UNTIL NEXT TIME — The Rev. Calvin McLoyd Jr. and his wife, first lady Vivian McLoyd, were present at a going-away party Sunday at Community Missionary Baptist Church, in preparation for the two’s move to their home state of Alabama after 35 years in Steubenville. -- Christopher Dacanay

STEUBENVILLE — A pastor who has ministered in Steubenville for 35 years and his wife are saying farewell to Steubenville.

On Monday, the Rev. Calvin McLoyd Jr. and Vivian McLoyd of Calvary Community Missionary Baptist Church will officially move to Alabama, their home state. The two will reside in the town of Cowarts, near family members from both sides.

The decision to move comes after the Rev. McLoyd’s retirement from active ministry in September. A preacher since 1974, McLoyd has pastored various churches in Alabama, Pennsylvania and most recently in Steubenville, where he was pastor of Second Baptist Church for 25 years. He founded Calvary after a brief retirement and served there for about 10 years.

Sunday morning saw McLoyd preach at Calvary’s service. He spoke on John 21:15-17, in which Jesus tells Peter to “feed my lambs.” McLoyd said Jesus’ words are a request for Peter to serve the church by feeding its members the word of God. If the shepherd feeds the sheep with the word, McLoyd said, the sheep will continue to come.

Later in the day was a going-away party with food and fellowship at Calvary. During the party, McLoyd said he’s glad to be returning to his roots in Alabama, but the move is “bittersweet.”

The Steubenville community has treated him well over the years, McLoyd said. Many different churches were represented, he said, adding that it’s a testament to his and his wife’s wide-ranging impact.

In spite of the move, McLoyd said, he plans to continue Calvary Strong, his teaching ministry held every Thursday on Facebook Live. Sessions will now be held at 10 a.m. eastern time and 9 a.m. central time. McLoyd said that anyone interested in blessing the ministry with a donation can forward it to PO Box 2195, Wintersville, Ohio 43953.

Vivian McLoyd said she has enjoyed her time in Steubenville, but it’s time to move on, adding, “It’s been a wonderful ride.”

There was many a teary eye during the party, as individuals shared how the McLoyds touched their lives. Among the many who spoke was Henrietta Williams, who met the Rev. McLoyd and decided to go attend his Bible study. Her relationship with the McLoyds grew, she said, noting that the two were supportive of her, even in sickness, when they would pray for her.

Minister Trudy Toson said she’s thankful for the McLoyds, who invited her and the three girls she raised — known as the Kingdom Children — to sing for the Calvary church group when it was meeting in the Steubenville YWCA building and looking for a permanent home.

Leonette Murray said McLoyd led her to become a Sunday school teacher, which she still is. She said the McLoyds have “been a blessing,” noting that McLoyd officiated her marriage, ordained her and her husband as deaconess and deacon and buried many of her relatives.

Her husband, Keith Murray, said the Rev. McLoyd got him to return to church. McLoyd’s continued encouragement to him was “Just hang in there,” and it helped him stay on track and keep getting more involved.

Murray said to the Rev. McLoyd, “Thank you. You mean the world to me.”

Juanita Slappy said the McLoyds helped and supported her to a great extent. She noted how much she’s learned from the pastor, saying, “The years that you gave to us (were) instrumental to me.”

Kendall Cain said the Rev. McLoyd “helped me to re-configure, re-integrate my whole life and get things back to where they’re supposed to be.”

Even from the first moment he met McLoyd, Cain said, it felt like he’d known him forever. Something about McLoyd that Cain said he’ll never forget: “His telephone was a hotline for Jesus Christ.”

As the party came to a close, Charlene Dawkins played “In the Garden” on the piano as the Rev. McLoyd recited the words, calling each person in attendance by name. McLoyd expressed gratitude for the relationships he formed over the years.

Vivian Mcloyd reflected on their years in Steubenville, saying that there were good times and bad times, but the good outweighs the bad. Their time at Calvary has been a “joy,” she said, and the church community has made Sunday services truly refreshing.

Speaking on those hard times, the Rev. McLoyd said, “Whatever we went through, we went through it together.”

“When you work together, you will do much better than you ever will apart,” McLoyd said, adding that individuals must bridge their differences to better the community.

Although they’ll be many miles away, the McLoyds said they hope to have individuals come and visit in the future.

The Rev. Jim Baber, who took over as Calvary’s pastor in October, thanked the Rev. McLoyd for his years of service and called him a “blessing.” He assured the McLoyds that, as they move to the south, they will be the subject of many people’s prayers.They’ll be in everyone’s prayers as they move south.

In closing, Baber said in prayer: “Thank you, Lord, for the McLoyds and all the beautiful things they’ve done.”