Pastor Larry D. Hudson, Pacific View Baptist Church, Encinitas:

As pastor, Pacific View Baptist Church has been my purpose driven church ministry for the last nine years. We just celebrated over 50 years of ministry here in the Encinitas-Cardiff area. Our main purpose is to actively help people become part of God’s family and then to help each one mature into biblical ministering, missionary, servants of Christ. We have been a consistent bearer of His Word and our Lord Jesus Christ in supporting mission work denominationally around the world as well as getting involved in many ways, both locally and in worldwide mission evangelism.

Many pastors can share how varied the church’s purpose in the community has ranged from sports, to helping the homeless, to helping establish a spiritual work for our Hispanic community. I have witnessed our congregation making baby blankets for military families, lap blankets for our wounded veterans, skirts and nap blankets for children of a Head Start program, food donations locally and to orphans in Mexico, and much more. We serve a Savior that takes broken lives and makes them whole again. Our work is as varied as the size, age and the leadership of our congregation has been through the years. We will continue working and serving our Savior till He comes back as Lord — that is our driving purpose.

Pastor Tim Barry, Grace Family Fellowship, Del Mar:

Grace Family Fellowship was founded for one purpose: to place the Name of Jesus in San Diego. Deuteronomy 14:23. The Lord called our family to the Del Mar/Carmel Valley area to exalt His Name.

We live in a world full of hurt and hopelessness. That is why Jesus came. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

When the angels announced the birth of Jesus they said, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” That’s right! ALL people! A SAVIOR! GOOD tidings!’ God was sending His Son to die so that we could be FREE from the power and penalty of sin.

Grace Family Fellowship’s desire is to spread this Good News. Jesus has set us free from sin, sickness and poverty, and through His blood and His resurrection, He has given us victory over all the works of the enemy. We have a desire to bring the Good News, the Gospel, to this area. There is nothing impossible to him who believes in His Name.

Pastor John Bales, Community Reformed Church, Escondido:

The greater purpose of the Community Reformed Church is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We are called to magnify the manifold perfections of the One, True God through the proclamation of His Word, the Holy Scriptures. It is through the proclamation of the gospel, God’s good news, along with the working of His Holy Spirit that a person can come to know Him and enjoy Him. Although this should be the purpose of every Christian church, we live in an age of much confusion regarding the church’s purpose.

Having said this, every church is different and therefore those churches which seek to glorify God will do so in ways which are unique to its context. We are not intentionally trying to become a mega church. Rather, our intention is to be spiritually alive, mature and reproductive in ministry. The two large oak trees at the entrance of the church are symbolic of our desire to be fruitful, drawing upon the life of Jesus Christ, bearing fruit in people’s lives and in the multiplication of churches. We seek to glorify God by providing biblical preaching in a reverent, classic style of worship. We also believe that God will be honored as we authentically love each other. Our church feels a special calling to leave a legacy for the next generation.

Pastor Richard Burkey, Christ Lutheran Church, La Mesa:

Christ Lutheran Church exists to develop dynamic disciples for Christ through the five purposes Rick Warren highlights in The Purpose Driven Church:

In membership, we gather together and become a part of God’s family through small group ministry meeting in homes and serving in our community.

In maturity, we grow in our relationship with God to become more Christ-like. Study of God’s Word in Bible classes, small groups, and individual devotions results in practical application in prayer, generosity and service.

In ministry, we give ourselves through using our spiritual gifts and talents. God has shaped Christ Lutheran Church to build families through a pre-school through 8th grade school, youth ministry from middle school through college age, and generational events like sock hops and over 230 participants at La Mesa’s Pick Up the Park Day.

In mission, we go and tell others about the good news of Jesus Christ. Working with Global Mission Fellowship, we’ve gone to Cuba, Paraguay, Russia, and next year Ethiopia. Working with Mission India, we’ve planted over 20 churches in India. Working with Yugo, we work to connect youth in Mexico to Jesus. Through relationships God provides, we seek to be contagious, connecting people to Jesus.

In magnification, we seek to live a life of worship that brings the glory to God. Worship in our sanctuary and gym as well as the occasional service on Mount Helix and in Harry Griffen Park celebrates the purpose God has for our lives.