Legacy

John Wesley Grant was born fifteen miles east of Henderson, Texas, on November 14, 1940. He married his high school sweetheart, Darlene, on November 6, 1959. John began preaching in the United Pentecostal Church (UPC) of Henderson, pastored by W.E. Fuller; soon after he received the Holy Ghost in 1961. John Grant attended Texas Bible College in its first full year of operation.

Over a period of ten years, before Christmas for Christ existed, John founded and established three churches, the first in Cushing Texas. While preaching revival services in Clintonville, Wisconsin, he felt God calling him to sell his newly built home in Texas and use the funds to start a church in Shawano, Wisconsin. Following the leading of the Lord, he moved his wife and three sons, John Jr., Roy and Steve, to Shawano in 1968 where they purchased and filled a church building. When the Wisconsin District expressed a need for a new work in LaCrosse, the Grants became the first Wisconsin Christmas for Christ (CFC) missionaries in yet another field of labor. John resigned this work when their youngest son developed a rare kidney disease. Soon after this, Calvary Gospel Church (CGC) desired him to come lead the congregation in Madison, Wisconsin.

Over the past forty-two years, Pastor Grant has seen this congregation grow into a multicultural body that currently holds six diverse services on Sunday, four midweek services, and fourteen outreaches which include jail ministries, campus and Hyphen services, and neighborhood churches. Calvary Gospel Church currently has four pastors on staff ministering to English, Spanish and international congregations. The church hosts a weekly Christian Intervention Program that has seen over five hundred participants filled with the Holy Ghost. They operate a full-time child care center meeting the needs of the community. Because of the work and influence of Calvary Gospel Church in the community, Pastor Grant was selected as the 'Pastor of the Year' for Dane County in 2011. Pastor Grant currently serves as copastor with his son, Roy Grant. Over the last fifty-four years, Pastor Grant has worked side by side with his wife, teaching hundreds of Home Bible Studies. His tenured ministry has awarded him the privilege of marrying couples, dedicating their children, marrying those children, and dedicating their children!

Over the years, Pastor Grant has suffered several major health problems including a heart attack, three cancer surgeries, and severe chronic back pain. Through all of this, his faith in God has remained strong and his never-give-up spirit keeps him serving.

John Grant has served the Wisconsin UPC as a district Sunday school director, sectional presbyter, district superintendent for seventeen years, and has served two terms as an executive presbyter. He currently serves the United Pentecostal Church International an honorary General Board member. He has traveled extensively preaching and teaching conferences, camp meetings, and seminars. John is an advocate of unity and love. He has taught ministerial ethics and Christian principles in a very easy to understand and unique way. His life has promoted the Apostolic doctrine and holiness.