Apostle Dr. Richard M. Avant Jr.

Apostle Dr. Richard Milton Avant, Jr., silently departed this life and made his flight to glory on Friday, April 1, 2016, following a season of light afflictions. He was 85 years old. Apostle Avant was born on January 10, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA, the “City of Brotherly Love.” He was born the second oldest of five children born to parents, Ethel Meyers Avant and Richard M. Avant, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, James and Teddy; his sister, Beulah; as well as his sister in law, Karen Lewis. He completed his secondary education at Dobbins Vocational High School in Philadelphia. He also pursued his undergraduate studies at Temple University, having received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, as well as an Engineering degree from Spring Garden College in Philadelphia. Apostle Avant began his biblical studies at the Philadelphia College of Bible (now Cairn University). He received his Master’s degree in Theology; a Doctor of Ministry degree; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religious Studies from the Friends International Christian University, Merced, CA. His work experience has been as a Journeyman’s Machinist, Tool Designer Process Engineer, and as a High School Teacher. He retired in June 1993, from the Carver High School of Engineering Science in Philadelphia. While teaching, he was especially proud of serving as a winning coach of the track and football teams, which enabled him to impact the lives of dozens of young men who are now successful citizens in America. A vibrant and spiritually-thirsty Richard Avant was called into the ministry in 1978, and God blessed every step of his journey, as he served as a Superintendent of Sunday School and as a deacon for a period of time before being ordained a minister of the gospel in 1979. He was Co-Pastor of the Adonai Baptist Church in Philadelphia, under the pastorate of Rev. James Stevenson. Finally, in 1982, he was called to pastor Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, DE. As Calvary’s Pastor, God blessed him to oversee the personal ministries of more than 50 ministers, 37 of whom currently serve on the ministerial staff there; an additional 10 of those ministers are currently Pastors of their own churches. He was truly a Pastor’s Pastor. Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Avant, the membership of Calvary Baptist Church grew tremendously to approximately 900, when he instituted the tithing program. As a result of his total dependency upon God for vision, direction and action, Calvary expanded to two edifices, one of which houses the Youth Church. He also led the church in buying land that will serve as the ground of Calvary’s future new edifice. Over 34 years, he oversaw the development or expansion of many auxiliaries at Calvary, including (but not limited to) the Praise & Worship Team; the Praise Dancing Ministry; the Prison Ministry; the Nursing Home Ministry; the Street Evangelism Team; the Hospital Visitation Team; Drama Ministry; Intercessory Prayer Ministry; Homebound Sick and Shut-In Ministry; New Beginning Ministry; Restoration Ministry; the Marriage Enrichment Ministry; Golden Years Ministry; Young Adult Ministry; Overcomers Outreach Ministry; the Church School; the Code Purple Ministry; and the Soup Kitchen. Of course, he was especially proud of Calvary’s exceptional choirs and music ministry and of Calvary Bible Institute (CBI), an accredited bible college, which provides well-structured biblical studies programs to those who simply want to “study to show themselves approved by God.” After serving Calvary for more than 30 years, in an unusual move of God, in the spring of 2013, Pastor Rev. Dr. Avant was consecrated to the Office of Apostle, commemorating his years of doing the work that prestigious office required. Apostle Avant was the Founder and Past President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) of Dover and Vicinity. Under his leadership, the IMA sponsored the first city-wide crusade in Dover, which included approximately 15 churches of different denominations and races, who joined in the spiritual fight to win Dover for Christ Jesus. He was the Vice Chairman of the Dover Interfaith, which is a program organized to assist homeless men find housing. He served for over 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Dover, and he formed a partnership relationship with Grace Presbyterian Church, with an emphasis on breaking down denominational and racial barriers. He was also involved in the One Church, One Family Program, which sponsors or assists a family that is financially disadvantaged, adopts that family, and helps them to improve their quality of life. He was also associated with the Dover Men of Reconciliation, which is a group of Christian men who seek to break down racial barriers and become more productive in the community; the Dover Coalition Against Gambling Expansion; and Promise Keepers, an organization of men of Christian faith whose goals are to maintain family values and morals. In recent years, Apostle Avant oversaw Calvary’s participation in the Code Purple initiative (which currently houses homeless women and children during the winter months, when temperature fall below 32 degrees), as well as to support the IMPACT Ministry initiative in Delaware, by providing ministers and other volunteers to go to locals schools throughout Delaware to pray with students and lead them to Christ. In spite of his busy career and church affiliations, Apostle Avant would be the first to say that his family was everything to him. He married Thelma Holt and was blessed to father 3 beautiful children (Saundra, Richard III, and Lydia). He also was blessed to enter into Holy Matrimony with Bessie Avant, with whom he labored in ministry for 23 years, until her untimely death. When God took Bessie home to glory, he blessed Apostle Avant with another angel, Rev. Bridget Avant, with whom he enjoyed 16 glorious years of wedded bliss, until God called him home. He dearly loved every member of his blended family, but he was especially fond of his grandchildren, as they kept him “young at heart.” Apostle Avant was an avid Eagles football fan; was a die-hard supporter of the football and basketball teams at Delaware State University; and he faithfully attended the annual Penn State Relays. He will be remembered as a man of great integrity; a man of true compassion; and a man after God’s own heart. He loved deeply and believed everybody is somebody in God. He will long be remembered as a “hugging” pastor, as he showed Godly love to the lost and found alike. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife Bridget Avant of Dover, DE; 3 children: Saundra Avant-Thomas (husband Hilton Thomas), Sicklerville, NJ; Richard Avant, III, Philadelphia; and Lydia Avant, Hazelton, PA; 5 step-children: Deborah Penn; Nate Penn (Claudia); Tanya Penn; Bertrum Stevens, Jr., Dover; and Michael Green (wife Janaia), who lives in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. He also leaves a brother, Albert Avant, of Philadelphia; 3 brothers in law: Clarence Lewis (wife Barrie); Charles Lewis; and Bradford Lewis (wife Syvetta); and a sister in law; Theo Braunskill (husband Arnold); as well as a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives, too numerous to list. 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Apostle Dr. Richard M. Avant Jr.

January 10, 1931 - April 1, 2016