In the 1930’s, a local congregation built a small Chapel
on the corner of Mahoney and Apricot in what was then
called Oak View Gardens, a small suburb only minutes
from Ventura and gateway into the Ojai Valley.
This church would be known as First Baptist
Church of Oak View for many years.
In the 1940’s & 50’s they would expand
the sanctuary, the front façade, the class rooms and
eventually, add a two story separate building which
would have a multi-purpose, multi-use with kitchens in
both upper and lower stories.
In
the 1950’s the church experienced a split and some
members of the church broke off to form a new church
called Bible Baptist Church which still exists today.
During this time of turmoil, the board decided to turn
over ownership of the property to the denomination in
order to secure it’s continued existence as a viable
church. At
that time, the denomination was called Southern
California Baptist Convention.
Today, they are known as the American Baptist
Churches of the Pacific Southwest
www.transmin.org.
Throughout
the years, many local residents found their way to this
little Chapel to worship God, hear the Bible taught,
experience life changes, enjoy fellowship, receive
training and help others.
There is a long list of pastors and lay leaders
who have served here since the 1930’s.
Over the years, this little Chapel has been known
by different names including, Ojai Valley Christian
Center and Chapel by the Pines.
During the early 90’s, they would outreach with
a type of Christian nightclub known as Agape Alley.
This type of ministry is what would lead into our
current “Christian coffee houses”.
The
90’s and the turn of the millennium would be a time of
maintaining the ministry.
Faithful people such as Pastor Mike Moore gave of
themselves to help keep the doors open.
It would prove to be a difficult challenge but
for the sake of God’s people, it would be worth it.
In 2000, Pastor Mike would forge an alliance with
Pastor Dan Nelson of Calvary Chapel Ojai Valley which
would lay the foundation for where we are today in this
project. There
would be many opportunities to minister together over
the next 5 years. Pastor Jason Franklin would be the
final pastor of the church.
With only a few members left, he had the
unfortunate mandate to bring closure to a ministry
lasting ¾ of a century.
It would be the right thing to do but very
difficult. Next,
God would take him to northern California to do ministry
there. The
Sunday the resolution to dissolve was signed, God
brought Dr. Ross Chenot, regional minister for the
ABC/PSW to visit us at Calvary Chapel, just down the
street at the gymnasium in the Community Center.
This introduction would be another step toward
this next season of ministry for the Chapel at Mahoney
& Apricot.
Along
with the beautiful side of good things done there, we
also hear stories of heart ache and heart break.
Church splits are never fun and there were a lot
of hurts that have continued for years.
We are meeting people that are hopeful about the
future of this Chapel and also about their own heart
restoration. We
believe there is an opportunity to bring healing to some
while joining the vision of Calvary Chapel Ojai Valley
with the purpose of those who served God and the
community faithfully here for these past 8 decades.
It is a privilege to have former members of the
congregation and Mike Moore together with us in bringing
a new season of ministry here.
We hope you will be involved too.
