Pastor Santiago Martinez

We rejoice that Santiago Martinez was affirmed as our Associate Pastor of Hispanic Ministries with a vote of 99.45% approval.

Santiago Martínez Leal was born in Mexico City, and he was saved by the grace of God at the age of 18. He married his wife Jennifer in 2001, and they have four daughters: Abby, Ellie, Natalie, and Rebecca - who went to heaven to be with the Lord in 2016. Santiago and his family have been attending Calvary Bible Church since 2010. Santiago served as a youth leader and preached the Word of God in Mexico for ten years before he and Jennifer moved to the United States.

He was called by the grace of God to start a Hispanic bible study group and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the immigrant community around the Edison neighborhood of Kalamazoo. Over the last eight years God has established a Hispanic ministry at Calvary Bible Church – Leon de Juda. Prior to his call as an Associate Pastor, Santiago led this ministry as our Director of Hispanic Ministries. He is currently enrolled online at the Expositors Seminary in a program that equips pastors already ministering in the field to better serve their local churches.

Please join us, Sunday Nov 10th for an Ordination Service to recognize Pastor Santiago. The service will include Pastor Jeff and Pastor Santiago sharing from Word, a time in prayer for Pastor Santiago and communion, led by Pastor Santiago. 

Introducing 5th Sundays New Format

Sunday, September 29, 2024

The vision of Calvary Bible Church is to be a biblically faithful, disciple-making, intergenerational church comprised of people from many nations which glorifies God through local evangelism, global outreach, loving community, humble prayer, expository preaching, fervent worship and practical training. In keeping with that vision, the Elders are planning a different format for 5th Sundays during the year. September 29 is the next 5th Sunday, and we will have one combined worship service at 10:00am. Life Groups, Student Ministries and Children’s Ministries will not meet on these Sundays. Care will be offered for infants -age 2 beginning at 9:50 a.m. We will also have a special Sunday evening service at 6:00 p.m. with childcare available for infants - 5th grade.

In addition to the 10:00 am Worship Service, please plan to come to the Fellowship Center at 9 a.m. for an opportunity to engage in loving community. Coffee and refreshments will be provided. There is no childcare during this hour.

September 29th will also be a special day because Santiago Martinez, one of our Elders and our Hispanic Ministry Director, will be preaching that morning as part of his candidacy for ordination and a call as an Associate Pastor here at Calvary.  Please plan to join us on September 29 in support of our vision, of Santiago, and of the Leon de Juda Ministry.  A date for a congregational vote to affirm the call of Santiago as an Associate Pastor will be announced in the coming weeks. 

 

Sunday, September 29 Schedule at a glance:

  • 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Time—coffee & refreshments

  • 10:00 a.m. - Joint Worship Services with Childcare for Infants—age 2

  • 6:00 p.m. - Worship, Baptism & Testimonies

 

Welcome Nate Mumau

Nate Mumau, Student Ministries Director

Nate Mumau was born and raised in Edison, New Jersey. He graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Leadership, summa cum laude, with a Minor in Youth Ministry. During his time at Liberty, Nate worked under Dr. David Wheeler as a Servant Evangelism Outreach Leader. Nate met his wife, Adrianna, at Liberty. They were married in May of 2023, and moved to Kalamazoo shortly after. Prior to coming to Calvary, Nate worked in the Long-Term Recovery Program at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.

 

2024-2025 ELDER & DEACON NOMINATION INFORMATION

Nomination forms for Elders and Deacons will be emailed to CBC Members this week. If we do not have your email address on file, the information will be mailed to you. Completed forms must be returned by Sunday, March 10, and can be dropped off at the Welcome Center, or Church Office or placed in Phil Smith’s box in the Mailroom. Please pray that godly men are nominated to serve as leaders in our church. Email Anna or call the church office if you do not receive the nomination information or have any questions.

SABBATICAL ANNOUNCEMENT

SABBATICAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Pastor Jeff has a long history of faithful service to the Lord and our congregation. After serving as a Global Partner for many years overseas, he has served on staff since 2007, most recently as our Senior Associate Pastor. We are honored and blessed to be able to allow him a three-month sabbatical beginning in February, in accordance with our sabbatical policy for Pastors. Pastor Jeff will use this time to rest and refresh – spiritually and physically; prepare for future equipping of the body in the Great Commission and Global Ministries; and make in-person visits with Global Partners and organizations. When Jeff returns from sabbatical in May, he will take on a part-time role as Associate Pastor of Global Ministries, allowing him to focus on our Global Partners and our ministries to the ends of the earth. During this time, please keep Pastor Jeff and Linda in your prayers, asking the Lord to continue to work in and through them.

 

YEAR-END-GIVING PROJECT

This year’s end-of-the-year giving project is “Global Ministries: From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth”. This project will enable us to invest in three key areas of Global Ministry:

  1. Facilitating needed upgrades in the CBC Mission House, which is the home that Calvary provides for Global Partners while they are in Kalamazoo;

  2. Equipping our 2024 combined High School and Adult short-term construction team to Frontier School of the Bible with the building materials required, including replacement windows for one of the student dormitories; and

  3. Providing additional resources to our Global Ministries Fund to assist our Global Partners with strategic needs.


To contribute to this fund, please note “Year End Giving Project” on your offering envelope, or if giving online select “other projects” and type in Year End Giving Project.

Special Business Meeting

Congregational Vote

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:50a.m. following the second service we will have a Special Business Meeting for a vote to affirm the call of David Kaneversky as Senior Associate Pastor. All members should plan to be in attendance for this important decision in the life of our church body. Absentee ballots are available in the lobby at the Welcome Center and must be completed and submitted prior to the start of the meeting. Please remember that absentee ballots do not count towards a quorum.

Senior Associate Pastor Candidate Weekend

The Elder’s are pleased to announce that David Kaneversky and his family will be here for a candidate weekend beginning Oct. 6. He will be preaching at both morning services on Sunday, October 8, and will be available to answer questions from the congregation as part of the evening service that night.

 Additionally, David will be speaking at a Special Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, October 7. See the bulletin to sign up. Registration closes Wednesday, Oct 4.

Please be in prayer for David and his family, as well as our church leadership and body, as we all seek the Lord’s will in this matter.