There was a joyful noise at Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday afternoon, as a standing-room-only crowd gathered for the pastoral installation of a new church leader, the Rev. Trevon C. Fergerson.
Cars filled the roadside by Spinner Lane and the congregation was joined by fellow members of the East End Clericus, Bishop Isaac R. Melton II from Long Beach, and a long list of celebrants from Baptist churches as far away as Brooklyn, Queens, and Far Rockaway. The service went on until long after dark and was followed by a dinner at which greetings and congratulations rained down on Mr. Fergerson and his wife, Lady Brittany Fergerson, a young couple with one young child and another on the way.
For Calvary, it seemed like a moment of rebirth. Like so many churches around the country, it has faced challenges in recent decades, in a difficult economic climate, as the old social structures that underpinned its founding in the 1950s shifted and demographics changed. The entire town was delighted to see the return of the Calvary Baptist Church’s annual summer barbecue in August; that was the first bellwether of returned energy and strength under the guidance of its engaging new pastor.
In a letter printed in the program for the installation, Ms. Fergerson quoted from Psalm 1331: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.”
Indeed, it was good to behold the massive crowd of support on Sunday. Calvary has been an important pillar of the community, serving Freetown and beyond since 1954. We are glad it continues to be a beacon and a gathering place and we join those extending a hearty welcome to Mr. Fergerson and his family.