Our Founder Supt. George W. Pope
The late Superintendent. G.W. Pope and the Calvary Church of God in Christ have been a pillar on the Historic South Side community since locating there. What you'll find coming up Calvary's Hill is a corner store, another church and off to the right another ministry. Crossing South Riverside Dr. there is a bit of a hill you drive up and toward the middle of East Vickery you will see Calvary there to your left. The Calvary Church was just one of many minstry ventures for the late Supt. G.W. Pope. He led ministries all over the area and in all directions and much can be said about regular visits from members of the House of Praise COGIC in Mineral Wells, founded by Supt. Pope years ago. Supt. Pope dedicated much of his life to the work of ministry and the equipping of the saints to enjoy a successful life in Christ. Calvary's impact will be long felt throughout the community and the world throughout.
The Family Life Center
Supt. Pope began renting the church and later decided to purchase the building, paying it off in nearly half the finance term. Pastor Alvin Pope later recalled that his father’s foresight and financial savvy allowed the renovations to the church as well as the adjoining Family Life Center to be paid in full with no financial burden attached!
To sum up the latter days of Supt. Pope's journey, only one word comes to mind...READY! Plans were made, decisions carried out, all that remained was for a bell to toll in the distance. Supt. Pope realized many of the aspects of the vision God gave him. He also witnessed firsthand and trusted his son's ability to complete and achieve even more than he had ever sought to do. In a day and age where many sons have forsaken their fathers,the spiritual and natural dynamic between son and father propelled the Calvary Church to the greatness it has achieved since the younger Pope assumed its Pastorate.
It is no doubt that Supt. Pope's trust in God and His son gave him the peace and comfort one can only hope for in their final days here on earth however,this day had to come. After ample preparation,planning and preening, another soldier packed up his earthly tent and began the voyage 'home'. Nothing and no amount of time can prepare a family to say farewell to a loved one. For a church family losing it's leader,it mourns it's fallen leader in the same way the disciples did as Jesus hung on the cross of Calvary. Not without hope, but certainly with a hole in their hearts.
G.W. Pope wasn’t an ordinary man, he wasn’t an ordinary Pastor and he certainly wasn’t an ordinary Father. He was a preacher's preacher and a leader's leader. His legacy has been well established and all connected to him are charged to perpetuate what he began.