A History of the California Eldership

by Lance Finley, CGGC Executive Director

Today the California Eldership consists of congregations in San Diego, Fallbrook , Farmersville, Manteca, Vacaville, and Wheatland. They embody the CGGC core value of Vital Connection. The distance between San Diego (in the south) and Wheatland (in the north) is approximately 550 miles. In spite of the great geographical distance between the congregations, churches in the California Eldership gather for quarterly meetings no less than four times a year. These times together provide for worship, fellowship and encouragement and rich times of connection for the brothers and sisters of the California Eldership. This strong connection comes from a shared history of hardship and intentional relationship building.

The story of the California Eldership grows out of the story of the Dust Bowl and the great migration out of Oklahoma and other Great Plains states. As Church of God folks left the hardships of the Dust Bowl, many of them settled in California in search of a better prospect for the essentials of life: employment, food, and opportunity. In 1947, Pastor R. A. Kruzan, the Western Missionary Superintendent conveyed that he had received letters from Church of God members who had reported that as many as twenty Church of God families had relocated in Farmersville, CA. Up to this time, Idaho was the furthest west where a Church of God congregation had been organized.

In 1930 a severe drought started in the Midwest and Great Plains and lasted through most of the following decade. The Dust Bowl would bring devastating economic impact upon the mid-section of the United States. During the 1930s it is estimated that 2.5 million people left the Dust Bowl states of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska in one of the largest migrations in American history. During the five-year period of 1935-1940, nearly 250,000 Oklahomans migrated to California in search of a better life.

The first Church of God congregation established in California was in Sheridan, north of Sacramento. It was organized on March 2, 1947 with 15 members including three ministers and three deacons. The church met in an old Methodist church building and had been organized from several Church of God families who had come from Oklahoma. The church was established by Pastor G. C. Burns (grandfather of two current CGGC

Pastors: John Burns – pastor of the Wheatland Community Fellowship in Wheatland, CA and Roger Burns – pastor of the Eufaula First Church of God, Eufaula, OK).

In September of 1947, there was a mass meeting held in McFarland, CA to discuss mission work and church planting in California. It was reported that there were as many as 15 Church of God ministers living in California at that time. In November 1947, the Fallbrook Church of God was organized in northern San Diego County with 13 members. It was around this same time that the Church of God people in California began to organize themselves into a larger body, holding “Fifth Sunday” meetings which were times of worship and fellowship held each quarter at a different church location. By early 1948, there were three congregations and 14 ministers in California.

In February 1948, the brothers and sisters gathered for a Fifth Sunday meeting and approved a proposed constitution and made plans to organize the Eldership. Pastor M. H. Tudor of Waterford was employed as the state missionary. The organizing session of the California Eldership was held on October 10-12, 1948 in McFarland. Viola Cover, retired missionary to India, presented during the Sunday school hour during the first day of the Eldership. During the business sessions, it was resolved to form the California Eldership and a constitution was adopted. Pastor O. C. Kennedy reported to The Church Advocate that, “We all were glad as we began our business session the spirit of unity prevailed.”

Throughout the 1950s and the 1960s, the Eldership focused on church planting and establishing mission work in new areas. There have been at least 20 to 25 different congregations that were established or affiliated with the eldership over its history. There were multiple attempts to establish a congregation in the Los Angeles area as well. Unfortunately, several churches fell victim to the expanding highway system and imminent domain claims as new highways were constructed to support the evergrowing population.

In the early 1980s, Pastor Fred Adams who was in his second tenure at the Fallbrook congregation took note of the growing Hispanic population and began to intentionally reach into the Hispanic community and built bridges between Spanish speaking people and the church. What developed from this relationship is a thriving congregation led by Pastors Tomas Rodas, Johnny Rodas, and Roberto Lopez as a result of pastor Adams' foresight.

In recent years, the churches of the California Eldership have cultivated a heart for their local communities and this had been demonstrated through their work with homeless outreaches and resource centers, the development of community centers for youth, and a Recovery Rocks addiction recovery center. In addition, the congregations have innovated to reach every level of the community as evidenced by Hispanic radio broadcasting and utilizing social media outlets and podcasts addressing youth and the controversial topics of the day. Most of the California Eldership pastors are bi-vocational or covocational and you’ll also find them involved deeply in the activities of their community. Pastor John Burns of Wheatland has been involved in the local football program in the area and Pastor Tim Welsh has coached cross country in Stockton.

The congregations of the California Eldership, while serious about reaching their local communities, also have a vision to see the Good News of Jesus carried to the ends of the earth! The Eldership has an ongoing partnership in Oaxaca, Mexico that several of the congregations have supported. This partnership has resulted in new works being established in El Perdis, San Mateo, and Vera Cruz with ongoing connection and support from California Eldership congregations. In addition to Mexico, the Eldership has been a committed partner with CGGC’s Global Reach as leaders from the Eldership have travel to Haiti, India, and Bangladesh which has resulted in ongoing support and partnership in ministry.

The Eldership just recently celebrated the Fallbrook Church’s renovation and expansion at the April 2023 quarterly meeting where they were met by God's gracious Spirit and the glowing hearts of love between the members of the hopeful bride of Christ.

May God Bless the California Eldership as we move forward together under the direction of the Chief Shepherd of our souls, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!