Revival: Calvary Baptist Church celebrates 120 years of worship and reaching out

Today, walking through the upper floor of Calvary's new church completed in 2001, Davis opens the doors to rooms that house social service counseling, tutoring and continuing education for children and adults, a community meeting space and a senior citizen center. The large kitchen is where members cook weekly meals for seniors, children and the homeless. The full-court gym is also used by the neighboring Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, the alternative high school for the Salt Lake City School District. The sanctuary can accommodate as many as 1,800, about 30 percent of whom are white or have other racial or ethnic backgrounds.

Davis counts building the huge brick church set back from a busy six-lane street as among the church's great milestones. But it is the myriad of spiritual and secular services taking place within the church that are the legacy Davis wants Calvary Baptist Church to be known for.

"It's the building of a community among the people," he said. "Not a physical facility, but a building of community among the people who say, 'We can sign on, cooperate and work together to do this.'"