Church Family

Meet Laurent & Amanda Felizardo

November 18, 2021 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Laurent, Amanda and their son Sammy moved to the Black Hills from Maryland in July of 2020. God’s grace provided for Laurent to continue his employment, working remotely from South Dakota. Amanda keeps herself busy managing the World Fossil Finder Museum here in Hot Springs (owned by her mother and stepfather, Frank & Debby Garcia)… and caring for the new farm animals they keep acquiring.

Laurent grew up in a Catholic home, but by the time he graduated from college, he became a full blown atheist. He joined the U. S. Navy with a disdain for christianity and openly mocked those who believed in a real God. But through the faithful testimony of a commanding officer, Laurent began to question what he so adamantly resisted, the existence of God. One night, he recalls crying out to God that if He was real, He would show Himself. God moved upon Laurent that night in such a way that he immediately sought a church to learn how He might know this God. By God’s providence, he learned about his sin and the need for the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse him and to redeem him for God. Laurent gives thanks that God has made a way for man to know him and that by faith, he has been saved from the penalty of sin.

Amanda pursued a relationship with the Lord at a young age. Although she did not understand the gravity of her sin, she placed her faith in Christ Jesus for eternal life. Amanda spent her childhood and young adult life learning and growing in church. After leaving home however, Amanda pursued a life serving her own self, leading her into sin and forsaking what she knew to be true. But God, who is rich in mercy brought Amanda to the end of herself, and by the convicting work of God’s Spirit through His Word she was brought to repentance. Learning and seeing what true salvation is and what it looks like, Amanda now sees that our Father’s hand was upon upon her all along. God’s faithfulness continues to work in her life as she grows in His Word and walks in His ways.

Laurent and Amanda will be introduced to the church and welcomed into the membership of Calvary Baptist Church. We thank the Lord for the Felizardo family.

Meet Grant & Justine LeBar

November 18, 2021 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Grant & Justine have lived in both South Dakota and Arizona for several years before settling in Hot Springs. Grant grew up in the Black Hills, leaving shortly after graduating from high school. Justine is from Arizona.

Grant grew up in a Christian home and came to faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized at an early age. Like many, his walk with Christ was superficial… it wasn’t real until after he left home. In His kindness, the Lord pursued him, and through the course of life and a series of major events he faced, Grant’s relationship with the Lord became “his own.” Grant believes that Jesus’ death and sacrifice on the cross for the sins of world redeemed him, and that by believing in Him, He is saved.

Not being reared in a Christian home, the first real exposure to the gospel Justine had was after she and Grant started dating. God’s grace began to stir in Justine’s heart and mind early on in her life, creating a longing for something more than what she had known. It was at a Bible study group in a coffee shop in Arizona that Justine first heard the gospel. Hearing it for the first time, Justine knew that Jesus was who she had been searching for. It was then that she came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. As Justine grew in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, she became convinced that she needed to be baptized. So as an act of obedience, Justine was baptized in September of 2019.

The LeBars were joyfully welcomed into the membership of Calvary Baptist Church, last Sunday, November 14.

Meet Jodie Lim

August 19, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Jodie Lim and her husband Drew moved to Hot Springs in April of 2020, right smack dab in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandamic. After two weeks of isolation from the Hot Springs community, she and Drew, along with their three boys (Jude, Deacon and Malakai) moved in with her ever so quirky in-laws until they found a home for themselves. Praise the Lord, with just a few more details to get past, they will be moving in to their own place real soon.

Jodie and her family moved to Hot Springs in 2001 when she was just 13 years old so that her dad could attend Cornerstone Bible Institute. She and her two brothers eventually attended and graduated from CBI as well. After graduating from CBI in 2009, Jodie remained in Hot Springs until marrying Drew in 2011 and moving to Lakewood Washington where Drew was stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord at the time. After leaving the military, Drew and Jodie remained in Washington for 9 Years before moving back to Hot Springs.

Jodie was blessed to have been reared in a home where the gospel was explained and demonstrated on a regular basis. Her parents Dan and Diana Kunnari loved the Lord, His Word and His people. Dan pastors in Ashton, Iowa. At the age of 5, the Lord worked in Jodie’s heart to show her need for a Savior. She says, “I remember thinking I was a ‘good’ girl. I went to Sunday School, I memorized verses and I tried to obey the rules. I knew about Jesus, but I didn’t know I needed Jesus. There are a few distinct memories I have of the Lord using my older brothers to bring out anger and self-righteousness in me that finally opened my eyes to see my sinfulness. I remember a conversation I had with my dad following one of these instances that started in tears and ended in joy. I know he shared verses with me about my sin and need for a Savior and I believe that is when God opened my eyes to understand and accept the Gospel.”

Jodie’s confidence for eternity to come is in Christ’s work on the cross. She’s thankful that the Gospel continues to be at work in her even today, as the Lord often reminds her of her need for Him and then points her once again to Jesus who fulfilled that need.

Meet Sheri Coleman

August 12, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Sheri was born in South Dakota and raised in Wyoming. She and her husband Gale lived in Kaycee, Wyoming before moving to Hot Springs in 1986. Sheri is a “retired” school teacher after 40+ years of teaching. She enjoyed teaching in town schools as well as in the one room school house in Buffalo Gap. With the many years of experience and training, Sheri now coaches and mentors teachers for the Oelrichs and Hot Springs School Districts.

Sheri enjoys quilting when the weather turns cold but has spent much of her summer camping, kayaking and bike riding in the hills with her lady friends. She and Gale have two children, Jason in eastern South Dakota and Amanda in Custer, and seven beautiful grandchildren.

Gale and Sheri have been a part of Calvary for 34 Years, and have seen its ups and downs. With servant’s hearts, they have poured their lives in almost every aspect of the life of the church and have had an immeasurable impact on the lives of many who have come across their paths. Many students from Cornerstone Bible Institute have spent Sunday afternoons and days throughout the week in their home learning the practical side of Christian living and Christian loving.

Sheri came to a saving faith in Christ Jesus in 1980 as the result of many years of hearing the gospel. They were loved and discipled in their early Christian life by Pastor and Mrs. Arthur Bigelow and Pastor Ray and Grace Herd. Sheri’s confidence for an eternal hope rests in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on her behalf.

Meet Lyn Bentson

August 5, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Roger and Lyn (Lynette) Bentson are “California escapees” who arrived in Hot Springs on July 30th, 2015. We fell in love with Hot Springs in 1991, on a family trip to Aberdeen, when it became a steadfast dream to retire here someday. We love it here, and haven’t looked back!

Though Roger and I have been married since 1982, we never had children, hence no grandchildren. In fact, few relatives, period. So, friends are important!

My main career has been as a First Grade teacher. I taught 11 years in Christian schools, which I loved. Family and other changes led me into becoming a “dyslexia specialist” and tutor in 2003, which I also love. If you are concerned about a child of average or better intelligence who somehow has difficulty with reading, writing, etc., please ask me if I can help! This is definitely my area of strength.

I was raised in a lukewarm Methodist church which really didn’t teach the gospel clearly. I DO remember my Dad reading to me from The Golden Bible for Children, (I still love the pictures), and I think he must have prayed for me. I had a vision of Jesus and John 3:16 when I was in 4th grade. I didn’t understand it, but I somehow knew Jesus was important at that moment. I finally “got it” at a Youth work camp in my senior year (Yuma Indian Mission), and gave my life to Jesus one night. The next morning, when I woke up, I knew something was different, in a major way. That first year as a Christian was great!

Since then it’s been a varied and interesting walk, some highs, some lows. We’ve experienced a number of different “flavors” of Christianity. A big take-away….”integrity trumps hyper-spirituality every time.” Though I’d like a little more “freedom” in worship expression, what I love about Calvary Baptist (well, the people, of course!) is Pastor Matt’s well-thought-out messages, and especially how he goes in depth with the Old Testament books. My current Biblical interest is looking at ancient prophecy and how it is being fulfilled before our eyes right now!

Meet Liz Tramp

July 29, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

So we heard from Matt Tramp last week. Let’s hear now from his wife, Liz. Liz Tramp is one of the many Johnson kids who have made their way to Hot Springs throughout the years. One of the great blessings the Lord has given to Calvary is the privilege of having each of them as a part of our fellowship. We thank the Lord for the love each has displayed for the Lord, His Word and His people. The trademark Johnson stubborn streak in submission to the Lord’s direction has been a wonder to observe and to enjoy.

Liz arrived in Hot Springs in 2007 and has remained since her graduation from CBI in 2010. While still in school, Liz studied and worked as an EMT and EMT-I. Liz is a trained Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and worked on the Hot Springs Ambulance Services for over 10 years. Before marrying Matt in 2014, Liz took the opportunity to serve in short term missions in Johannesburg, South Africa working with SIM’s ministry to HIV-positive orphans and foster children.

Currently, Liz faithfully serves the Lord caring for their 4 year old son, Amos, their 5 month old Shiloh and an 11 month old foster son whom they have had the opportunity to love for the past 10 months. When you think about it, you might pray for him and all the unknowns that his future holds, and most importantly for the salvation and restoration of his family. We trust the Lord will use this in his life for His glory.

Liz, and her husband Matt minister to our teens, helping them to know the Lord and to grow in Him. She has a heart for ministry both in and outside the local church. She has, through the years served in many different ministries here at Calvary.

The Lord was pleased to place Liz into a family whose mother and father loved and served the Lord. At the age of 2 to 6 years, Liz and her family lived in the Ivory Coast, West Africa as missionaries with New Tribes Mission. She has been a pastor’s kid her entire life and was exposed to the gospel from a very early age. It was as a teenager that the glorious gospel of Christ took root in her heart and bore fruit to salvation. After living in fear that she had not been praying the right prayer of salvation over and over again as a child, the “lightbulb” turned on at a teen camp when she understood that she was not trusting in Christ’s work, but her own.

The assurance of her eternal destiny rests in the perfect work of Christ on the cross on her behalf as she is continually being conformed to his image (Romans 8).

This is how you can pray for Liz and her family: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Meet Matt Tramp

July 22, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Matt Tramp has been a part of the Hot Springs community since 2007, when he came fresh out of high school at 17 years old to attend Cornerstone Bible Institute. It was there that he met his wife, Liz. After graduating from CBI, Matt served as a short-term ministry intern at Calvary before pursuing a vocation in law enforcement. He has served as a law enforcement officer for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, a police officer for the city of Hot Springs and is currently a Custer County Sheriff’s Deputy. His primary role as a Sheriff’s Deputy is a School Resource Officer in the Custer School District.

Matt and Liz married in 2014 and have three children: Amos, who is 4 years old, and Shiloh, who is 5 months old and an 11 month old foster son whom they have had the opportunity to love for the past 10 months.

The Lord has blessed Matt with a wonderful team of two other families with whom he leads our Jr. High School/Sr. High School ministry, TREK. They have, and continue to faithfully and effectively minister to our young people through our current pandemic. We thank the Lord for the impact they are making in our church and in our community.

The Lord brought Matt to a saving knowledge of and faith in Christ in his early grade school years. While growing up in a family who love Jesus and are active in church, Matt heard the Gospel regularly. He professed faith in Christ for his salvation when he was 6 or 7 years old. Once in high school, God, in His sovereignty, used a series of events to solidify the truths from God’s Word that Matt had been taught and professed to believe for years.

Matt’s eternal security rests in the fact that Jesus came to earth as our perfect substitute. He lived the perfect life that is impossible for Matt to live and died the death that Matt has earned and deserves. Because of the richness of God’s mercy, we, the beloved of God, are sealed to an inheritance and salvation that is only available through the Way, Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-10)

As a side note, Matt’s parents, Jarrad and Cheryl Tramp, and his brother, Joel Tramp, are moving to South Dakota right now, and will be here July 26^th Lord willing.

Meet Laura Burns

July 15, 2020 by Poimen

putting names to faces…

Laura Burns came to South Dakota in 1999 (with husband Kerry and son Logan) from Ketchikan, Alaska to work for the Black Hills National Forest in Custer. After an exhaustive search for a home, the family settled near Pringle which provided access to both communities of Custer and Hot Springs. Laura had 40 years of service with the Forest Service in a number of places and retired in 2017 as a Supervisory Forester and Kerry served as the Forest Wildlife Biologist until 2019.As new retirees they spend a lot of their time in the outdoors to travel, camp, kayak, bike ride, hike and garden. Their favorite son, Logan, was three years old at the time of their move and is now attending graduate school in Tallahassee, Florida.

Laura grew up in a Mennonite church in southeastern Iowa yet it was in college that she accepted the free and loving grace of God with salvation in Jesus Christ, “once for all.” “It is such a relief to know that it is not what I do but what Jesus did on the Cross that has saved me for eternity with Him.” Laura visited many church when first arriving in South Dakota and is so very thankful to have been drawn to Calvary Baptist Church. It is a gospel focused church with Bible study from the pulpit, study with teachers and Christians that continue to draw her closer to her Lord. “I love the beauty of the Black Hills and the loving people of Calvary.”