Rev. Dr. Marc Antoine Lavarin serves as the eighth Pastor of the First Calvary Baptist church in Durham, North Carolina. As a proud Bostonian, Pastor Marc completed his undergraduate studies at Northeastern University, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, concentrating in Public Policy and Administration. Upon graduating, he was selected to be a part of Teach for America’s Massachusetts cohort, where he taught 5th and 6th-grade History. While teaching, Pastor Marc earned his Master of Education degree from Boston University. After two years of teaching, Pastor Marc submitted to the call of ministry by completing his Master of Divinity degree at Duke University where he received the Martin Luther King Jr. and Dean scholarship. Upon the completion of his degree, Pastor Marc was ordained at the Evangelical First Haitian Baptist Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, under the direction of his father, the late Rev. Antoine Lavarin.

More info – In January of 2022, Rev. Marc Antoine Lavarin was elected the eighth pastor of First Calvary’s storied history. His tenure brings with him an exciting time in the life of our church as we expect the next iteration of God’s divine providence over the First Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Lavarin, affectionately known as “Pastor Marc” is married to his best friend, Rev. Barbara Florvil Lavarin. Both Pastor and Rev. Lavarin, served at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley. 

In September of 2023, Pastor Lavarin released the vision of the First Calvary, to be a light for the city, innovatively reaching people for Christ, passionately connection people to community, and Biblically growing people to influence culture. Pastor Lavarin believes that no one will do more for the city of Durham, than the First Calvary Baptist Church!