In January 1978, 18 people began meeting in a home on Sunday mornings. Calvary’s first two goals were set during a business meeting on March 19, 1978: to reach the unchurched people we know, and Calvary’s tithe would be 10% (8% to be sent to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program and 2% to the Greater Dayton Association of Baptists). It was agreed by all that the tithe would be sent before any other bills were paid.
In 1979 the church outgrew the home and began meeting in the old Fairley Hardware Store. With 36 people attending, the church name, Calvary, and the church theme, “The church of love,” were chosen. In 1981, the first worship service was held in the new church building on St. Rt. 22 just outside Wilmington. In 1991, ground was broken for a building expansion. The new wing was dedicated in September 1991. In 2001, Calvary Baptist Church built and moved into the current multi-purpose building.