"Twenty people from the community attended our first holiday party,” recalled Myriam Gonzalez, associate pastor of the White Memorial Church (WMC). “At the latest one, more than 300 attended.”

Response was so great that Edie Grant, originator of the church’s Socials to Save holiday parties, and her team of volunteers were concerned about having enough gifts. “But we received additional gifts from the medical center which, with previously-donated toys, were sufficient,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez and other pastors and members of the church created a database of the names and addresses from the weekly Community Food Bank, the After-School Tutoring Program, patient and community program contacts. Holiday-themed parties and programs now draw consistent attendance of about 300 neighbors.

A Saturday evening café ministry developed by Gonzalez with single young adult professionals is attracting young adult couples and singles. Commissioned as a minister in 2002, Gonzalez is intent on serving the church and community as associate pastor for nurture and evangelism.

Since many community residents who attend the special church events do not speak English, Gonzalez initiated a Spanish-language church service in Olivet Chapel — 45 to 60 attend regularly. Gonzalez coordinates this ministry with WMMC chaplain Julio Nava.

Spanish-speaking visitors attend a Sabbath school class and an afternoon class for prospective members in their language, conducted in the church by Nava. As a result of the afternoon class, five people were recently baptized.

Through contacts with WMMC chaplains, Sandy, a former patient with a background of substance abuse, began attending the WMC worship services. “From the time I walked into the church, I felt at home,” he said. Two years later, Sandy is an active member and certified WMMC volunteer chaplain.

WMC has had a rich, collaborative relationship with WMMC. “In the ’60s, Southern California Conference owned both the church and the hospital,” senior pastor Lawrence Downing explained.

“When the health system became independent in 1967, the church facility was included with the hospital properties. A 99-year licensing agreement was signed between the medical center and the conference. As time passed, both parties forgot the agreement until five years ago when someone discovered it on file. A request submitted to the WMMC to transfer the church property to the conference association was granted and work began to finalize the transfer process.”

A 2005 grant deed for the legal transfer spells out shared land usage that previously had been granted informally through the collegial relationships intertwining the two facilities for decades.

Associate Pastor Archie Tupas provides in-home spiritual support to discharged patients, a ministry that has resulted in several baptisms. Urban Embrace, a summer day-camp program coordinated by Associate Pastor Kevin Morris is also made possible through the cooperative relationship with the medical center.