In March of 1956, Rev. F. W. Naylor, a missionary, was called as interim pastor. He served from March 1956 until June 1956, when Rev. A. L. McGee accepted God's call as Pastor. Rev. McGee's arrival marked the beginning of 26 years of evangelistic outreach that led the church to be one of the largest in the area.

In February 1957, the Church paid $2,200 for property at 2422 Shirley Road to build a parsonage. The house was built for $22,000; by August 1957 it had been completed and occupied by the McGee family.

The Church took a census in the Rocky Point section of Pender County in the fall of 1958. Soon after this, a mission was started in a schoolhouse in Rocky Point, and later moved to Mr. and Mrs. Bowling's home where Sunday School was held each week for a year. Attendance continued to grow, and because of the need of a larger meeting place, Calvary purchased five acres of land and constructed a building for the mission, known as Rocky Point Baptist Church. A short eight years later on October 9, 1966, it was organized into a full Southern Baptist Church. This was accomplished under the dynamic leadership of Rev. McGee.

Calvary Church continued to grow in its outreach. In 1959, it voted to add a sanctuary to the existing facilities. The cost of this construction was $148,406. The dedication of the new sanctuary took place on September 25, 1961, with messages from both Pastor A. L. McGee and former Pastor E. W. Pate.

Throughout these vital years, the church continued to send out full-time Christian workers. P. A. Kelly was ordained into the ministry in May 1960, and Norman Wheeler was ordained in 1961. Miss Jane Vaughn was called to serve Calvary as Educational Director in July 1960. Jack Colwell was ordained as minister in August 1961, and became the Pastor of Rocky Point Mission. In August 1963, the church bestowed the honor of Deacon Emeritus to L. L. Wright and High Cox for their long and faithful service, and in November 1964, N. R. Stanley was appointed Deacon Emeritus. In November 1964, Kenneth Johnson and Robert E. Lee were ordained to the full time gospel ministry.

In order to provide more space for an expanding Sunday School, the church purchased the Clark property at 23rd Street and Plaza Drive for $12,000.

The church's membership in early 1970 was over 1,100 members and continuing to grow. In July of that year, Joe Peterson was employed as Minister of Music. In August 1970, the parsonage located at 2422 Shirley Road was sold to Rev. A. L. McGee for $17,000.

Aware of the need to share Jesus Christ with others in our city, our church embarked on several new ministries in the seventies. Looking toward the future growth of the City of Wilmington, our church purchased approximately four acres in the King's Grant area, with the possibility of beginning new work there. Our Missions Committee, in May 1971, looked with favor in setting up Sunday School classes in two areas in King's Grant. Many homes were opened for this purpose, but the people responded very slowly to any new work in that area. Therefore, it was recommended that we discontinue the Sunday School there and the property was sold in May 1973.

In June 1971, our church voted to participate in the Seamen's ministry and appointed Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Lennon and Mr. Josenhans to serve as representatives. This ministry grew tremendously and now has a full-time chaplain on the field. Our church continues to be active in this work and contributes to its ministry.

In September 1973, the church appointed a committee to study the possibility of caring for some of the Vietnamese refugees. Later, the Do family became our responsibility and lived in the house owned by the church on Plaza Drive. They were a very energetic family. Those of age were in school and also worked. As we progressed with building plans, it became necessary to relocate the Vietnamese family. The Do's made arrangements to purchase a house in the Creekwood area. Calvary continued to subsidize the family until they could meet their own financial needs.

Because of the evangelistic spirit and mission outreach of Calvary, our young people continued to surrender for Christian service. The church recommended Ron Bowers in May 1970 to Fruitland Bible Institute in Hendersonville, NC, to study for the Gospel ministry. On May 4, 1975, Joe Peterson was ordained into the ministry. Both Clinton Hardee and Jerry Smith were licensed to preach the gospel in September of 1975, and four years later, Clinton was ordained to preach. W. W. Lennon was licensed to preach in August 1977, while the church authorized our Pastor to sign a letter to the Foreign Mission Board in June 1979 recommending Diane Lace for missionary work. Others licensed to preach were: Vance Midgett (June 1980), Donald Hughes (July 1980), and Tex Floyd (January 1982). Donald was ordained on March 20, 1983, and almost a year later, on February 5, 1984, Steve Fennell was also ordained as a minister of the Gospel; an impressive list of Calvary young folk who were called by Him to work in His Church.

By 1972, the growth of Calvary reached such an extent that it became necessary to purchase additional property. In March, two suitable locations on Plaza Drive were purchased for $45,500. The following month, two houses, adjacent to the church on 23rd and Brandon, were acquired for $30,000. The acquisitions provided space for desperately-needed additional Sunday School classes. Building a larger Sanctuary was definitely in the Church's future planning. For that event the property on 23rd and Princess Place Drive was purchased and made into a parking lot as was one of the lots on Brandon. After one of the houses had been moved, these additional facilities helped to eliminate the congested parking situation.

The church voted to employ an Associate Pastor/Minister of Music, and in August 1973, Brother Allen Guy was called. He served for about two years until his untimely death. At a special called conference in August 1975, Rev. Homer McKeithan was recommended to our fellowship as Minister of Music/Associate Pastor, and served until his resignation in August 1981.

When church membership increased to 1,428 members, it became necessary to have two Sunday morning worship services. After that the Pastor, Deacons, and Congregation agreed to consider enlarging the present Sanctuary or building a new one.

At a special called conference on July 25, 1976, the motion was made that we construct a new sanctuary with a seating capacity, including the balcony, of about 1,400 people. The new building would include the Sanctuary, choir rooms, and an office complex. After much discussion, the motion carried by majority vote. The Ground-Breaking Ceremonies were held on March 20, 1977. The edifice was completed in July 1978, at a cost of $706,189. Dedication services were held on July 30, 1978.

Few, if any area church music departments could compare with the one at Calvary, where Mrs. Lila Head and Mrs. Lucille Horrell, organist and pianist, dedicated themselves to the Lord's music that helped to bring inspiration to the worship services. After thirty-five years of faithfully using the talent which the Lord had provided, Mrs. Head submitted her resignation which the church accepted with deep regret. A Sunday was designated as "Lisa Head Day" to honor her and to give praise and thanksgiving to God for the years He had used her in the Music Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church. Robert M. Hood was employed as church organist in the fall of 1978.

Following the worship service on Sunday, March 7, 1982, Pastor A. L. McGee read to the congregation his letter of resignation. After 26 years of service to Calvary Baptist Church, he said he felt that it was time for him to curtail his workload. However, he stated that he would continue to preach and serve the Lord wherever and whenever he was called. W. W. Lennon made a motion that we accept Mr. McGee's resignation as Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in love, to be effective June 6, 1982.

A Pastor Search Committee was appointed, and Frank Cavernaugh served as chairman, with members Grady Barnes, Richard Witherspoon, Dorothy Fennell, and Mildred Lancastor. Rev. James B. McQuere, a retired preacher living in Whiteville, was called as Interim Pastor, beginning July 4, 1982. The Search Committee reported that Dwight Lindley would be invited to be at Calvary on July 31, 1982, as its nominee to fill the position of director of Music and Youth. In August 1982, the church called him to fill the vacant position.

For a year, Rev. McQuere maintained the tradition of good preaching and involving the congregation in the Lord's work. Naturally, the congregation had grown close to Pastor McQuere, but was anxious to hear from the Search Committee who, at a called conference on Sunday, June 12, 1983, recommended to the Church Rev. David H. Goodroe. The vote was affirmative; the new Pastor would begin his duties on Sunday, August 14th.