After 40 years as the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the congregation will say farewell to John Lowell Clontz. A service will be held at 11 a.m. this Sunday to honor his service to the church.
Clontz is 93 years old and established the church in 1972 after moving to McMinnville in 1970. He remained its pastor until last month when he resigned due to health concerns.
The church has experienced many changes over the past 40 years, including a recent renovation of the church and the establishment of the Calvary Christian School in 1978.
“I was working at Carrier when the Lord began burdening me about starting a Christian school,” said Clontz. “Sometimes tears would stream down my face so hard I couldn’t see to operate my machine.”
The church flew Clontz to Lewisville, Texas where he took the training to become principal/ administrator of the school. The school was in existence for 30 years before closing in June 2008.
Clontz was born Aug. 16, 1919 in Leroy, Ill., to the late Charles and Hallie Clontz. He was the second of three children. At age 14, he was saved during a six-week revival in Michigan.
“The whole community was impacted by that revival,” said Clontz. “God moved in a mighty way.”
After attending Omaha Bible Institute in his 20s, he moved several times and was the pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church in Lakewood, Ill., Short Creek Baptist Church in Christiana, Millersburg Baptist Church in Rutherford County, The Bible Baptist Church in Pana, Ill.; and Dillon Street Baptist Church in Woodbury.
While at Short Creek Baptist Church, he met Billie Arnold. The couple married on Sept. 1, 1952 and had four children, Beverly, John Jr., Debbie and Shelli. Billie passed away on July 22, 1993.
His relocation to McMinnville in 1970 was permanent, as will be his membership at Calvary Baptist Church. Clontz says he will remain a member of the church and attend as often as possible.
The church is located at 525 West End Avenue. The guest speaker at the dedication service will be Jimmy Tedder, pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Shelbyville and longtime friend of Clontz. Everyone is welcome.