About Us

Pastor Andre
& Lady Adrienne Gittens

Leadership

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Pastor Gittens founded CBCSJ in November 2014 as an offshoot of the Calvary Baptist Church of Southwest Philadelphia, where his father, Dr. Garth G. Gittens, is pastor. Pastor Gittens employs a variety of teaching styles to empower, stimulate, and guide the congregation. Pastor Gittens earned his Bachelor’s degree in Science from Portland State University. He also has a Masters in Art and Religion, with a focus on Biblical Studies, from Westminster Theological Seminary. Pastor Gittens has chosen to be bi-vocational, even while he serves in ministry. In addition to being the Senior Pastor of CBCSJ, he is a Senior Chemist at Endo Pharmaceuticals in Horsham, PA.

Pastor Gittens is a devoted husband to his wife, Adrienne Gittens, and loving father to their five children: A’kiyah, Amara, Alana, Andrea, and Aria. He realizes that had it not been for the love of his wife and children, the prayers of his mother, the example set before him by his father, and the role he plays in his younger brother’s life, he would not be the man he is today. Most importantly, he recognizes that he can do nothing without the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Mission – Loving in Action

At Calvary Baptist Church of South Jersey (CBCSJ), our mission is to exemplify the love of Christ and to glow with the presence of the Lord. It is our responsibility to reach the lost, be a beacon of hope, and invest in our community. As a church, we are one family, cultivating our individual spiritual gifts to collectively build the Kingdom of God.

Beliefs – Molding Believers influencing the world

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, preserver and ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, coequal, co-essential and coexistent.

The Perseverance of Saints

We believe only true believers endure unto the end; that their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Beliefs

Of the Scriptures

We believe the Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired, and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error, for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us, and therefore, is, and shall remain to the end of the world the true center of Christian unity, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried.

Of the True God

We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an intelligent, spiritual and personal Being, the Creator, preserver and ruler of the universe, infinite in holiness and all other perfections to whom we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, coequal, co-essential and coexistent.

Of the Fall of Man

We believe man was created by the special act of God, as recorded in Genesis. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them” (Genesis 1:27) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). He was created in a state of holiness under the law of his maker, but through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God and fell from his original holiness and righteousness. Man’s posterity thereby inherited a corrupt nature, came into bondage to sin, and is under condemnation. As soon as man is capable of moral action, he becomes an actual transgressor.

Of the Way of Salvation

We believe the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial office of the Son of God, who by the Holy Spirit was born of the virgin Mary and took upon Him our nature, yet without sin; honored the divine law by His personal obedience and made atonement for our sins by His death. Being risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is in every way qualified to be a compassionate and all sufficient Savior.

Of Justification

We believe justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of righteousness of all sinners who believe in Christ. This blessing is bestowed, not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but through the redemption that is in and through Jesus Christ. It brings us into a state of most blessed peace and favor with God, and secures every other needed blessing.

Of the Freeness of Salvation

We believe the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel. It is the duty of all to accept them by penitent and obedient faith. Nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner except his own voluntary refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Teacher, Savior, and Lord.

Of Grace in Regeneration

We believe the regeneration or the new birth is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit, whereby we become partakers of the divine nature and a holy disposition is given, leading to the love and practice of righteousness. It is a work of God’s free grace condition upon faith in Christ and made manifest by the fruit which we bring forth to the glory of God. 5.08 Of Repentance and Faith: We believe repentance and faith are sacred duties, and also inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the regenerating Spirit of God. Whereby, being deeply convinced of our guilt, danger, and helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with unfeigned contrition, confession, and supplication for mercy, at the same time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our prophet, priest, and king, and relying on Him alone as the only and all-sufficient Savior.

Of God′s Promise of Grace

We believe election is the gracious purpose of God according to which He regenerates, sanctifies and saves sinners. It is perfectly consistent with the free: We believe the end of the world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven and raise the dead from the grave to final retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be judged to endless punishment, and the regency of man and in no way interferes with the salvation of an individual. It is a most glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. It encourages the use of means in the highest degree.

Of Sanctification

We believe sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Healer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means, especially the word of God, self examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

Of the Harmony of the Law and The Gospel

We believe the Law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; that it is holy, just, and good; and the inability which the scriptures ascribe to fallen men to fulfill its precepts arises entirely from their love of sin; to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible Church.

Of a Gospel Church

We believe a visible Church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His word; that its only scriptural officers are Bishops, Elders and Deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus.

Of Civil Government

We believe civil government is of divine appointment for the interests and good order of human society; magistrates are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored, and obeyed; except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only Lord of the conscience, and the Prince of the King of the earth.

A Church for YOU

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(856) 282-0476

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cbcsjministries@gmail.com

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