worshipped in huge tents that were erected on the future church site. Throughout the winter months, services were held in the Boulevard Auditorium (Boulevard ballroom and Boulevard pools). Then arrangements were made for Sunday morning, evening and midweek services to be held respectively in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redemption, and at the Church House. Philadelphia Gospel Tabernacle, Roosevelt Blvd. & St. Vincent On March 13, 1991 the Wednesday night dinners began. It brought a wonderful dimension in fellowship that everyone was experiencing. Missions Conferences In April 1986, Pastor Rebsamen began the very first World Missions Conference with Dr. Ken Moon as the speaker. There were fifty missionaries that came to the church for this conference. It ignited the missionary vision of every member of the church. Every year since then our church continues to host the annual World Missions Conference with missionaries represented from around the world. Many lives have been touched and God faithfully placed His calling on individuals to go into full time missionary service. During one of the missionary conferences, Dr. Paul Smith, Senior Pastor of Peoples Church in Toronto, Canada, challenged our hearts for further missionary service. As an outgrowth of Dr. Smith s messages, the Senior High Youth group took their first missionary trip to Ireland. Subsequent youth mission s trips found them in Mexico, Chicago, Illinois and the Caribbean. Pastor Rebsamen also took adults on other mission trips to Russia, Cuba and India. 4
Calvary Expands- Family Life Center & More Sunday School Classrooms In 1982, the church began it s most ambitious expansion program by constructing the Family Life Center and additional classrooms for Sunday School. The ground breaking ceremony took place on Sunday, September 18, 1983, and the building was completed and dedicated on June 16, 1985. Calvary Memorial Church The new facility was to have a new name and the congregation was officially chartered as Calvary Memorial Church by court decree of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in August 1957. Construction of the new $350,000 building, designed by Philadelphia architect, Harold Wagoner began. Wilson Contractors of Ardmore were the selected builders. During this time, the music ministry flourished and various singing groups were formed to give concerts throughout our city and beyond. One of the singing groups, Heavenbound, would go on a weeklong tour each summer and sing in various churches. Our singles ministry began to grow, and facilities were needed to accommodate their program. In the Family Life Center, they would have volleyball games and then a Bible Study. It was a great time of fellowship and relationships were established. we do not magnify what divides, but what unites. The new building was dedicated on October 23, 1960 as a Living Memorial to Jesus Christ. Dr. Stephen Olford, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of New York City delivered the charge to the church. Lt. Governor, John Morgan Davis brought greetings from the Governor Leo Lawrence who expressed his congratulations to Dr. Elsner, founder and pastor. The President of the City Council also spoke briefly and renowned soloist, George Beverly Shea sang. Within two years the nondenominational appeal of Calvary Memorial was flourishing and the facilities were nearly crowded beyond capacity. The membership was composed of at least 24 different denominations in addition to scores of sincere souls who were never affiliated with any church. Dr. Elsner was quoted and emphasized the fact that at Calvary Memorial we do not magnify what divides, but what unites. The weekly evangelical radio connection continued as the Sunday morning Worship Service with Dr. Elsner preaching, was broadcast over the 50,000 watt, WIBG radio. 8
Our Pastors On December 31, 1969, Dr. Elsner retired and Rev. Michael Sheldon became Pastor on January 5, 1970. He was from Buffalo, N.Y. He ministered at Calvary Memorial Church until December 30, 1973 when he left the church to begin a Christian counseling ministry in Buffalo, N.Y. Calvary Expands- Parking Lot In the mind and heart of Pastor Rebsamen there was a vision to purchase the vacant lot that was adjacent to the church property. The church desperately needed more parking spaces. Dr. Theodore Elsner 1932-1969 Rev. Michael Sheldon 1970-1973 The vacant lot was owned by the Philadelphia Electric Company and the Board of Trustees of Calvary Memorial Church voted to purchase that property in 1977 and expanded the parking lot. Dr. George J. Rebsamen, Jr. 1974-Present On March 31, 1974 Pastor Rebsamen candidated at Calvary Memorial Church and God clearly lead the Board to extend the invitation to him to become the Pastor. On June 9, 1974, Pastor Rebsamen officially became Pastor. From the beginning of his ministry God obviously had His hand upon the church as growth was immediate. In November of 1974, the brand new Allen Digital Computer Organ was bought and installed. In 1975 Room 101, formerly an outdoor patio, was enclosed to add an extra classroom to the growing Sunday School. Within three years of purchasing this lot the mortgage was paid in full. 6