Members and friends crowded outside the doors of the little Mira Loma church on Sabbath, Aug. 6, as present pastor, Saul Silva, and former pastor, John Champlin, cut the ribbon across the two new doors to the refurbished sanctuary.
“This enthusiasm of members working together is grass-roots Adventism. They are a happy congregation that loves their church,” a visitor commented.
Renovating the church, at 5287 Troth Street, has been a team effort of the congregation. They did most of the work themselves—about 1,000 volunteer hours in 11 weeks (June 1 to Aug. 5). Actual cash spent was about $11,500, said Silva. Without donated items (such as windows, chandeliers, sound system, etc.) and volunteer hours, Silva estimated the cost would have been $120,000. New paint, carpet, reupholstered pews, and new windows have revitalized the church.
“You worked like little ants to accomplish the refinishing of this lovely sanctuary,” said Mario Perez, vice president for Hispanic ministries at the Southeastern California Conference. “The Holy Spirit has given you the abilities to make possible what you have now.”
“Our members would come to church Sabbath morning, stay for a fellowship dinner and afternoon program. After sundown we would hold a work bee on the church,” said Rafeal Rocha, head elder. “Those who could, came during the week, too.”
“It is awesome to see the accomplishments performed by excitedly involved church members,” commented Silva. “At vespers one Sabbath, I expressed the possibility of completely making over our sanctuary, and it was taken seriously. The next day people asked, 'Pastor, do we have the green light?'"
"For what?" Silva asked.
“To begin the project. We’re ready!” the members replied.
“What a sight!” he recalled. “Picks, shovels, hammers and wheelbarrows. Children, youth, adults and the elderly. Everyone came out.”
“We have only $9,000 in the church building fund,” warned the treasurer.
Silva replied, “Let’s see what we can do with God’s blessings added.”
“Members tore down walls, the baptistery, the platform, and the PA system. They replaced 10 windows and changed the front of the church. We ran out of money, but we are celebrating the accomplishments thus far, he concluded.”
The 100-member Mira Loma church has been a part of the community for almost 60 years. Built as an Adventist church in 1948, the building was moved to its present site in 1965, only a couple of miles from the original location. For several years in the late 1970s, it served as a training center for future ministers under the direction of Lynn Mallery, who at the time was professor of applied theology at La Sierra College.
It is now a bilingual church serving 90 Spanish and 10 Anglo members. Silva, a chaplain at Loma Linda Medical Center, serves as part-time pastor.
