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Calvary Baptist Church has been serving the spiritual needs of the community for more than a century. Eight years ago it took on a new mission. It opened its doors to the educationally needy. That’s when DeKalb Technical College moved in to offer GED classes in the basement of the church. Since that initial offering, hundreds of people have come in through the doors looking for a better life, and have walked out better educated with their General Education Diploma in hand.
On Sunday August 2, 2009 DeKalb Tech honored the church and its pastor Rev. Dr. Hoke Smith Jr. for their service to the community. Rev. Smith was presented a plaque from DeKalb Tech President Robin Hoffman PhD. and Richard Smith, Vice President of Economic Development. The rosewood plaque says, “In recognition of outstanding community service DeKalb Technical College honors Rev. Hoke Smith and Calvary Baptist Church for hosting Adult Education Classes in Morgan County August 2, 2009.” Smith says, “We appreciate your partnership and even though we are moving to another location, we look forward to continuing to work together to help the people of Madison and Morgan County.”
DeKalb Tech will still offer GED classes in Morgan County. Now those classes and others will be consolidated in a new facility just off the town square. DeKalb Tech is moving into the second floor of the Old Creamery Building. DeKalb Tech classes were planned for a facility at 259 N. Second Street, and were currently taught out of the Crossroads Facility at 1551 Bethany Road. Both were in the city of Madison. “I want to bring all our services under one roof,” says Smith. He adds, “I believe this will enhance communication and help people transition into career programs. Bringing all our programs together will maximize our resources and service to the community.” 
In addition to GED and several credit programs, the Creamery Building will also offer more than two dozen different types of continuing education classes.
DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, promotes a student-centered environment for lifelong learning and development, encompassing academic and technical education for employment in a global community. The college has 8 centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties through adult education and state-of-the-art technical education and training. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit our website at www.dekalbtech.edu.
1st Photo: Rev. Dr. Hoke Smith Jr. – Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church
2nd Photo: Calvary Baptist Church – Madison GA
