Jesus Never Changes

Ten years ago, Bert & Sherry began to dream of a new church in this beautiful beachside city of Ventura.

Nine years ago, they gathered a few couples in a Midtown apartment to open the Scriptures, seek God, and ask the naive and profound question: what could a new church look like in this city?

We knew that God had been working in beautiful ways throughout other churches in this city, so as we discerned this possibility, we were asking: what voice could we add to the chorus of Jesus’ churches in Ventura? Out of those tender moments grew a robust vision and excitement for a new church for Downtown Ventura.

Eight years ago, after seeing that small community grow and expand to include two homes filled with people wondering what Jesus might do through us, we gathered together a team that would help us launch this new church.

In October 2015, we opened the doors to our first Sunday Gathering as Anthem Ventura. Over the last eight years, we’ve been committed to seeing Jesus’ presence and renewal come to Downtown Ventura and beyond. We’ve witnessed the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in people – their marriages, parenting, vocation, and faith. And we’ve seen many come to, and come back to, Jesus. We’ve had ups and downs, but we have sensed an undeniable calling and assignment throughout our story.

As we look back, we look back with immense gratitude, humility, and hope for what God has done in and through this church. And even as we say that we recognize that a church is not a building, event, or club but a gathering of people being formed by the Spirit into the image of Christ.

Every church has a life cycle, and the inevitable end of any life cycle is an ending. There’s no church that was started 2,000 years ago that’s still around today. So we humbly see our church’s story in light of God’s big story and take note that while one church is ending, Jesus’ Church is still growing, advancing, and thriving.

We believe those who will thrive in the years to come will be resilient disciples who are faithful in the face of cultural coercion and live a vibrant life in the Spirit.

Evermore so as we look ahead together.

We believe it was an act of obedience that led this team to plant this church, an act of obedience to keep going throughout different hardships, and an act of obedience to humbly close out this season.

We believe that success in the kingdom of God is humility and obedience, not the world’s metrics for success.

So we trust that God has done much with our little and that our city will be blessed from the sending out of people into new stories.

People move, churches start, churches close, new jobs are had, babies are born, and loved ones pass away.

Seasons come, and seasons go.

But Jesus Christ never changes.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Go in the grace and peace of Jesus.

– The Anthem Ventura Elder Team

Matt & Alyssa Pedrick
James & Lindsey Pettit
Bert & Sherry Alcorn