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2700 West Johnston Ave
Hemet, CA 92545
(Between Sanderson
and Kirby)
Map this address
Don Peterson, Pastor
Chris Engel, Pastor of Student Ministries
office: (951) 658-5120
fax: (951) 766-4526
e-mail: ivbf@verizon.net
Church History
The task of beginning a new local body of Jesus Christ is an exciting one, but not without its challenges. Here is a part of our story. We have been so blessed in our journey.
On February 13, 1994, eighty-six courageous and committed believers began to hold public services at Club Evergreen in Sierra Dawn North, between Oakland and Menlo on Lyon. They shared the dream of beginning a new Baptist Church in this valley. Pastor Severin Bernas agreed to give pastoral leadership. They prayed together, worshipped together, and then pledged themselves to birth the Inland Valley Baptist Fellowship.
A Steering Committee was formed and began to work on a Constitution and By Laws. The first election of officers was held on July 10, 1994. Many other "firsts" occurred in these beginning months as various ministries began.
A Search Committee was formed to find IVBF a full time pastor. Don Peterson was called to be Senior Pastor in June of 1995. Don and Betty moved to Hemet to take up ministry on August 1, 1995. Town Hall Meetings were held to develop the Vision and Mission Statements of the new congregation and to determine future planning. The body decided it desired to own its own site and building.
The task was formidable. Land and building costs were great. God's people served, sacrificed and followed their LORD. In a business meeting of December 8, 1996 the membership voted to purchase the property at 2700 West Johnston Avenue and began a capital funds program to gather the $275,000 to do so. The effort was called GLAD for "God's Land and Desire". We wondered how all these dollars and then later, many more for a building, could be gathered for such a large undertaking. Our escrow instructions required a Conditional Use Permit to use the property for church ministries before escrow could close. That would mean an escrow of six months or longer and of course give us some time to accumulate the needed funds.
The process was lengthy and tedious. The Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission was uncooperative and biased against the use of the site for a church. They failed to show for scheduled meetings and finally voted no in a four to one vote. The Planning Commission for the city of Hemet voted to grant the CUP, but only by a three to two vote. They also added restrictions such as part time use for the site. We were discouraged and ready to begin looking for another location.
The matter came before the City Council. We prepared. We prayed. Then we went to the meeting. The Council unanimously and with great enthusiasm voted to grant the Conditional Use Permit, even before any discussion on January 13, 1998. We were overwhelmed with the realization that the LORD had heard our prayers, saw our need and intervened for us!
Escrow closed by the end of the month. On a gorgeous February 1, 1998, we met on this site at the end of morning worship and dedicated five beautiful acres of land, next to Mary Henley Park, at 2700 West Johnston, to the glory of God. It was debt-free! We were truly on our way!
We were humbled when we learned during the CUP process that this site had been designated a "Church Site" in the general development plan worked out between the City of Hemet and Lewis Homes. The LORD had reserved this for us since 1978! Twenty years He had waited for us to organize as a church and then trust Him for it!
While waiting for the CUP and escrow to close, the membership voted on December 12, 1997 to begin to gather funds for an initial multipurpose building on the site. "Forward By Faith" was the name of this endeavor and the goal was $250,000 cash on hand before we would break ground. That goal seemed so far off, possibly thirty months away. However during the Christmas Eve Service of 1998, this goal was reached and in only thirteen months! Praise be to Jesus!
Architect Steven Paul Murray was developing the building plans. Builder Henry Guerth was helping us with ideas and planning. The Cornerstone Fund of the Baptist General Conference came on line to help us with additional loan dollars to complete the project that would cost 1.9 million dollars before it was completed.
Groundbreaking was scheduled to climax our "Called of God" Missions Conference of 1999. BGC President Bob Ricker was the featured speaker. The morning began unseasonably cold and with a heavy rain. It was still raining at the end of morning service. We attempted to prepare for the worst. The West Valley High School Band canceled. Several other local leaders did not appear. By the time the groundbreaking service began at 2:30 P.M. the clouds parted and the sun came out. So did God's wonderful people! What a day that was! What a mighty God we serve!
The process of building got a slow start after groundbreaking. Permits from the Building Department were delayed. Required changes by the various city departments were postponed by vacations and other personnel problems. Loan documents were lost. Grading finally began on February 24, 1999. Then the rains came. The concrete for the floor was not poured until April 16, 1999. The work progressed much better after all those delays. However, building costs escalated some 20% above original plans and the date to occupy kept moving further away.
The City of Hemet came to the site and surprised us with a Certificate of Occupancy at 4:30 P.M. on Thanksgiving Eve 1999! Several servants of Jesus phoned others until we had a team of workers to begin the process of moving into the new building that evening. We finished moving Thanksgiving morning and returned on Friday and Saturday to set up for Sunday, November 28. The Gas Company failed to get the meter installed so we had no heat for our first two Sundays in the new building. We dedicated the building to the LORD on January 16, 2000. At that time, the debt was $676,000.
God's people worked together, faithfully supported the ministry and with much joy, we burned the mortgage on February 12, 2006!
We wish you could have been with for this part of the IVBF journey. You would have been blessed to observe and to serve with so many committed and joyful servants of Jesus Christ. You would have been amazed at all the volunteers who ministered in the name of Jesus to make the work go and grow. Over and over other have expressed amazement at the sacrificial giving and the way the LORD has provided for us.
Many of our original pioneers have been promoted to Glory. Like the heroes of our Faith of another era, they did not get to see or use the ministry God was creating. We invite you to join us. We urge you to throw off everything that hinders and the ties that so easily entangle. Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
And remember, we look forward to welcoming you to the ultimate place He has prepared for all of us, Heaven!
Blessings on You,
Don Peterson
Pastor
Inland Valley Baptist Fellowship
Hemet, CA