Calvary Baptist Church of Alton

continues to live its 80 year plus (1928) heritage of going ““On Mission” for Jesus!

July 1999 – After planting six “daughter” churches right here in Illinois, Cornerstone ministries is founded as Calvary’s community outreach for touching the lost and the hurting with a ”. Calvary is clearly a lighthouse that God has lifted up to point those in the middle of life’s storm, to the one and only hope for their survival. Specifically, Cornerstone provides financial assistance, support groups, criminal justice chaplains, confidential counseling, mentoring and classes which instruct individuals in life skills all in an effort to meet physical needs and to present spiritual truth. Literally thousands are reached and hundreds profess Jesus as Lord!

Summer 2000 – A recently retired mechanic from a local new car dealer is called to full-time missions at Cornerstone.  To hear him describe the call, “I spend almost 38 years in training at a local car dealership, to prepare for the real purpose in my life.” Today, Cornerstone’s Car Care Ministry estimates an outreach value of $392,000.00 in services to local needy families. Men (Young & old) seeking to use their time and talents for the Lord Jesus maintain vehicles needed to help insure the job is kept and the family bills are paid.

March 2002 – With a vision to the needs of the people, and a heart for prayer to our Heavenly Father to meet those needs, He gives His answer. YES! Cornerstone receives a donated 2-bedroom house in the Alton “Milton” area.  Transitional housing is now available for those working families that are unable to temporarily provide this much-needed basic essential for the family. Donated material and volunteer efforts made the house a home for the hurting. Two neighbors were saved (And later baptized) even before the rehab work could be completed. Our very first “Transitional Housing” family saw three in their family saved and baptized. 

February 2004 – Our Heavenly Father has made it possible that now every student (Ages 10-17) that is locked up in the Madison County Juvenile Detention Home will receive a “Packet” from the department chaplain. These packets include: a letter from the chaplain, “A Way Out” (published testimonies of four students who found Jesus while incarcerated in a juvenile detention facility); “How do I Pray when I’m Angry” (donated publication from American Bible Society, Anger Management…God’s way); and one of several gospel tracts. JUST THINK, a government employee is handing out the Gospel!!! Praise God!

June 2004 – Almighty God has worked yet another miracle! With rain and thunderstorms forecasted for the week, God opened His Heaven with beautiful sunshine. Our largest single day event at Calvary (This record soon to be broken) brought over 1400 smiling faces to join us for Cornerstone’s Neighborhood Block Party. Eight (8) individuals prayed to receive Christ this very day with 23 asking for visitation follow-up with information on “How to become a Christian” and 26 asking “How to be a part of a local Bible study”’.

April 2006 – Cornerstone ministries takes this calling to offer family support services to those in need, away from our main campus and deeper into the community. “Mission Point” is “taking the church to the people” as our very first manufactured housing community greets us with open arms. A community of over 500 manufactured homes becomes our first and soon our second location for community outreach at a new level. Area apartment complexes soon follow. Cornerstone is now literally taking the “Light of the world” to our area.

Fall 2008 – A new opportunity is established to encourage mentoring through employment trade and life skill training for men of all ages. “Men in Action” begins with Calvary men who have a heart to reach-out to men and boys while helping families in need. Auto mechanics along with small home repair projects are used as a mentoring launch point for building the family, one man at a time.