Viewing and expressions
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

 Homegoing Celebration
Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

 Join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of our distinguished leader.

Personal/Educational and Religious Training

On April 3, 1949, Willie James Smith was born to the union of Rev. Walter Lee and Sister Lee Ethel Smith in Greenville, Mississippi.

He received his educational training in the elementary and secondary schools in Greenville, Mississippi and his early religious training from the Kindling Altar Baptist Church where his father was Pastor. Upon graduating from Coleman High School in 1966, he attended the Mississippi Delta Junior College in Moorhead, Mississippi. In 1977 he graduated with honors and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Christian Education from Bishop College, Dallas Texas.

His quest for knowledge resulted in further studies at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, California, where he earned a Masters degree in Divinity, 1980.

Church Ministries

In 1972, Rev. Smith was called to preach while attending the Antioch Baptist Church in Oakland California. This was the beginning of what is a GREAT ministry. He became the Pastor of his first church, the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Oakland California, on the 1st Sunday in May, 1981. By then, he had been preaching for nine years, six of which were spent in college and seminary.

In 1994, he was called to become the Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, San Diego, California where he has diligently serves the people of this church and the San Diego community at large. Pastor Smith has brought leadership and love to the members of Calvary. His leadership has lead to wonderful changes in the life of this church as detailed further in the "Highlights of Ministerial Accomplishments".

Achievements and Affiliations

Pastor Smith was awarded the Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship in 1979 - 1980, was listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1976-1977 and was listed in Outstanding Young Men of America in 1980 - 1981.

From 1987 to 1989, Pastor Smith served as a faculty member of the San Francisco Peninsula Association and Church Leadership Development Program. He served as President of the Baptist Ministers Union of Oakland, California and the St. Luke Society (a fellowship of Pastors and medical doctors) from 1993-1994.

Ministerial Accomplishments

Rev. Smith has made significant accomplishments as the shepherd of the Calvary Baptist Church family. Some of his most significant accomplishments include the introduction of computer technology into the daily operations of the church and in the individual ministries of the church including the establishment of this Calvary web site; the introduction of new worship services to meet the needs of all members and the construction of a multi-media center and purchase of new recording equipment.

[back to top]

The installation of Rev. W. James Smith as the fifteenth pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church  has brought many innovative, pioneering and visionary changes to the spiritual and physical life of this church.

A welcomed addition to the General Worship Ministry is the implementation of the Early Morning Worship Service held at 7:30 a.m. each Sunday where there is powerful preaching, praiseful singing, praying hearts. He established the Fall and Spring Revivals.

The Bible Study and Educational Ministries have been blessed with the origination of the annual Winter Bible Study held in January, the initiation of Leadership Training classes, the institution of the weekly Wednesday night bible study, and the participation of the membership at the annual "Black Leadership" Conference in Glorietta, NM and Ridgecrest, NC.

To complement the Bible Study and Educational Ministries, the Music Ministry has been enhanced by the appointment of a Minister of Music, Sister Aimee Hebert, the addition of several musical instruments including the introduction of a synthesizer and the digital drums into the worship service, the founding of the 7:45 a.m. choir -The Inspirational Voices of Calvary, the W.J.S. Communion Ensemble, Men After Christ (Male Chorus) and the Calvary Women's Chorus, the founding of the Calvary Dance Commission and the implementation of quarterly Praise and Worship seminars.

Highlights of the Multimedia Ministry include the construction of a sound room in the Sanctuary, the funding of recording and duplication equipment by the church and the integration of computers into this ministry.

Camaraderie and Christian brotherhood have escalated through the sponsoring of Fellowship and Worship Ministry activities such as the institution of, monthly Men’s Fellowship breakfast, African Attire Day in February, the implementation of African American Heritage Day and the initiation of an annual Men's Retreat.

The Outreach Ministries have flourished through the initiation of a formal Sunday School outreach program, the introduction of a semi-annual Sunday School workers enhancement weekend through fellowship with other churches with growing Sunday School Ministries, the founding of the New Member Follow-up Committee, the announcement and licensing of new ministers who have been called to preach the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, the ordination of  new deacons, the addition of hundreds of members to the Calvary membership with many having been saved and baptized.

Evidence of his vision for the Administration Ministry can be seen in the establishment of a Church Council, the introduction of advanced technologies for the office and counting staff, the initiation of quarterly financial statements for each member, the addition of a monthly newsletter - The Communicator, the production of a church calendar, the establishment of the King-Chavez Academy of Excellence charter school on our campus serving k-8^th grades, the organization of the Sons of Calvary and the Prayer Band, the appointment of women on the Trustee Board and the Finance Committee and the founding of the Stewardship Committee which places a renewed emphasis on stewardship with the goal of Calvary becoming a fully tithing church.

The physical plant has undergone improvements. These continue to evolve and grow through the implementation of semi-annual Church Beautification Days. 

[back to top]