Calvary Baptist Church was started August 12, 1979 as a need for an Independent Baptist Church in Bedford, VA. Pasto Jay Adrian was the first pastor of the church and pastored for ten months. On July 13, 1980, the church called Pastor Ray Lyons as the new pastor. Pastor Lyons pastored Calvary Baptist for 33 ½ years.

​During those years, the church grew and God blessed. In October 1982, the church purchased six acres of land at 800 Smith Street, Bedford, VA. Two years later the church began construction for a new auditorium. It was finished August 25, 1985. With God’s blessing, the church and land was completely paid for in 8 ½ years. In 1997, Pastor Lyons led the church in a vision to build a new Family Life and Educational Building. The new building included a full size gymnasium, a full kitchen and several modern classrooms. It was completed in 2001. Again, God blessed and the new building was completed and fully paid for with no outstanding debt to the church. Pastor Lyons was a great visionary and leader for the church. Under his direction, the church successfully implemented a wonderful world mission’s ministry supporting over 50 missionaries as well as seeing the many come to know Christ and discipled. This year marked his last year as pastor. Calvary Baptist Church graciously accepted his retirement at the end of 2013

While Pastor Lyons was finishing his last year as pastor, he was instrumental in helping the church look for its next pastor. In the summer of this year (2013), the church voted to accept John Hester as their next pastor. Pastor Hester was formerly an assistant pastor at the Loudoun Baptist Temple in Leesburg, VA. Pastor Hester and his wife, Becky, have served the Lord faithfully for many years. Prior to coming to Bedford, they served not only on staff at Loudoun Baptist Temple, but also spent 10 years as missionaries in Nepal, SE Asia with Baptist International Missions Inc. of Chattanooga TN. They have five boys – Benjamin, Jeremiah, Josiah, Nathanael, and Gideon. Pastor Hester’s desire is to help as many people as he can in knowing God and assisting them in learning to love and serve God as well as loving and serving others.