One of the roles of our congregation is to serve the purposes of God. It is our joy and opportunity to contribute to and cooperate with what God is doing in the earth.

Here are some ways that we serve the Lord and steward the influence he gives us.

Ministry Team Training

There is a longing in our culture to experience what is real, not just hear about it. MTT gives us the chance to lead people into the life changing experience of life in Christ, as he brings people into wholeness.

During the past few years, our MTT seminars have averaged about 100-120 people. Usually, ninety-five percent of attendees come from outside Calvary. The make up of the group attending MTT varies, but can represent around 20 congregations and 12 denominations.

Intercessory Prayer

Our congregation responded to the call of the Lord to serve his purposes through prayer in a big way. At one point, we had seven corporate prayer meetings a week. During the mid-90's, the Lord took us on a journey into community. However, his call to intercede for his purposes remained clear.

Intercession gets expressed in many ways through our congregation. At present, we have three small groups committed to weekly prayer. We also participate in a monthly Global Bridegroom Fast, joining with millions in the earth to express our longing for our Savior King. Further, our congregation joins with other believers to pray on the National Day of Prayer, on the Global Day of Prayer, and for our Community Back to School Service. When the elders of the city blow the trumpet, we give ourselves to city-wide prayer efforts, like those associated with CityFest Houston.

Community Efforts

The Lord has kingdom purposes for our community, city, and region. Calvary sows into the Lord’s efforts in our local area in many different ways.

Bane Elementary SE Projects

Through our relationships in our area, Calvary got involved with an at-risk school in the CFISD. At Bane Elementary, we joined with about 200 people from fourteen different churches to help refurbish Bane in July 2006.

Our collaborative efforts continued in 2007. On three different occasions, members of several congregations came together to touch the children, teachers, administrators, and parents of Bane Elementary through service projects. Calvary sowed into this effort financially and numerically, with more than 20 youth and adults from Calvary joining this collaborative effort. We sought to model for parents how they could make a difference in the lives of their children. According to the principal at Bane, our efforts were a major success. Teachers felt supported. Children felt loved. And parents had a chance to learn first hand how they could help support education in their community.

Love You Lots

In May, congregations, ministries, and families from across the city conducted an act of service to the city of Houston. The purpose focuses on working together for the safety and blessing of children in some of our inner city neighborhoods. Together, believers from across Houston worked to clean up about 165 vacant lots that posed threats to the safety and security of children as they head off to school or play in their neighborhoods. Teams invested several hours in this labor of love. These lots surrounded schools, community centers, and parks where children live and play.

Calvary cleaned seven lots and mobilized around 75 youth and adults as a part of Love You Lots.

Love You Lots was an opportunity to see the Church working together across denominational, cultural, and geographical lines to serve children. It gave us the chance to demonstrate to unbelievers, secular media, and city government that the church is an active participant in civic life, and that our involvement and leadership are keys to affecting positive change throughout Houston’s communities.

National Day of Prayer & Global Day of Prayer

It is obvious to us that America and the nations of the world need our prayers. The Lord told us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit prays through us, that the nations, peoples, and even creation might come into their inheritance (Romans 8:18-27).

During the National Day of Prayer in May 2007, we participated in events in downtown Houston and in our community. A lunch prayer meeting at Copperfield Church brought together around 65 pastors, ministry leaders, and congregants to pray.

Transformation Efforts

Conclusion

It is a privilege to serve and contribute to the purposes of God locally and globally. And, it is a joy to do it with the team of people called to serve together as pastors and staff at Calvary. What joy to partner with such a gifted, devoted, and resourceful team.

We are a team of people who serve the head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, from a local congregation. I am so blessed to serve alongside the men and women of our team. I am so proud of the way the members of Calvary do works of service. I am so blessed to life in Houston at this time in history.