OUR CHURCH HISTORY

LAUNCHING OUT.

On the first Sunday in January 2001, we held our first worship service for The Vision Plus Church. How did we get a name like that for a church? At that time, I was a team consultant for a ministry that assisted churches who were having growth problems, most of them in decline or experiencing extremely low attendance. This name of this ministry is Vision Plus Recovery, with my pastor friend Jim Murcray as founder and president. This ministry helps churches regain their mission and vision to find a way to rebuild the fellowship and recover their sense of purpose.

Through a series of events with this Vision Plus Recovery ministry, we were given rights to the church property on Pyrite Street to begin a new church work, starting over from scratch. Because of the connection, The Vision Plus Church name came into existence!

In those early weeks, we did not have time to do any advertising or passing out flyers or preparation with the community as I was working as a school administrator full-time. So, we just did the best we could with word of mouth and community surveys every so often. There were eleven people on that first Sunday. A man with a heart for music and ministry, Mike Yeamans, came that very first Sunday as a temporary help with worship. Through God’s leading, he stayed almost six years, leading a Praise & Worship Team and helping in every way in the life of our church. He is now pastoring a church that has a ministry to the Native American community of the Inland Empire.

Because of the situation of new ministry, we were either volunteer or bivocational staff. At this point in time, we have volunteer staff in the areas of music, youth, missions and evangelism, children, women’s ministry and homeless ministry.

MINISTRY AND OUTREACH.

We have tried to share in ministry ways to the needs around us.

We started a ministry to the homeless in Riverside, whereby we take one Saturday a month to take food and clothing to those who are less fortunate. A man in our church has felt a calling to go each Thursday evening as well to take a hot meal and lead a Bible study at a local park to those living on the streets.

We were partners for a short while with a ministry that was helping the homeless find shelter and work. At the present time, we are pursuing plans to have homes and staff to support a ministry that assists women with children who are homeless.

Because of my work connections recently, we have a ministry to parolees. A group of parolees attends our worship services weekly. In addition, we have had a Prison Ministry through correspondence and visits to various state prisons. One year, I was asked to speak at a Veteran’s Celebration at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe.

Early on, we were approached to partner with another group who had started a Spanish-language church and were looking for a church to hold services. This church, Iglesia el Alfarero, has grown in its outreach to the Hispanic community. Their pastor, Moises Ledezma, works full-time in Perris and was ordained at our church. He has a great heart for ministry.

One year, we were involved with the ministry at the NASCAR racing events at California Speedway and found that to be very rewarding.


MISSIONS INVOLVEMENT.

In conjunction with another church, we have adopted a mission church in the La Mesa area of Tijuana, Mexico. We have helped to build this church, literally, with block walls and roof and doors and windows and such. Each month a group of volunteers has been crossing the border for a one-day work project. This mission church, Agape Christian Center, has recently gone through some ministry changes and is now beginning to be a vital outreach in the community there.

Several years ago, I was presented with the opportunity to assist a man, Steve Niino, who was leading Bible studies for the Native American population on the Pala Reservation in San Diego county.  We did some outdoor events and then began leading monthly Celebration Worship Services at a rented hall.  It has been a wonderful time to help a dedicated man, retired from the corporate world and serving God almost full-time, bring the gospel message to families whose lives have been touched by jail and prison terms, drug abuse, alcoholism and family dysfunction.  We have helped with Monday night home Bible studies as well as worship times.  The small group of Pala Indians who meet with us are so encouraging and faithful.  We are blessed each time we are there.

With an individual from our church that has now moved to Canada to pastor, we have plans to develop a “partner church” relationship in the coming months with a church group in British Columbia.

We have had missionaries and others come to give testimonies of what God is doing elsewhere in our world – Japan, Turkey, Cambodia, Vietnam, Iraq, Brazil and Australia.


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TRAINING AND DISCIPLESHIP.

For some time, our sole focus was on the Sunday worship time. After a time of finding and developing a corps of teaching leadership, we began the Sunday School and Bible study time on Sunday mornings.

We have one Thursday night Bible study that has been a part of our church life almost since the beginning. At various times, we have had other home Bible study groups to give more time for study and fellowship.

A few years ago, we were involved in the 40 Days of Purpose campaign. It was a wonderful time of deep spiritual growth for individuals and families. Many members opened up their homes to host small group fellowships.

We have had both a Men’s Retreat and Women’s Retreat to give individuals a chance to get away and focus on their personal journey with the Lord.

SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS.

Summer concerts with Christian bands on Sunday afternoons. We have had all types of singing groups come and share – gospel quartets, solo artists, bands and small groups.

We have had drama teams and choral groups from Cal Baptist and local high schools. We have also had families and group from Oregon and Oklahoma to come and share in ministry with us.

Each summer we hold a Vacation Bible School for children to give them a few days of fun and games with a special theme to help them grow in Bible knowledge.

Every August we support our Youth in their Summer Surge week, a time to visit various fun destinations (Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm, beaches, water parks, etc.) or experience some fun activities (baseball games, midnight bowling, sleepovers and such). Each day is a day for a focused Bible study to help them in their spiritual growth.

Halloween night is transformed into our time of Harvest Festival each year. A team of church volunteers helps with various booths and food concessions, which makes for a great carnival atmosphere. Many local families come and participate because it is a safe place for their children to enjoy and get candy.

It has been a joy to hold Christmas Eve services each year, which has always been a highlight. One year in particular, we had an outdoor presentation with animals.

Our Christmas caroling night has taken us through the neighborhoods and local shopping areas. For several years, we have held a Watch Night Service on New Year’s Eve to bring in the coming year.

In the spring, we hold an annual Easter Sunrise service.

We are planning a Marriage Enrichment seminar this next year to help singles and couples learn some Biblical principles for relationship.

    MIRACLE BLESSINGS.

     God’s blessings are too numerous to mention them all. However, it

     is always encouraging to see how the Lord provides.

     In our very first year of existence, we hosted a work team comprised

     of Texas college students. They came and did some major remodeling in

     our church building. Many have helped over the years with construction

     and remodeling. The stone on the outside was donated by the Coronado

     Stone manufacturing company in Fontana.

     We have had donations of various types – 15-passenger used vans,

     exterior stone for the entire church building, new computer, televisions,

     paint supplies, roofing supplies, insulation, tables, chairs, microwaves,

     appliances, land grading, sprinkler system repair, nursery makeover,

     kitchen refurbishing, sound system replacement and so much more. God

     is so good.

    SUMMARY.

     We have seen many come to Christ for salvation and follow through in

     believer’s baptism. This is our greatest joy, when we see individuals

     making decisions for eternity. In addition, we have had many baby

     dedications through these years.

     Three men from our church have gone on to pastor churches - Chuck

     Perfecto at Jurupa Valley Community Church in Mira Loma, Mike

     Yeamans with All Nations Fellowship church in Riverside, and Jim Lunak

     in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada.

     One of the highlights in our church history is that we have ordained four

     men to the gospel ministry in these few short years of existence.

     All in all, it has been a tremendous six years of fellowship and joy. The

     success of ministry is not amount or depth or numbers in ministry. Our

     success is found in our understanding of obedience. We simply want to do

     what God calls us to do when he opens the door. We don’t care how big or

     small the task is. We just want to be faithful and passionate for the work of

     the Lord. We want to touch lives. We have. And we will continue.

     Come be a part of this! You are needed, wanted and welcome! Be a part of

     the next chapter in the life of this ministry.