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About Calvary

Making fully devoted followers of Christ

We exist to help people know Jesus, be transformed by His Spirit, and live on mission in the world around them.

Who we are

A church for all people.

We believe that every person is created in the image of God and carries inherent dignity, value, and purpose. Calvary is a Spirit-filled, multi-ethnic church made up of people from all backgrounds and generations. More than 70 nations are represented in our church family, and we believe that reflects the heart of God's kingdom.

From the beginning, God's mission has been to redeem and restore people through Jesus Christ. At Calvary, we believe that the Church exists to join Him in that mission. Everything we do flows from that calling, from worship and discipleship to serving our community and helping people encounter the life-changing presence of God.

There's a place for you here. Whether you're exploring faith, returning to church, or looking for a church home, we'd love to help you take your next step. Plan your visit

A multigenerational congregation from many backgrounds worshiping together

What we believe

We are committed to biblical truth, passionate worship, prayer, spiritual formation, and the work of the Holy Spirit in everyday life.

The Word of God: Scripture carries God's own authority, trustworthy and true.
Jesus Christ: The only begotten Son of God, fully human and fully God.
Salvation: God's gift of grace, offered freely to everyone who believes in Jesus.

We are an Assemblies of God church. Read the Statement of Fundamental Truths we hold to.

Our pathway for spiritual growth

Four steps, walked in community. A life-long journey.

Know God: Build a real relationship with Jesus.
Find Freedom: Experience healing and transformation in community.
Discover Purpose: Understand how God uniquely designed you.
Make a Difference: Use your life to serve others and advance God's mission.

Take your next step

What We Believe

The truths we hold and why they shape everything we do. What we believe about God shapes how we treat each other, how we love, and how we live. It isn't just theory tucked away in a book; our beliefs are the foundation for everything we do together as a church.

In short. We believe in one God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) who created all things, knows all things, and has made himself known to us through his Word and through his Son, Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human: he lived a sinless life, died in our place, rose again, and will return.

The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, guiding and empowering us to live for God. Every person is made in God's image and carries real worth, but sin has separated all of us from him. We don't just want a Savior, we need one. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, that separation is healed: we're forgiven, adopted as God's own, and given a new purpose. That purpose is simple: every believer is sent to join God's ongoing work of redeeming and restoring the world, sharing our lives and our story so others can know him too.

God

We affirm there is one and only one God who is the Creator and source of life and all things: holy, righteous, true, magnificent, just, loving, all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere and at all times.

We believe this God has made Himself known and knowable in creation (natural revelation) and in sending his Word and his Son (special revelation).

The One True God exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons, not modes or personalities, who in their unity do not sacrifice distinction nor in their distinct identity do they sacrifice their unity as one Lord. (The term "Trinity" is useful though not a biblical word describing this mystery of the three-in-one-God.)

Genesis 1:1, Exodus 34:5-6, Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19, II Corinthians 13:14

Scripture

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the very God-breathed Word of Truth given through the apostles and prophets who wrote as the Holy Spirit spoke to and through them.

The Bible, as the very Word of God, is the reliable and authoritative source of all true doctrine, and gives reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It is the authority on all matters of faith and conduct.

II Timothy 3:16-17, II Peter 1:20-21, Psalm 119:80,105, Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 24:35

Jesus

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Begotten, not created. He is Immanuel: God with us. One with the Father and Spirit in essence and divinity. Present and active at the creation of the world, he then became incarnate through human birth by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.

We affirm Jesus' divinity, humanity, sinless life, miracles, teaching/commands/message, crucifixion, death, burial, and bodily resurrection. This same Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection and will return in like manner.

Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1-3,14, Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 4:14-15, Matthew 3:17, I Corinthians 15:3-4, Acts 1:11

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Trinity, is co-equal with the Father and Son in the "Godhead." A "who" not a "what," he comes (proceeds) from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The Holy Spirit fills, guides, empowers, speaks to and gives gifts to believers for life with God and one another to produce fruitful lives and empower our witness to Christ and works of service which bring glory to our Father in Heaven.

John 14:16-17, John 16:7-8, Acts 1:8, Galatians 5:22-23, I Corinthians 12:4-7

Humanity (Imago Dei)

God created humans in his own image as male and female by forming them from the earth and breathing his own Spirit to give them life. Every person, in their unique distinction, possesses dignity, value, capacity for relationship, and is rightfully deserving of love and honor as one whom God created, loves, and gave the life of his only Son to redeem.

Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 2:7, Psalm 8:4-6, Psalm 139:13-14, Acts 17:28

Sin

Through the deception of the serpent in Eden, sin separated Adam and Eve and their every descendant from God and his purpose for our lives. The image of God in humanity remains, but it is no longer undefiled. The consequence of sin was death: physical, spiritual, and relational. The impacts are evident in nature, relationships, and our own conscience. Right relationship and alignment with original design is impossible through our own power or effort and the greatest of human morality and righteousness is still more evil than it is good. We don't just desire, but WE NEED A SAVIOR.

Genesis 3:6-7, Psalm 51:5, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23, 5:12, 6:23, Luke 11:13

Salvation

We affirm that Jesus' crucifixion, death, and resurrection were in our place and fully atoned for our sin, fulfilling the old covenant and establishing a new covenant through his blood, which "purchased" our salvation, offering not only forgiveness, but full adoption as sons and daughters of God, co-heirs of his kingdom with Christ.

Psalm 103:12, John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8-9, 8:15-17, I Peter 1:18-19, II Corinthians 5:21

Ministry (Missio Dei)

God created people for relationship with him. From creation, through the fall, in the present moment, and until he comes again, he continues to work through and toward relationship with us. His purposeful work in the world is called the missio Dei (mission of God: God actively redeeming and restoring humanity).

In Christ, every believer is joined to this same mission (purpose). Simply put, every member is a minister! As we share our lives (serve) and our story (testimony), the Holy Spirit draws, heals, and transforms others. We each have unique gifts and situations, but the same calling to represent Christ and advance his kingdom wherever we are until he returns and all creation is made whole by him.

Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11-12, I Corinthians 12:12, 27, John 20:21, Matthew 5:13-16, II Corinthians 5:18-20, Romans 8:19-23

Our story

Nearly six decades of faithfulness

At Calvary, we remember and honor the days of old and consider the many generations that laid the groundwork for our mission and purpose today.

1967

Calvary Temple holds its first official service in June at a little church on Benton Street in downtown Naperville. Founded by Bob and Karen Schmidgall (and a handful of Bible college kids), this small church quickly grew in faith and in numbers.

1993-1994

Outgrowing its third building, Calvary relocates to the corner of Montgomery Road and Route 59 to build a new, larger campus. Around this same time, the church changes its name from Calvary Temple to Calvary Church.

1998

Founding Pastor Bob Schmidgall passes away suddenly after 30 years of leadership.

2000

After a two-year search, the church elects Pastor Randal Ross. Under his leadership, the congregation more than doubles in size and diversity over the next two decades.

2005

A massive campus expansion project is completed, creating new spaces for kids, youth, and Calvary Christian School. Calvary Español launches its ministry to the Hispanic community.

2018

Calvary Indian Church launches its ministry to the growing Indian community in our area.

2019

After nearly 20 years, Pastor Ross retires as lead pastor, and the congregation elects Pastor Marty Sloan to lead the church into the next season. Calvary becomes a house of prayer and a place that helps shape people into fully devoted followers of Christ.

Calvary Puerto Rico

In 2001, Pastors Pochy and Wendy García planted Casa de Amor in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. After more than 25 years of friendship and shared ministry, Casa de Amor is now Calvary Puerto Rico, part of the Calvary family under the oversight of Calvary Español.

Services are in Spanish: Sundays at 9:30 a.m. (Sunday School) and 11 a.m. (worship and CDA Kids Club), and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (prayer). Carretera #2, Km. 40.7, Sector Algarrobo, Vega Baja, PR 00693.

We're thankful for our rich foundation and for our visionary leaders, Founding Pastor Bob Schmidgall and Pastor Randal Ross. These men are not just a part of our history; they are a deep part of who Calvary is today.

Pastor Bob Schmidgall, Founding Pastor, 1967 to 1998

In June of 1967, newly graduated Bob and Karen Schmidgall and eight of their friends from Central Bible College, decided to start a church in a slightly "backward" way: Instead of growing a congregation and then finding a church building, they bought the building and then grew a congregation.

And it worked! Under the leadership of Pastor Bob, the church outgrew three locations until it found its current corner on Rt. 59 and Montgomery. It also added a school, children's center and was a leader in mission giving for AG churches.

On January 6, 1998, after 30 years of leading Calvary, Pastor Bob Schmidgall died of sudden heart failure, but his legacy lives on through the continued mission and vision of Calvary. It also lives on through his wife and children, Robb, Joel, Amanda and Lora, many of whom are still deeply invested in the life of Calvary and visit as special guest pastors and speakers.

Pastor Randal Ross, 2000 to 2019

In spring of 2000, Reverend Randal Ross was voted Calvary's next lead pastor. A third-generation Assemblies of God minister, he brought his passionate, Spirit-led style from his southern churches to Northern Illinois. Under his leadership, Calvary's attendance grew in size and diversity, and because of his vision to reach the community, the church added new campuses including an Indian ministry (now church) and Spanish-speaking Calvary Español.

During his time, Pastor Ross also traveled throughout the world as a teacher and keynote speaker at seminars and conferences. He also wrote several books including Tapping the Power of Your Emotions, Not Without My Children, The Next Seven Great Events of the Future, From the Cross to Eternity, and Redefine: Life God's Way.

In 2019, after over 40 years of ministry, Pastor Ross heard God calling him to his next stage of ministry: retirement. Today, he and his wife, Andrea, have two children, Matthew and Jessica, and two grandchildren who inspired Pastor Ross' newest role: Doting grandfather.

Meet the team

The people who serve you

Marty Sloan with his wife, Becky

Marty Sloan

Lead Pastor

Alberto López

Alberto López

Calvary Español Lead

Muni Biruduganti

Muni Biruduganti

Calvary Indian Lead

Dr. Sean Sloan

Dr. Sean Sloan

Teaching and Discipleship

Merry Baldwin

Merry Baldwin

Director of Ministries

Jamel Kimbrough

Jamel Kimbrough

Worship

Landon Sloan

Landon Sloan

Children's Ministry

Don Agnew

Don Agnew

Children's Ministry

Kiya Olson

Kiya Olson

Special Needs and Champions

Adrian Cruz

Adrian Cruz

Youth

Mike Alvarez

Mike Alvarez

Young Adults

Tim Loar

Tim Loar

Missions and Calvary Prime

Levonia Strong

Levonia Strong

Care Ministries

Miguel Cervantes

Miguel Cervantes

Community Engagement

Sarah Dawes

Sarah Dawes

Communications

Christian Axelsen

Christian Axelsen

Business Office

Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Gonzalez

Safety

Beto Arteaga

Beto Arteaga

Calvary Español Worship, Media, and Communications

Rey Perez

Rey Perez

Calvary Español

Luis Gauna

Luis Gauna

Calvary Español Associate

Stories of Transformation

God is still changing lives here

Everyone has a story. Some are loud and dramatic, and others are quiet and still unfolding. But all of them matter. Here are real stories from real people at Calvary, sharing how God has been at work in their lives.

Lolita

Lolita: I tried everything, until I tried God

"I was 29 years old the first time I ever got on my knees and prayed. ... I didn't know it then, but that prayer was the beginning of everything changing."

Chip

Chip: A miracle 15 years in the making

"March 1, 2026, marked the one-year anniversary of my personal miracle. ... One thing that over half a dozen doctors, two surgeries, and 15 years proved to me was that God is the only one responsible for my healing."

Lex

Lex: The day I let go

"I always had a relationship with God ... or so I thought. The truth is, He was always in the background preparing me."

Join the team

Want to join our team?

At Calvary Church in Naperville, our staff makes it possible to share the love of God with others! If you're ready to join a team with a healthy work culture and build the kingdom of God together, check out the current job openings at Calvary Church and Calvary Christian School.

See Open Positions
Contact

Talk to a real person

Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch, 12 to 1 p.m.).

9S200 State Route 59, Naperville, IL 60564. We are located just south of the Fox Valley Mall and near the crossroads of Route 59 and 75th Street.

For an urgent need, reach our on-call pastor at 630-851-7000.