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Moorpark Presbyterian Church expands facility for service
Moorpark Presbyterian Church was founded in 1986. A small group of people met at Chaparral Middle School before the congregation was officially chartered in June 1988. The church moved to its current location on Peach Hill Road in 1992. It now has more than 480 members. Children and many nonmembers also attend regularly. Pastor Dave Wilkinson said the purpose of Moorpark Presbyterian Church is to glorify God and to help people become fully committed, joyful disciples of Jesus Christ. "We believe that true faith radiates joy that is contagious," he said. The Presbyterian denomination's name is based on a Greek word that means "government by elders," Wilkinson said. Leadership is shared by the pastors and church members chosen by the congregation to serve as elders. Traditionally, Presbyterian churches place a high value on education and the role of the enlightened mind in personal and social change. Local church leaders stress that people should bring both their Bibles and their brains to worship and never one without the other, Wilkinson said. "No questions are offlimits. We aren't afraid of philosophy or scientific inquiry." Moorpark Presbyterian leaders and church members also seek to care for emotional needs of others, and they participate in fun activities together, Wilkinson said. "There is a true sense of community within the congregation," said Councilmember Mark Van Dam, a member of the church. Wilkinson said the most enjoyable part of his job is watching what happens when a person comes to the church, perhaps after a long time away from it, and starts to get serious about Jesus. "They are changed and healed in wonderful ways." However, in this area it's not always easy to reach people with the good news of God's love, Wilkinson said. Most people here are comfortable and aren't aware they have any needs, he said. "Many people like Jesus just fine but were turned off by the church at some point. So they need to know that we aren't like those churches in worship, emphasis or style." Moorpark Presbyterian is building the new sanctuary to accommodate the growing needs of the congregation. The facility, adjacent to the existing church buildings, will hold up to 550 people for worship. It will accommodate the needs of the expanding youth ministry and serve as a music, drama and multimedia room. "The only reason for building this new facility is for the church to be able to more effectively reach children, youth and adults in the community," said the pastor. Wilkinson and his wife, Carol, have lived in Moorpark for about 21 years. They have two sons. One is married and lives in Portland, Ore. The other lives in Moorpark and teaches ninthgrade English at Oaks Christian School in Westlake. Wilkinson majored in journalism before he went on to seminary. He graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena in 1975 and began his career at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. "That's where I discovered that I both enjoyed what I was doing and was effective in helping people grow in faith and commitment," he said. Wilkinson also worked at several churches in Northern California before he came to Moorpark to help establish the local Presbyterian Church. "Pastor Dave has a wonderful sense of humor and is extremely knowledgeable about the Bible," said Van Dam. According to Wilkinson, Moorpark Presbyterian is home to an outstanding team of volunteers as well as a dedicated staff, including Janet Loughry, associate pastor; Em Blattner, youth ministry leader; and Kristin Giffin, worship director. Laurie Loring, children's ministry director; Karen Bryan, small group coordinator; and Steve Batstone, choir director, are also part of the team. "They all present a very clear picture of how we should be living our lives and making a difference," Van Dam said. The church i s at 13950 Peach Hill Road in Moorpark. |
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