Fruitland Replant
God is not done with dying churches.
Many churches, once dying churches, are now becoming healthy again, engaging their communities again, reaching the lost with the power of Christ in new and exciting ways. Children’s Sunday School classrooms that had been empty for years are now filled with laughter and singing from little ones each and every Sunday morning. Baptism tanks that had been dry and unused for years are now being filled regularly as lost men and women experience new life in Jesus! Neighborhoods that for years had not even taken notice or cared that a church had been there, are now taking notice, being impacted in countless ways through new outreach ministries making a real difference in the community. It’s happening! The Lord is doing this kind of revitalization and replanting work all over our country and world for His glory and the joy of His Church!
God is not done building His Church in Fruitland.
Because we are convinced of the greatness of Jesus Christ, and because by his design he is glorified though the church (Eph. 3:21), it is a joyful passion for us to see vibrant, dynamic, local churches gain Kingdom ground as gospel outposts for their communities…in the Treasure Valley, the state of Idaho, the Intermountain West, and to the ends of the earth!
Like Nampa, Fruitland needs healthy churches to penetrate the darkness, but it is full of challenges. Many churches in our area are at risk of closing their doors because of the unique difficulties they face. Yet, when a church desires to do what it takes to flourish, it must be and is marked by a spirit of humility, a desire to glorify God and reach the lost above all things. With dependency on God to do what God alone can do,the right resources, along with the right people helping and working together, genuine revitalization for the good of the Kingdom can become a reality! By God’s grace, this has been the story of Calvary Church Nampa over the past several years as the Lord has taken a declining, “near death” congregation, and brought it back to life for His glory! We give thanks and praise to God!
In view of our story, we are passionate to see Fruitland First thrive with renewed vision, passion, growth, and transformation as it is re-introduced to the community as Calvary Church Fruitland. The desire is for individuals, families, and neighborhoods to be transformed for the glory of God, the salvation of the lost, and the good of Fruitland and the surrounding communities.
Replanter Needed
One of the highest priorities as we move forward is seeking God in seeking a Replant Pastor. We believe God has the perfect man called to this work, biblically qualified, and full of love and care for the legacy of this church with a heart for warming the congregation and community to the Gospel and new life. If you or someone you know would be a good fit and interested in this calling, please contact anders@thecalvary.org. See job description below.
More Information
Legacy Replanting in Practice
Calvary Church – Nampa was founded in 1957 as Nampa First Southern Baptist Church. After years of growth and decline, in 2016 we decided something must change in order for our church to be a relevant and gospel force in our community. We had faith that God was not done with us yet and so did Calvary Church - Englewood in Denver, Colorado who, having their own revitalization story, became the sending church for our replanting.
Calvary Church - Englewood was founded in 1952. By 2009 Calvary was near extinction, but refused to believe God was done with their church. Through years of revitalization, Calvary Englewood is now not only thriving, but has founded The Calvary Family of churches, growing across Colorado, Nebraska, Idaho, California, and by God’s grace, beyond.
Fruitland, Idaho
The original town site of Fruitland was homesteaded in 1897 and was largely planted in orchards of apples and plums. As the community developed, it became known as Fruitland because it was surrounded by some of the finest orchards in the valley. The City of Fruitland remains a relatively small rural community. Key characteristics of the community include the newly renovated downtown, Gayway Junction, the new medical district, neighborhoods, and the entryway transportation corridors. In recent years, Fruitland has made efforts to broaden its economic base by attracting a diversity of business and light industry, but the community still maintains strong ties to its agricultural heritage.
Fruitland’s population is 6,454 and has grown 65.7% since the 2000; faster than 86% of similarly sized cities in that same timeframe. Nearly a quarter of the total housing units were built after the year 2000 (580 units) and it is estimated an additional 768 units will be built by 2030 (1,700 additional residents). The broader Fruitland area (5 mile radius) includes Ontario, Oregon and Payette, Idaho and a population of roughly 20,000 people.
Fruitland First Baptist Church
Caldwell First Southern Baptist Church organized the Payette (Fruitland) Baptist Church on February 16, 1964, with twenty-four members. The new church affiliated with Boise Valley association and the Baptist General Convention of Arizona. The early pastors were J.B. Greer and A.D. Reed. Articles of Incorporation were drafted and signed on June 8, 1965 and the corporation was recognized by the State of Idaho on June 16, 1965. Fruitland First is truly a “sister” church of Calvary Nampa having been planted by the same church (Caldwell) that planted Nampa First Southern in 1957 (replanted as Calvary Nampa in 2017).
