Why Rancho Cucamonga, 2 of 2

As a landmark, historic Route 66 runs through the middle of Rancho and there is a beautiful outdoor mall (Victoria Gardens) commemorating that road and providing a unique attraction. Rancho is bordered on three sides by major L.A. basin freeways: the 10, the 15, and the 210. The 175,000 people are within 10 min. of driving from any place in the city. So also is as much shopping as would make any woman smile and any man drop from exhaustion.

Unlike many surrounding cities, there is still about 1200 acres of open land for developing and many large sections of new homes. The roads are laid out in a very predictable and convenient north and south grid with many of the roads stretching for miles beyond the city in either direction.

Ten-thousand-foot Mount Baldy provides a beautiful and towering backdrop to the city built on its gradually sloping base. The housing has sections of enormous and extravagant as well as small and modest, brand new and rather old, decent-sized lots and postage-stamp plots. But nearly every neighborhood has above-average maintenance.

Many, if not most, houses are connected by miles of sidewalks, and because they are so close together, canvassing will be very productive despite being exhausting because of the sheer numbers and hill-side terrain. The cost of that housing is more intimidating than outlying areas which will provide a real challenge for us and others in finding good long-term options. However, it is less than many other areas in Southern California, and we are encouraged with the knowledge that God can and will provide.

To our knowledge, there are no other Bible churches in the city, few Baptists, and no really like-minded works. There are one or two in neighboring communities, but not in Rancho. The neighboring works encourage us that ours can meet a need in that setting and the lack of churches in that sized city emphasizes the fact that there is a need.

We want to go meet what we believe is the need for a local church characterized by careful Bible teaching, Christ or gospel focused ministry, caring church family, and vibrant traditional worship. But even though there aren’t other similar churches in the city, Rancho is within reasonable driving distance from other like-minded churches that would be willing to help as they can. It would become another link in a growing chain of local churches and pastors committed to planting more churches in Southern California.

Where we will meet is a factor that on one hand provides the normal challenges of cost, kind, location, amenities, etc. and on the other hand has great potential and many options. There are numerous city facilities that are accustomed to renting to churches and have reasonably priced and decently stable options. The commercial and retail space is abundant, older/dying churches are an option, and land is still out there if God did a miracle.

We are grateful for the Lord's guidance and are excitedly trusting His wise providence to plant and grow a new local church in this particular Southern California city.