Calvary Temple

Please research this church before getting involved. There are a lot of good, innocent people in there but literally hundreds have been hurt and left, many with their families in pieces. I went to church AND school here and have regretted it my entire life.

My opinion of this organization (I refuse to call it a church) has not changed.
I was born into the church and stayed there 25 years before finding a way to leave. I know girls who were sexually abused by members (some of the abusers are in leadership) of the church. They like to act friendly at first, but once you are a member, things change.
As a child, I was taught that if my parents started to do things that the pastors did not like, I was to tell my teachers. They told us to run away from our parents if they ever chose to leave. When a friend left the church, a pastor told me (a middle schooler) to write my friend that her parents were in sin, that she should run away, and that the leaders would take care of her.
Please do not visit or join this organization, especially if you have children! They are under an investigation for sexual child abuse right now, and you can find out more information with #exposecalvarytemple of facebook or twitter.

Personal Experience: My family attended Calvary Temple when we first moved to VA from NY. We had family attending and it was a natural fit for us to slide right in… until things started to get a little weird. My parents were asked to sign a paper that the church’s’ leadership and deacons could spank children when we acted inappropriately. My parents refused to sign the paper and said that if we mis-​behaved they should be notified and could come out of service to handle the situation. We were also being extremely pressured into signing all my siblings up to go to their private school (a requirement of church membership) and to donate more in tithes and offering every week (even when the church knew our family was barely able to put food on the table to eat). This is when the church started treating my family differently. During youth group (and in front of everyone) I was consistently placed in a corner with my head pressed against the wall, my hands behind my back and my feet 2 feet away from the wall. At the end of services the youth group was allowed to play in the gym and my family would always be forced to sit on the side wall watching the other kids having fun and were told we could join and use the facilities when we can pay for it. When we finally left the church we were blacklisted from anyone still attending (no one was allowed to speak to us) and we lost all healthy contact with the only family we had in VA.
Positives: Calvary’s disciplinary tactics help keep youth to stay out of trouble, away from bad behaviors, and following their (Calvary’s) guidelines.
Negatives: The «biblical» teaching is twisted and if you leave it takes some time to understand the real heartbeat of God, His mercy, His grace, and His love. You question God in many areas because you questioned Calvary — and it’s hard to not associate the two together when that building should have taught the real scripture.

I have been at Calvary Temple for 30 years, and my children are now getting the immense privilege of being raised here… a place that not only teaches the Bible but requires that you live it. My husband and I are a thankful beyond words for the love, care, and countless hours that have been poured into our lives and our children’s as we are being prepared for Jesus’ soon return. Come and see for yourself the work that God is doing here!

I’m 28 & was blessed to grow up in the church and school (discipleship training). The church vision is «committing to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”(2Timothy 2:2) I am excited to be learning every day how that practically applies to me. Part of the application and impact to my life has been the privilege to be involved in teaching Sunday school from every age 3yo to 11yos for about 10 years now. Most often the teaching is more for me than the kids! :) A majority of the children I have taught are my old teachers’ kids or my high school friends’ kids. We’re not perfect but our ultimate goal is becoming more like Jesus through his saving grace! We have an environment where, at any age, you can be actively involved in the pursuit of that goal!

So excited I get to be a part of this church! I visited back in 2006 and have been attending since then! They teach the Word and do it! I’ve made many friends and have grown in my walk with Jesus. I’m so thankful for Calvary and would recommend this church to anyone looking for a place to hear Biblical teaching!

Doers of the Word! Not only does Calvary Temple have incredibly sound doctrine based solely on the Word of God, but the leadership and members truly live the Word of God daily. They also require it of each other and provide an environment for daily prayer and fellowship. If you are looking for a church that lives out James 1:22, «But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,» then you should visit Calvary Temple. Jesus IS coming back soon, and Calvary Temple is a fellowship that is doing everything possible to make sure that each member makes it to heaven.