OUR STAFF
James O'Dell
Lead Pastor/Preaching, Vision, Executive
Pastor James has been on the staff of Calvary Hill Baptist Church since 1988. For two years he served as the Assistant Pastor and Minister of Education. Since 1990 he has served as the pastor. As a Pastor and teacher, Bro. James is committed to the expository preaching of God’s inerrant and infallible Word. His desire is that every member know who God has clearly revealed Himself to be, as well as knowing whom God has created them to be.
Bro. James is a graduate of The University of Texas with a B.S. in Business Administration. He earned a second undergraduate degree in Biblical Studies as well as a Master’s Degree in Ministry from the Criswell College.
He resides in Garland with his wife, Jan.
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Neil Sandlin
Associate Pastor/Preaching, Vision, Students
After being raised at CHBC, Pastor Neil has now
been on staff since 2001. It is his desire to see
people walk with passion and fire as they understand the value and treasure that is Christ, and what he
has created them to be and do.
He is a graduate of Howard Payne University with a B.A. in Christian Studies and a minor in Psychology. He earned his Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership from the Criswell College in 2004.
He resides in Wylie with his wife, Jessica, son, Caden, and daughters, Andee and Eden.
Rick Sandlin
Associate Pastor/Music
Pastor Rick has been on staff at Calvary Hill leading
our music ministry since 1991. Before coming
to Calvary Hill he served 15 years at First
Baptist Church in Sachse. Bro. Rick desires that
the music at Calvary Hill be thoroughly Biblical
and a vehicle to usher worshippers into the presence of the True and Living God.
He attended Dallas Baptist University. He resides in Garland with his wife, Pam.
Tyler Frantz
Associate Pastor/Children, Building Supervisor
After growing up at Calvary Hill, Pastor Tyler has been on staff since 2020. His primary focus is to lead our CalvaryKids ministry and reach the children of our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He graduated from Moody Bible Institute with his Bible degree and currently lives in Garland with his wife Britany, their daughter Lily and their son Jacob.
Pam Sandlin
Ministry Assistant/Women
Pam has been a member of Calvary Hill since 1991 and has been working in the office since 1995. She has served faithfully assisting the Pastoral staff as well as being a part of the teaching, music and ladies ministries. She lives in Garland with her husband Rick.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
HOLY SCRIPTURE
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain, and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.
TRINITY
God is revealed to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes but without division of nature, essence, or being.
ELECTION
Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life, not because of foreseen merit in them but of his mere mercy in Christ, in consequence of which choice they are called, justified, and glorified.
THE MEDIATOR
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the Law and suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose hand He ever lives to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest, and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.
REPENTENCE
Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being, by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbles himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal of sinners who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.
PERSERVERANCE
Those whom God has accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall, through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the Church and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
BAPTISM
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of his giving himself up to God to live in newness of life.
GOD
There is only one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of himself all perfections, and being infinite in them all. To Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
PROVIDENCE
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs, and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.
THE FALL OF MAN
God originally created man in His own image and free from sin. Through the temptation of Satan, however, man transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness, whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.
REGENERATION
Regeneration is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickens the dead in trespasses and sins, enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God’s free and special grace alone.
FAITH
Saving faith is the belief, on God’s authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.
SANCTIFCATION
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified, by God’s Word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ’s commands.
THE CHURCH
The Lord Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is composed of all his true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to his commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches. To each of these churches he has given needful authority for administering that order, discipline, and worship which he has appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Bishops, or Elders, and Deacons.
RESURRECTION
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God, the righteous to rest with Him and the wicked to be reserved under darkness until the day of judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised. God has appointed a day, where he will judge the world through Jesus Christ. The wicked shall go into everlasting judgment and the righteous into everlasting life.
The new creation through Jesus Christ is a creation in harmony with the creator. Jesus begins a New Humanity, a New People of God and ultimately a New Creation. The linchpin of this transformation is Jesus and the cross, as he opens the way for the final consummation of the story to occur. God is making everything right and he does this through the transformation of the individual human heart. Then as a part of the new creation these new human beings spread the kingdom of God and his glory throughout the world.
NEW CREATION
TESTIMONIES
CHASE AND GABBY MCHARGUE
We have grown up at Calvary Hill. We have personally been through and served in many of the different ministries that Calvary Hill offers. Because of this, the church has meant many different things to us over the years we have attended. At first, being kids, the church was something that gave a place to hang out with friends, and it was taught to us that it’s what Christians do. Slowly though, we’ve begun to understand how important a community of believers is to a spiritual walk. As well as how important it is to be involved in different out-reaches and ministries that the community pursues. Calvary Hill has always been a place where we know we will hear God’s word. The pastoral staff always look to the Bible and have never shied away from deep or complex theology. If we ever have questions on topics, they have always been available for us to talk to. This has helped tremendously in our own walks with the Lord. Because of this, we felt led to serve in the church whenever and in whatever capacity has been needed. Through our service, we have gotten to bless many of those who used to bless us.
Manny and Denise Solarzano
We love that CHBC is a Bible believing church, preaching the Word of God by expository teaching. The entire Bible is taught. Grateful for our church staff challenging and encouraging us to dig deeper into God’s word. We are happy to have a diverse church family. Come as you are, there is a place for everyone here. You will be welcomed and loved.
angela harper
I started attending Calvary Hill the summer before 7th grade and my life was completely changed by doing so. The Lord saved me, I made friends, found mentors, but more importantly I found family. Family that is there to pick you up when you’re down, set you straight when you waver, and help guide you back home when you’re lost. CHBC gave me so much and I in turn was given opportunities to give of myself. The church leadership made ways for me to serve in various areas such as children’s church, preteen and youth camps, and youth choir. Not only have I tremendously grown in my knowledge and love of the Lord but it’s where I met my husband. The church embraced us with open arms along with the birth or our beautiful daughter and our soon to be born son. They have truly made a safe loving place for us to grow as a family and for our family to bless the church. I want so desperately for our family to give back just how much we have been given. Like many people I have personally gone through so much heartache and so many trials in life but consistently and without pause my family church has been there to love and so compassion and understanding. We are truly blessed beyond measure to be apart of such a beautiful family
david and shelby adamson
There are hardly words to express what this church has meant to us over the years. The phrase, “If these walls could talk,” comes to mind. We have experienced everything from our wedding day, to the funeral of our first child, to the dedication of our second child here at this church. We have rejoiced, grieved, laughed, cried, danced, taught, thought, and loved at this church. Yet, the dearness of Calvary Hill is not found in its walls or halls. No; Calvary Hill’s value is found in its people and preaching. The members and staff of Calvary Hill are our family. They have been there with the love and grace of God through our happiest times and our darkest times. It is here that we have seen what loving God, loving your family, and loving people looks like in action. It is here that we have learned to live out these practices in our own lives. We have been accepted, challenged, and encouraged both through the pulpit and in fellowship with its members. We are not a perfect church. Its seats are filled with broken people. But at Calvary Hill, God is our treasure, and that is evidenced by the love of our people and the sound theology of the preaching. As iron sharpens iron, we uphold and strengthen one another as the body of Christ. It is a blessing and an honor to be a part of a church where Love and Truth are poured out with abandon.