Updated: It is a done deal. The members of First Baptist of Santa Ana voted today 42-17 to sell their church to Newsong Church. The Board of Directors of First Baptist will now work out the details with Newsong’s Board of Directors. The deal will total $4 million dollars with $100,000 to be paid up front and the balance to be in the form of a Promissory Note.
According to FBCSA Director Sandy Nalle, First Baptist had perhaps six months to go before becoming insolvent. This deal will ensure that First Baptist will remain a church.
Original Post:
At long last the day has arrived and the members of Santa Ana’s historic First Baptist Church will be voting on a proposal to sell their church to Irvine’s Newsong Church. Make no mistake about it – this is a big deal.
We are talking about a church that was established in March of 1871 after William H. Spurgeon purchased seventy-six acres of land from the Yorba Ranch heirs in 1869 and laid out what was to become the city of Santa Ana. Services took place in a local school house until the first church was built in 1876. The cost was $4000 and it was located on four lots donated by Mr. Spurgeon at the corner of Main & Church Streets.
A new church, at the same location, was built in 1913-1914 at a cost of $ 49,244. It was dedicated free of debt. That building later burned down and was eventually replaced.
Today First Baptist is a shell of the church it used to be. The city’s demographics changed and many of the longtime members of the board moved – but kept coming back to Santa Ana. However the locals for the most part have not supported this church for awhile.
Newsong is led by the dynamic Dave Gibbons. If you haven’t met Gibbons, then you may not know that while he appears to be Korean, he is in fact the progeny of an American soldier who met and fell in love with a lady in Korea, while he was serving in the U.S. military there. Gibbons’ mom suffered greatly in Korea while married to another man who beat her. Gibbons’ father saved her from that life and they fell in love. They eventually settled in Phoenix, Arizona, and started a family.
Gibbons could have become bitter but he went to seminary and he eventually started one of the most dynamic Christian churches in America. His church today has a global presence. But what it all boils down to is Gibbons’ understanding that deep down inside we all want to be recognized for who we are, as individuals.
Last year I approached Pastor Andy Quient, my minister at Santa Ana’s First Baptist Church with an idea that had come to me out of the blue. I knew that Newsong’s minister, Dave Gibbons, had expressed a desire to minister in Santa Ana. Newsong had tried unsuccessfully to buy the Santora Arts building in Downtown Santa Ana. I had a feeling that he still felt the same way. The two pastors connected and hit it off, and our journey towards a potential merger of the two churches began.
And now at last the whole matter is coming to a vote, at a Business Meeting at 12:45 pm set for this Sunday, July 28, 2013.
We saw a preview today, in Downtown Santa Ana, of what Newsong is capable of. They rallied their members for a “Love Mob” that appears to have been a great success. This is what I love about Gibbons. He has not given up on Santa Ana even as the city has been rocked by an increase in crime, all summer long. Imagine what he will be able to do if the deal goes through?
For the members of First Baptist this is a game changer. The church will no longer be empty. We will finally have the resources and the man power to really minister in Santa Ana. We already have a great minister in Quient – but now we will have Gibbons as well and I am praying that our members will see the possibilities and vote yes this Sunday.
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Ok now I get it ... this explains the freaky encounter I had today when two young boys/men who were intent on distracting me while I was putting money in a parking meter outside OCCCA ... let me say I didn't appreciate their attitudes ... or mocking behavior when I was not receptive to their desire to chat about whatever ... I hope The Artist's Village isn't going to turn into some kinda stomping ground for evagelists ... eek
I concur!
Isn't Newsong the church Benavides was involved with? Isn't that a person, not to mention a church, you've been critical of in the past? Why would you now be celebrating this merger?
Jesus said it himself. He came for the sinners not the saints.
Just as condescending and judgemental as ever, Art!
I was talking about myself Paul. God always chooses imperfect vessels to do his work.
Yet you are very quick to credit yourself with this merger. God doesn't choose that.
The merger is right now just an idea. I'll let you know if that changes.
I saw an opportunity and now it may come to pass. Pray that it does.
anon. Just because David Benavides has been less than forward about his situation doesn't mean you need to throw out the baby with the bath water. I for one am not a fan of Newsong and their methods, but, I will reserve judgement. I hope that they are not trying to "buy" their way in to the community. But if they are, FB got a nice price $4M in the deal, so we'll see.
As for benavides, if he wasn't so slimy, maybe people like me would embrace him more. I see him as an empty suit.
Perhaps David will come around now that he won't have to drive all the way to Irvine to go to church.
There is also a back story to Benavides, Santora, and Newsong. After the firing of two senior pastors in the Edge around 2008, most of the student body flocked to different churches...Exodus, etc. Those who remained at Newsong were directionless and was indirectly influenced by a former UCI graduate who happened to pit members of the church against the leadership team after the bid for Santora. This person declared war against Dave. He went after everything Dave valued: his legacy, family, apprentices, and of course money. There is a bi-weekly gathering with a worship team he has assembled in Newport. For now, he remains a mystery to many of our small group members as he only coordinates with the leaders, but it will be interesting what kind of future he will bring us. From what I hear, he is either crazy or brilliant. Whoever he is, he has my vote.
Proud to be a Sinner! Can't wait to do more "Automatic Writing" tonight. Maybe I''ll channel Jesus himself or his prostitute girlfriend Mary.
Hmmmm. Does your mom know you feel this way?
Does my mom know I feel this way?
Does Pulido have chickens in his back yard?
Pulido is a vegan so I doubt he has chickens in his yard.
Who said anything about eating chickens? I'm talking about making LOVE.
Benavides likes little lambs and Sheep.
Pulido likes him some Chickens!
I'll be contacting Jesus tomorrow.
Going to go visit Mary now.
I hear she has a fun web site. HO Ho he he.
You are welcome to join us Sinner Pedroza.
"God seeks imperfect vessel Sinners!"
Empty my perfect vessel for Jesus!
Oh my.
Carpetbagger jr. split his head open at that church on the jungle gym on his first day of Pre-School there. The teachers were naturally concerned and uncomfortable that a new student was hurt on his first day.
When I left work early to pick him up to go to the Urgent Care for stitches, I was met by a senior Pastor, who immediately diffused the situation by explaining:
"Well the good news, Mr. Carpetbagger, is God made the human head strong and resilient, and this is one instance where that is a good thing" We have remained friends since, despite us attending another Church.
Good Luck and be careful.
That sounds like Pastor Andy! He's a great guy. My ten year old goes there during vacations.