Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, the “Red Brick Church,” will be celebrating its 70th birthday on Sunday, June 24, with a single worship service at 9 a.m..
The service will be followed with birthday cake in the Family Life Center.
Pastor John Paul Powell will preside over the anniversary event, with special guest speaker the Rev. Dean McBride Jr. giving the homily.
Now an eminent biblical scholar, McBride was raised as a member of the congregation, where his father, the Rev. Dean McBride, served as pastor for 25 years.
Initially a community Sunday School held in the cafeteria at Point Loma High School, the church was incorporated in 1937. T. Franklyn Hudson was the first official pastor, followed by McBride in 1942. The elder McBride served until 1967.
“They [pastors] can stay in one place for a long time if things go well and they feel called to continue,” Powell said.
During the elder McBride’s long tenure with the church, he created a Christian Education Center and oversaw construction of a new sanctuary that holds 600 people. This allowed the growing congregation to move from the original chapel that seats only 100.
“Rev. Dr. Dean McBride left the biggest imprint on our lives and having Dean McBride Jr. here to help us celebrate is like rubbing shoulders with living history.”
Some of the church’s original members will also be present during Sunday’s celebration. Fred Hage, one of the church’s first ushers, said he looks forward to sharing stories from the early days over cake following the service.
“The church was small back then,” Hage said. “Every member was your family, your neighbor or your friend. Now we wear name tags.”
Hage watched the church mature from its days in the high school auditorium to its growing membership in need of its own chapel. As an usher, Hage was in charge of greeting church members and leading them to available seats.
The congregation eventually outgrew the original chapel, but partly because of the efforts of fellow usher Burling Stump, the church was always able to make room for the expanding crowd, said longtimers.
If there were eight seats, Stump could fit ten people in, Hage said. And if there were ten seats, he fit twelve people in, earning him the name of “Shoehorn Stump,” Hage said. “He could always squeeze more in.”
Powell, who is in his fifth year as church pastor, said the church continues to grow with new members and younger families.
“They help renew our energy,” says Powell.
Hage recognizes an increased focus on younger members of the congregation.
A special sermon for children has been integrated into the weekly 8:30 a.m. service. The children gather around the altar to hear a personalized message before heading off to Sunday School.
Hage said the church seems friendlier now. He credits Powell because he “creates a friendly atmosphere at the church; he has a fantastic memory for names and faces.”
Powell’s said his positive disposition stems from his belief that churches are like people and that a church’s personality usually reflects the personality of the pastor.
“The integrity and character of the pastor are crucial to the health and vitality of the church,” he said.
As the anniversary approaches, Powell is taking stock and setting goals. He praises the racial and cultural diversity that has grown over time, emphasizing the growing opportunities for discipleship locally.
“The mission field is right here in the community, and our goal is to help each of our members see their lives as a mission.”
Hage is also taking stock, but the biggest change he sees is age. “I was a young guy then,” he says. “I’m 86 years young now.”