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Vineyard church seeks to plant roots in Moorpark
After visiting the East Coast of the United States as a guest speaker in the mid-'80s, Filmer sold everything he had and moved his family to Yonkers, a city north of New York City, to pioneer another church. The pastor lived in Yonkers for 16 years before he was invited to set up a church in Ventura County. The challenges of moving an entire family from continent to continent and building congregations in the remote countryside and the inner city may have helped prepare Filmer for any stumbling blocks that lay ahead. Moorpark Vineyard, founded in 2002, has been unable to plant deep roots in the community thus far because zoning restrictions have prevented the church from finding a permanent facility in town. But the barriers haven't discouraged Filmer. "Wherever you go you always get challenges. Moorpark is stricter than other cities, but I know something will work out," said Filmer. The Moorpark Vineyard is part of the Association of Vineyard Churches, an evangelical movement founded by a Southern California man in the late 1980s. Each church is selfgoverning but overseen and mentored on a voluntary basis by older pastors who serve as regional coordinators. Vineyard leaders and members believe that the Bible is the final authority in matters of faith and practice. "The Vineyard church is charismatic. We believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in the laying of hands for healing," Filmer said. Vineyard church leaders and members also believe that Christ is within them, and they enjoy a lively contemporary worship style. Congregants meet at the Moorpark High School Performing Arts Center for services on Sunday mornings and during the week at the homes of members for Bible study. The Moorpark Vineyard has three elders and about 120 members. "Our vision is to equip people for the work of the ministry," Filmer said. The local church plans to take teams to Ghana and Zambia this spring to minister there. "The goal is to get people to know God," Filmer said. Even without a permanent home in Moorpark, he said, the local congregation can fulfill its mission. "He (Filmer) remains faithful that the outcome will be a blessing," said Brandon Sturgill, a Moorpark resident and member of the church. "He's got more faith than anybody I know. A lot of preachers get up and preach but they don't live the lifestyle," Sturgill said. Filmer empowers church members and teaches that God is love. "The first time I went there, I felt like I needed to pay admission to see the pastor preach," said Sturgill. "He's a great man of God," said Dave Lewis, a Thousand Oaks resident who's been a member of the Vineyard for two years. The two church members agreed that, even in disappointments, their pastor is thankful to God and confident that challenges exist for a reason. The church is actively seeking to lease or buy property for a permanent home, said Sturgill, who is in charge of the administration. It first tried to rent a vacant store near Moorpark High School but the city objected because retail spaces can't be used by religious organizations. The Vineyard leaders are now awaiting a decision from city officials about leasing a property on Gabbert Street. The site is located in an M2 zone, which is designated for industrial purposes only. A request to change zoning or obtain a conditional use permit was filed in October and will be reviewed by the planning commission in late February. Sturgill, who's lived in Moorpark for more than 20 years, said he's disappointed with the city's lengthy procedures and demands. "This is unjust. We haven't made progress in months and the building owner needs an answer," he said. The Vineyard church leaders want to host special services and events during the week but they're not able to until they have their own facility. "We can't get any roots down because we have nothing to put roots into," Sturgill said. |
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