The Calvary Holiness Association is a small holiness body of Christians in south Georgia.
The Holiness movement involves a set of beliefs and practices which emerged chiefly within 19th-century Methodism, and to a lesser extent other traditions such as Quakerism and Anabaptism. The movement is Wesleyan-Arminian in theology, and is defined by its emphasis on the doctrine of a second work of grace leading to Christian perfection. As of 2015, a number of Evangelical Christian denominations, parachurch organizations, and movements emphasize those beliefs as central doctrine. Holiness-movement churches had an estimated 12 million adherents.
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Its adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament in Christianity, and chronicled in the New Testament. It is the world's largest religion with about 2.4 billion followers.
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. Georgia is the 24th largest in area and 8th-most populous of the 50 United States. Georgia is bordered to the north by Tennessee and North Carolina, to the northeast by South Carolina, to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Florida, and to the west by Alabama. Atlanta, a "beta(+)" global city, is both the state's capital and largest city. The Atlanta metropolitan area, with an estimated population of 5,949,951 in 2018, is the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States and contains about 60% of the entire state population.
The Holiness movement among Baptists in Georgia began late in the 19th century among ministers in the Little River Baptist Association. Two churches were excluded from the Little River Association in 1893 because of their teachings on holiness. These two churches and two newly formed churches met in 1894 in Wilcox County, Georgia to organize the Holiness Baptist Association.
Baptists form a major branch of Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing professing believers only, and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul competency, sola fide, sola scriptura and congregationalist church government. Baptists generally recognize two ordinances: baptism and communion.
Wilcox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 9,255. The county seat is Abbeville.
The Holiness Baptist Association is a holiness body of Christians with Baptist historical roots.
The Calvary Holiness Association was formed in 1977. Dissatisfied members separated from the Holiness Baptist Association on January 7, 1977 for what they termed "broken confidence and lack of trust in the trustee committee". On January 15, 1977, nine churches met at Community Holiness Baptist Church in Cook County, Georgia and organized a new association, with James A. Harrell as moderator, and Carl H. Carlton as clerk. Four more churches joined on January 29, and a committee of seven was formed to draw up articles of faith, discipline and rules of decorum. On March 26, the articles of faith and by-laws were adopted, the name Calvary Holiness Association, Incorporated agreed upon, and an application to incorporate made. The Association was incorporated and charter granted by the state of Georgia on October 7, 1977.
Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,212. The county seat is Adel. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 30, 1918, and ratified November 5, 1918. It is named for former Civil War general Philip Cook of the Confederate States Army.
The faith and order is similar to the parent body. The association's beliefs include sanctification as a second work of grace; Baptism of the Holy Ghost, with glossolalia as the initial evidence; baptism by immersion, Lord's supper and feet washing as ordinances; and tithing. They maintain abstinence from any use of tobacco or intoxicating liquors, excessive use of medicine, use of slang expressions, & gluttony, and that ordinary labor and business should not be conducted on Sunday. Membership in secret societies (such as the Masonic Lodge) is forbidden. The Calvary Holiness Association maintains Calvary Holiness Campground in Coffee County, Georgia south of Jacksonville. Annual association meetings, youth camps and campmeetings are held at the campground.
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is a phenomenon in which people speak in languages unknown to them. One definition used by linguists is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables that lack any readily comprehended meaning, in some cases as part of religious practice in which it is believed to be a divine language unknown to the speaker. "Orawashia dela sende" for example is one of the many variations of words that can exist when a person is experiencing glossolalia. Glossolalia is practiced in Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity as well as in other religions.
Baptism is a Christian rite of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, into Christianity. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely. The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptised Jesus. Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism is also called christening, although some reserve the word "christening" for the baptism of infants. It has also given its name to the Baptist churches and denominations.
Freemasonry or Masonry consists of fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local fraternities of stonemasons that from the end of the fourteenth century regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. The degrees of Freemasonry retain the three grades of medieval craft guilds, those of Apprentice, Journeyman or fellow, and Master Mason. The candidate of these three degrees is progressively taught the meanings of the symbols of Freemasonry, and entrusted with grips, signs and words to signify to other members that he has been so initiated. The degrees are part allegorical morality play and part lecture. Three degrees are offered by Craft Freemasonry, and members of any of these degrees are known as Freemasons or Masons. There are additional degrees, which vary with locality and jurisdiction, and are usually administered by their own bodies.
In 1985 the association was made up of 17 churches with 464 members, in 13 counties in the southern part of the state of Georgia. 27 ordained ministers, 4 licensed ministers, and 4 exhorters were serving these churches.
