About Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas

Calvary Exists to Develop Passionate Followers of Christ!

Our Staff & Elders

Andrew O'Kelley, Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas

Dr. Andrew O’Kelley

Lead Pastor

Andrew's Bio

Andrew grew up in Atlanta, Texas, and graduated from East Texas Baptist University. He attended medical school at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine and is a family medicine and hospice physician in Tyler. He met his wife Cortney while at ETBU and they have 4 beautiful children. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on his farm with his family, all things Dallas Mavericks, and is a huge Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan.

Michael O'Neal, Student & Family Minister

Michael O’Neal

Student & Family Minister

Michael's Bio

Michael grew up in Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana. He has a bachelors from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and he went to Louisville, Kentucky to complete his MDiv in Pastoral Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and Rachel have been married 10 years and are blessed with their two daughters Anna and Ella. Michael enjoys reading, woodworking, and playing board games.

Kasey Tye, Children's Ministry Director at Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler Texas

Kasey Tye

Children's Ministry Director

Kasey's Bio

Kasey grew up in Allen, TX, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University. She then went on to complete Pine Cove’s 8-month discipleship and leadership program, the Forge here in Tyler, TX. In her free time, Kasey enjoys spending time with her friends, doing just about anything outdoors, and all things coffee.

Kent Boring, Worship Minister of Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas

Kent Boring

Worship Minister

Kent's Bio

Kent is husband to Stephanie, and father to Shepard, Archer, and Wren. They moved to Tyler, and joined Calvary, in 2022. Kent grew up in Coldspring, TX, and lived in Denton, TX for 17 years prior to moving to Tyler. Kent holds degrees from Sam Houston State University and the University of North Texas. He manages customer success and experience for a software company that focuses on community engagement for government entities. In his free time, Kent enjoys hunting, fishing, cooking BBQ, and playing board games.

Becca Hall, Venture Academy Director

Becca Hall

Venture Academy Director

Becca's Bio

Becca grew up in Atlanta, Texas, and graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She met her husband, Jason, in high school and they have three grown children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, serving at Camp Barnabas in Missouri, and doing various craft projects.

Dr. Henry Dennard, Elder at Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler Texas

Dr. Henry Dennard

Elder

Henry's Bio
Henry was born in Houston, Texas, moved to Tyler as a child and has lived there ever since. He is a graduate of Tyler Junior College and Louisiana Baptist University. He enjoyed a successful 28-year career in banking and is now an independent personal financial planner. Henry is married to Christi and they have five adult daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven beautiful grandchildren.
Jason Hall, Elder at Calvary Baptist Church in Tyler Texas

Jason Hall

Elder

Jason's Bio

Jason is husband to Becca, and father to Will, Allie, and Ben. He moved to Tyler in 1999 and joined Calvary in 2000. He has a degree from Texas State University and The University of Texas at San Antonio. He manages regulatory affairs for the North American operations of an international chemical company. In his time off he enjoys time with his family and spending time outdoors.

Our Priorities

1 Peter 4.7-11 states clearly that all we do in the Body is for the glory of God.

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

So, what are these Priorities?

One Passion: To Reflect the Grace of God Upward through Worship

Worship! Mark 12.28-30 says:

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”‘”

One Mission: To Apply the Grace of God Inward through Discipleship

The Great Commission – Matthew 28.18-20 says:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

One Body: To Extend the Grace of God Outward through Mission & Ministry

Serving in ministry and mission. Ephesians 4.15-16 says:

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Calvary Baptist Church Statement of Faith

Our Beliefs

As a Southern Baptist Church, we affirm the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.

Our Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give up ourselves to Him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His gracious aid, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other, as one body in Christ.

We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We will walk together in Christian love and exercise affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves, our leaders, and others.

We will endeavor to disciple all who may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family, our friends, and our neighbors.

We will rejoice at each other’s happiness and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

We will seek, by Divine aid, to live holy lives in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, since by baptism we are both crucified and raised with Christ, and by grace we now live in Him and He in us, and to subject ourselves and our lives to Him and His perfect will.

We will submit faithfully to the Word of God through careful study, sober meditation, and passionate proclamation of all that our Lord Jesus Christ has revealed to us, understanding and cherishing, that every word of God is pure, whether Old or New Testament, and is infallibly given to us and profitable for us for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness that we may be competent and equipped for every good work.

We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.

We will, when we move from this place, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.