Southern California Conference
Ojai Church Celebrates 50 Years of Service
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PHOTOS BY PATRICIA MCDANIEL
hristian ministry faces unique challenges in towns like Ojai, Calif., a New Age Shangri-La populated by mystics, movie stars, health spas and pleasantly eccentric folk. Even so, the Adventist church has spent the past half-century sharing Jesus and serving the locals — April 2 marked the 50th anniversary of the Ojai church. Five pastoral couples returned to share memories and see old friends and Ojai stalwarts. Former pastors Paul Emerson and Sherman Jefferson recounted the history of the church, which included a small company of Sabbath believers having to hastily pledge and raise $30,000 in order to beat an escrow deadline. Members converted a funeral home into a thriving and beautiful sanctuary, largely through the efforts of long-time members like Ken and Vivian Vonhof and the Angelito family. For years, the church also served the community with a popular daycare ministry, and kid-friendly evening programs often packed the sanctuary with proud parents and relatives. Kevin and Christine Byrne drove all the way from Arkansas to join the celebration. The couple led the church in part-time lay ministry for seven years before moving in early 2014. “Pastor
The Ojai church has served in its community for 50 years.
Kevin” shared a homily describing the kind of mature Christian faith steadfast discipleship in Ojai requires, and then sang “Give Me Jesus.” Two former pastors in attendance found that their ministry adventures intersected more than once. Back in 1970, newly minted Pastor John Alspaugh was happily ministering in Ojai when a mission call West Region Director Greg Hoenes presents an came. He and his bride anniversary plaque to Pastor David Gardner. flew over to Thailand to serve as chaplain of the Adventist hospital in amazing little church where ‘everybody knows Bangkok, a position just vacated by the father your name,’” Smith said. of David Smith, Ojai’s part-time pastor 30 years Southern California Conference President Velater. In Smith’s brief reflections, he reminded lino Salazar and Executive Secretary John Cress the congregation that, despite the colorful both attended the celebration. Both paid tribute challenges of ministry in Ojai, the church is part to the pastoral couples and faithful members of an amazing global franchise with 18 million of Ojai who have kept the light of Jesus shining members. “This funky little town needs this brightly for half a century. West Region Director Greg Hoenes delivered a four-part charge: “Love, love, love — and love some more. Belonging comes first. Then believing. And then behaving.” The conference also delivered an anniversary gift of $5,000, which current pastor David Gardner believes was a direct answer to prayer. “We paused for a special season of prayer in the midst of our March board meeting, praying that God would bless our church with greater financial income,” he explained. “We noted at that meeting that we were just $5,000 short of our goal of funding a Bible worker. A mere two weeks later, at our 50th anniversary celebration Sabbath, SCC leaders presented our church with that exact amount. We are now praying that God will invest these precious funds in new souls to grow His Kingdom.”
David Gardner and David B. Smith June 2016
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