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MC Email Updates
Periodic updates regarding World Relief activities and announcements.
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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. |
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In the Apostolic Christian Church in Altadena, California, a warm, friendly family atmosphere is enjoyed with the forty-five people, including twelve families, who gather and worship there weekly. The church is blessed with all ages ranging from newborn to those who have been pillars in the church for many years.
With the close cross-generational gathering, rich fellowship is enjoyed and appreciated immensely by those living and working in Altadena, especially by the many visitors. Couple this with the warm climate and beautiful church setting in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains with convenience to the city of Los Angeles just fifteen miles away. This complements the church foundation, which is built on the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Visitors and new additions to the congregation are always warmly welcomed.
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Many of those who live and worship in Altadena are connected in some way to families who moved to the area some sixty years ago. The roots of the church actually started in the 1920's in Maywood, California, which is located seventeen miles south of Altadena. The group of believers started small, but by 1934 had grown large enough that Bro. John Dapper was ordained a minister, and later Bro. Joe Klotzle.
Over the next two decades, the church continued to grow and consideration was given to establish a congregation for the believers who lived in the Altadena/Pasadena areas. In 1951, services were begun in Pasadena in rented locations.
A year later, the church in Altadena was established when the congregation purchased a large home located at 2243 North El Moline which they remodeled. The first worship services were held in the new building the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving in 1952; however, the church was not actually completed until the following summer.
Nearly half of the members from the Maywood congregation began worshipping in Altadena and calling this their home church. Bro. Joe Klotzle, who was ministering at Maywood, was named the first minister of the Altadena church in 1952, and Bro. Carl Kinsinger, formerly of Pulaski, IA, was chosen to assist Bro. Joe. Two years later, Carl became deacon and in February 1955 was ordained the first elder of the church. Altadena was also the first Apostolic Christian Church to be established in the 1950's.
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Today, services in Altadena are held on the same site as the remodeled home. Due to structural damage sustained in the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987, it was determined that the original church was unsafe.
The congregation met in a school across the street from the church for approximately a year while the old church was taken down, and a new church was built and completed in the fall of 1992.
 The sanctuary, a large foyer, dining room, kitchen and baby room are upstairs, while a smaller foyer leads downstairs to another small foyer and Sunday School rooms.
Just as longer ago, the warm climate and excellent weather, beautiful terrain, including beaches and mountains and economic opportunities attract people to the area. Many colleges and universities are within driving distance and attract singles to the area for education. For employment, some from the congregation own businesses while others work in the medical, accounting, engineering, marketing, teaching professions.
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Fellowship and Outreach Opportunities
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 While distance can be a challenge in planning gatherings, many opportunities abound for fellowship and studying the Scriptures. On Wednesday evenings, home Bible studies are held. Bible studies are also held for the young adults who have graduated from high school. Church/Sunday School picnics and church picnics with the nearest neighboring church congregation in San Diego (120 miles away) are also enjoyed. Further, Sunday School fellowship with Arizona churches is held twice each year.
On Easter morning, a tradition has been maintained in the Altadena church for three to four generations and is very special to the congregation. The group drives up into the mountains, and then takes a short (but steep) hike to a knoll overlooking the Altadena, Pasadena and Los Angeles areas. An early morning song service is held followed by breakfast at the church.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19
 Church members are actively involved in spreading the gospel into the community. In Los Angeles county, there are over twelve million people, with a significant Spanish-speaking population. This presents opportunities for those with a heart for urban and/or Spanish-speaking outreach to be involved in the community around the church or in the city. The Altadena congregation is also blessed to have families connected to the Ixtlan and Tecate churches in Mexico, who attend on a regular basis.
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 If you are in the Altadena area, plan to worship with the congregation or even consider a move to the area. Please call ahead to any of the contacts listed in the Church Directory for planning purposes. Services in Altadena are held each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Pacific Time. Wednesday evening Bible study is frequently held in the South Bay region (near the Los Angeles airport). For information regarding attending the study, please contact Bro. Justin Moser (310-480-1589).
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The Mission Committee sincerely appreciates your interest, sincere prayers, and your support as we strive to spiritually discern and faithfully fulfill His will. More information is available at the Apostolic Christian Mission Committee website. Sincerely,
Wayne Banwart, Chairman
Apostolic Christian Mission Committee |
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