About Calvary Baptist Church

Meet Our Pastor

REVEREND KEITH D. DICKENS ,Senior Pastor of the Historic Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, served as the Senior Pastor of the Parkside United Methodist Church, Camden, New Jersey from 2015-2022.

Born and raised in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Son of the late Betty J. Lingo Dickens. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/Public Administration from Grambling State University, Grambling, Louisiana (1986). He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, St. David’s, Pennsylvania (2011). Professionally, he is employed with Rowan University as Assistant Director of Admissions and Strategic Enrollment Management.

Reverend Dickens’ spiritual journey has been lifelong. He was brought up in the church and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at age 12 and joined St. Augustine A.M.E.

Zion Church in Bridgeton, New Jersey under the late Rev. Dr. Alfred S. Parker, where he served on various ministries, including the Ushers, Choir, Trustees and Christian Education.

In 1990, he and his wife joined the Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville, New Jersey under the anointed leadership of Rev. Dr. Robert F. Hargrove Sr., where he was baptized and served as Youth on the move for Christ leader; Sunday School teacher; Deacon (Vice-Chair);On April 7, 2005, Reverend Dickens accepted the call on his life to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and on July 17, 2005, he preached his initial sermon from Luke 5:1-11 entitled “ The Cost to Follow Jesus “ and was licensed by his pastor Dr. Hargrove. In 2006 under the guidance of Dr. Hargrove, he enrolled at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, Saint Davids, Pa. to pursue a Master of Divinity degree. In 2009, he was selected to complete his 2 year Theological Field Education (Internship) at the historic Calvary Baptist Church, Chester, Pa. under Rev. Dr. Bayard S. Taylor thus following a long line of very notable ministers who also served as interns at the historic Calvary Baptist Church under the late Rev. Dr. J. Pius Barbour such as, Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Dr. William Augustus Jones; Dr. Harold A. Carter Sr.; Dr. Charles E. Booth; Dr. Amos C. Brown; Dr. J. Wendell Mapson Jr., and Dr. Wallace C. Smith.

A gifted preacher and teacher, Rev. Dickens’ life assignment is to advance God’s Kingdom through servant leadership that inspires and empowers people to take the initial step of faith. He considers himself a critical lover of the church and views both evangelism and social justice as the mission of the church. He is an advocate for the poor and for those who are marginalized and disenfranchised.

In 2012, Rev. Dickens was ordained by the historic Calvary Baptist Church, Chester, Pa as an American Baptist Churches USA minister through the Philadelphia Baptist Association led by Executive Minister/ Moderator, Rev. Dr. James E. McJunkin Jr. In 2015, Rev. Dickens accepted an appointment by Bishop John School of the United Methodist Churches of Greater New Jersey to serve as Senior Pastor of the Parkside United Methodist Church, Camden, New Jersey.

Rev. Dickens is blessed to share in his ministry with his lovely wife and college sweetheart, Aquanetta Lynn (formerly of Chicago, IL.) They reside in Williamstown, New Jersey and are the proud parents of one daughter, Imani Nicole a graduate of Spelman College C, ‘18 and Drexel University C, ‘20.

Rev. Dickens is also affiliated with numerous educational, civic and fraternal organizations including the N.A.A.C.P. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

In his spare time, he loves reading biographies, traveling, listening to music, collecting art/sports memorabilia and following his favorite sports teams…the Philadelphia 76ers; New York Yankees; Pittsburgh Steelers and his beloved Grambling State University Tigers football team.

Rev. Dickens’ life verse is “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:12-14.

Rev Keith D Dickens was called on October 16th 2022 and has been installed as the 16th pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, P.A. To God be the glory!

Meet Our First Lady

AQUANET TA L. DICKENS, the youngest of four children, was born and reared in Chicago, Illinois to the late Robert and Willa Mae Wilson West. Aquanetta accepted Christ at the age of 12 and became a member of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (Progressive) under the leadership of the late Rev. John D. Digby, Senior Pastor.

As a youth, she was an active member of the Sunday School and the Junior Usher Board at Progressive. She attended the Chicago Public Schools where she excelled both in academics and music. After graduating from Chicago Vocational High School, she attended Grambling State University (Grambling) on a 4-year music scholarship where she was a member of the Famous Tiger Marching Band and the Symphonic Band where she played the Clarinet and Bassoon, respectively. She is an alumna of Grambling where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, 1986.

After moving to New Jersey in 1987, she married her college sweetheart, Keith D. Dickens on August 12, 1989. After searching for a church home, Keith and Aquanetta became members of the Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church, Sicklerville, NJ under the leadership of Bishop Robert F. Hargrove, Sr. for over 20 years. She served as an Usher, Youth Ministry, Chair of Women’s Day, Sunday School Teacher, and a Deaconess. Aquanetta was hired at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in Philadelphia, PA as an Environmental Scientist in 1989.

Currently, for the past 25 years, she is the Section Chief of the Toxics Programs where she enforces the various environmental laws and regulations with a diverse group of people including Environmental Engineers, Scientists, Environmental Protection Specialists, and Inspectors. During her career at EPA, she served as the Black Employment Program Manager, received several Bronze Medals for Commendable Service, a Silver Metal for Superior Service, Special Achievement, Leadership and Monetary Awards, and was named the Federal Executive Boards “Woman of the Year:’

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Theta Pi Omega Chapter, and a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvainia. Her interest is interior decorating and her greatest achievement was giving birth to her daughter, Imani. Aquanetta resides in Williamstown, NJ with her husband Keith and dog Foxy (who now lives somewhere over the rainbow).