Early Years

With few belongings packed into a moving truck, Paul Chappell and his family moved by faith to serve a small, struggling church. While the church was eager to have the family come, they could not provide a salary, moving expenses, or housing.

Winter Revival Begins

Since January of 1987, Dr. John Goetsch has preached all winter revival services at Lancaster Baptist Church. He has served the Lord as an evangelist for forty-one years and has given his life to help churches across the country. The revival services have been vital to the spiritual growth of the people of Lancaster Baptist Church. Dr. Goetsch preaches a series of five messages, and the Holy Spirit works on hearts in a powerful way. The Winter Revival is also always scheduled for the opening week of the spring semester for West Coast Baptist College—just the spiritual charge needed to get back into training for ministry.

Bus Ministry Begins

In 1987, Eldon Lofgren approached Pastor Chappell and asked if he could begin a bus ministry. A short time later, Eldon and his son, Jeremy, went out on a Sunday morning in a van. They returned a short time later with three children—the first “bus-kids” to attend Lancaster Baptist Church.

"Giving By Faith" Building Banquet

The “Giving by Faith” building banquet in 1988 and the down payment on the first twenty acres a few days later were just the beginning of an unfolding miracle. No one could have guessed from those early days how God was going to fill this new campus with growth. Ever since the first banquet, Lancaster Baptist Church has been in some program of expansion to make room for the work God is doing here in the desert.

Radio Program Started

The radio program began in 1989 as The Sunday Morning Gospel Hour on a local secular station every Sunday morning.

Lancaster Baptist School Begins

In 1988, Pastor Chappell asked Pastor Rick Houk and his family to consider coming to Lancaster to join the pastoral staff and to take on the task of giving birth to Lancaster Baptist School. The Houks prayerfully responded to this call of God, and the school officially began in the fall of 1989 with forty-seven students. Since that time, the school has grown to over 400 students with thirty-five staff members and has been used of God to prepare more than 552 graduates for full-time ministry.

The Early 90s

By 1990, an architectural rendering of a new building was brought before the church family, and that year the church grew in the theme “I Love My Church.” The next year the members “Staked Our Claim” and decided once again to invest in the future and to give by faith to honor the Lord.

Spanish Ministry Begins

In 1991, when Pastor Chappell led a Spanish-speaking couple to the Lord, he had a burden to begin a Spanish ministry. Though the proportion of Spanish-speaking people in the Antelope Valley was a small minority, it was obviously growing. Soon a Sunday school class was formed and taught in Spanish.

A few months after the class began, Sunday services were held in Spanish. The church rented the cafeteria in Antelope Valley High School just a block away and set up some chairs and a keyboard. More Spanish-speaking people were saved and baptized, and in those first few years the congregation grew to about 200 people.

The Mid-Summer Pastor’s Fellowship (Spiritual Leadership Conference)

In 1991, Pastor Chappell invited other pastors within driving distance to come for a week of encouraging preaching, held in conjunction with the church anniversary. In the early years it was simply called “The Mid-Summer Pastor’s Fellowship.”

Early Growth

The incredible growth of Lancaster Baptist Church is an amazing testimony of God’s creativity, power, and grace. Through this ministry, Jesus was saving souls and radically transforming lives. Something special was happening in Lancaster.

Truth for Today Radio Broadcast

In 1992, the program became a daily ministry on a local Christian station and took the name Truth for Today.

North Auditorium Groundbreaking

July 12, 1992, marked the sixth anniversary of Lancaster Baptist Church. It was a wonderful day of celebration, preaching, and people being saved. After the morning service, history was written as the entire church family gathered expectantly for the groundbreaking at the corner of 40th Street East and Lancaster Boulevard.

A Heart for God

In March of 1993, Dr. David Gibbs preached at the “Heart for God” building banquet, and the church family gave and committed $418,000 that evening. It was a miraculous night of rejoicing and anticipation. Just a few weeks later, 3,100 people attended the last Open House Sunday in the old building, and over 200 of them trusted Christ as Saviour. God taught this church that if they would continue to build hearts for Him, He would build the building.

Jerry Ferrso Sings

Two weeks before occupying a beautiful new facility, the devil tried one more blow. Unexpected cost increases came from out of nowhere. The church needed $200,000 immediately, or the project would come to a grinding halt.

God led Pastor Chappell to bring the need before the church. It was November 21, 1993—the occasion of the annual Thanksgiving Offering. During the evening service, Pastor explained the circumstance, said that he believed God would provide, and the church took an offering. It was an unforgettable service.

At one point, a man yelled out, “Pastor, I’ll give one thousand dollars if Brother Ferrso will sing a solo!” That single statement gave way to the most hilarious time of sacrificial giving that this church has ever experienced. 

In that one evening, over $200,000 was given by God’s people! Jerry Ferrso sang his infamous solo; the people rejoiced and gave God great glory; the final construction bills were paid; and the building was occupied two weeks later! The church family left the service that evening singing, “Movin’ up the boulevard!”

North Auditorium Dedication Sunday

Dedication Sunday for the new building was held on January 9, 1994. The 1,150-seat auditorium that had seemed so large when the church drew the first building plans was filled and overflowing. The attendance that morning was over 2,600, with 1,000 first-time visitors. Many of these visitors were saved. It was a historic day for the church that God blessed in a unique way.

The special guest that day was former Vice President Dan Quayle. The church hosted a city-wide breakfast early that morning, and then opened the new campus for the dedication service. The abundant media coverage literally propelled the church into a new spotlight in the Antelope Valley. For years, people remembered Lancaster Baptist Church as “the church that Dan Quayle visited.”

Just a few years earlier, the church had been struggling to fill a classroom. Now, every space was overflowing, and once again the church needed room to grow.

Training Laborers

Pastor and Mrs. Chappell led the way, adding to their already heavy responsibilities in the church. Through giving and serving well beyond what could be expected, the church family actively supported the purpose of the college. Staff from the church and Christian school provided classroom instruction while Ken Jones and Rick Houk provided administration and day-to-day leadership for the student body. And in the fall of 1995, West Coast Baptist College opened its doors to forty-three students.

Open House Sunday

In 1995, over 4,000 people attended Open House Sunday, and 300 of them trusted Christ as Saviour. The church attendance averaged more than 2,000 for the first time during October.

Spiritual Leadership Conference Begins

In 1996, the name "The Mid-Summer Pastor’s Fellowship" was changed to “Spiritual Leadership Conference,” and since that time thousands of guests and literally hundreds of churches around the world have been influenced and encouraged through this special week.

Each of the evening services features uplifting music, stirring presentations, and dynamic preaching. The days are filled with practical ministry training sessions. More than one hundred workshops are offered that focus on one of several ministry “tracks,” and are designed to give practical, biblical information and training to Christian workers. 

What began as a simple desire to encourage other like-minded churches and pastors in southern California has grown to become a much anticipated event by our church family and friends from around the world. Every June, thousands of guests—missionaries, pastors, church staffs, lay leaders, teen groups, and Christian friends—come to Lancaster for the conference. This special week features powerful preaching, practical sessions, dynamic music, and sweet fellowship. The focus is to uplift Christ and to strengthen Christian brethren from around the world.

Giving By Faith

In early 1997, the church family gave and committed over $1.8 million toward another auditorium.

New Auditorium Construction Begins

July 13, 1997, was the eleventh anniversary with 3,000 in attendance. Dirt was already moving, and a building pad was already in place. It was time to rise up and build again. Having come through a very trying season of trials and spiritual attacks, the church family staked their claim once again upon the promises of God and the faith of their pastor!

The Baptist Voice First Published

The Baptist Voice is a seventy-two page magazine of biblical exhortation from the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church. This dynamic publication was first produced in 1998 and features thought-provoking articles from ministry leaders, as well as encouraging reports on what is happening in churches across the world.

100 Missionaries Supported

In 1998, the church began to support their one-hundredth missionary—a long-prayed-for victory. The church ended the year having seen over 1,300 people trust Christ as Saviour.

Main Auditorium Construction Completed

Construction was concluded in March of 1999 at a total cost of $8.5 million. The theme at that time was “Let God Arise.”

March 19, 1999, was a Friday evening. At the Lancaster Baptist Church, four brilliant spot lights lit up the night and could be seen from all over the valley. Three years of giving, praying, and laboring were about to culminate in a grand opening celebration and offering. It was a night that defies description. The choir sang “Hallelujah to the Lamb,” and the anticipation of the church family was electric as Pastor Chappell walked to the pulpit and simply said, “Welcome to Lancaster Baptist Church!” A lengthy and spontaneous eruption of applause, cheers, and tears followed—an overflow of hearts truly grateful to a wonderful God.

Striving Together Publications Begins

What began in 1999 in Pastor Chappell’s garage led by his daughter, Danielle, is now a thriving publications ministry that exists completely as a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church. It was founded for the purpose of publishing biblically sound books, curriculum, and resources to assist in producing spiritual growth in the lives of Christians. Thousands of churches across the country are now using Sunday school, discipleship, soulwinning, and ministry materials from Striving Together Publications every day. This is one of the most exciting and fastest growing parts of our ministry.

Continued Growth

The new Worship Center filled quickly, and it was less than six months before the church began two morning services again. They continued to experience miraculous growth, as well as a unique spiritual journey of victories and trials. The Lord called a precious secretary, Lori Thomasson, home to Heaven, and the new Lori Thomasson Dormitory was built in her honor. Seventy churches came to the West Coast Baptist Youth Conference, West Coast Baptist College graduated thirty-two students, and $2.7 million was given and committed through the “Let God Arise” and the “Seek the Lord” offerings. In 2000, the church family knocked on 300,000 doors inviting people to church, and the ministry quickly moved forward.

The Next Step

The year 2001 led Pastor Chappell and the building committee into a season called “Visioneering.” This was a year to revise the master plan and define the next decade of campus development. In November of that year, Pastor unveiled “The Next Step”—a revised master plan that cast new vision to the church family.

Administration Building Construction

In January of 2002, the church began construction on the Worship Center balcony. That June, Evangelist Wally Davis preached his last message at this church before the Lord called him home to Heaven. A few weeks later on the sixteenth anniversary, the church broke ground on another eighteen-month construction project—the Music and Administration Building.

Dr. Don Sisk Joins

In 2003, Dr. Don Sisk, former Founder and President of Baptist International Missions Incorporated, joined the membership of Lancaster Baptist Church.

This Must Be the Place

January of 2004 opened the floodgates of a new season of ministry as the church staff, music ministry, and college classes benefited greatly from 24,000 brand new square feet of office and classroom space. The new space and equipment took the “lid off” of ministry in more ways than can be described. The church and publications staff occupied the new building and the college staff occupied the former church offices. For the first time in the church’s history, the week-day ministry team had adequate space to accomplish the vision of ministry.

Administration Building Completion

This three-story office tower was completed in January of 2004 at a cost of $4.2 million, and to God’s glory, fourteen months later, the church was able to completely pay for this building through the “Grow in Grace” offering which exceeded $2 million. It was a miraculous victory for the entire church family to the glory of God!

Daily in the Word

In 2005, Truth for Today became Daily in the Word with Dr. Paul Chappell and was coupled with the daily devotional website of our ministry. As of the spring of 2016, Daily in the Word had more than 500,000 visitors to the website every month, 33,700 subscribers to the free daily devotional, and tens of thousands of daily listeners around the world. 

Revels Building Groundbreaking

On April 30, 2006, God allowed the church to break ground on the Revels Building—a 39,000 square-foot, three-story young adult educational building.

Revels Building Grand Opening

This new building opened during the fall of 2007 and is currently used seven days a week for college classes, adult Sunday school classes, and many other ministry functions. It features a spacious lobby, a large bookstore, twenty-one classrooms, a science lab, two computer labs, a piano lab, and a home economics lab. Every day it is used to train hundreds of students who are preparing to serve in churches around the world.

Korean Ministry Begins

For over a decade, Pastor Chappell had prayed about beginning a Korean ministry at Lancaster Baptist Church. It was a love that had been kindled in Pastor Chappell when he spent his teen years in South Korea as a missionary kid. He was just waiting for God to present the right opportunity and the right people to begin.

The opportunity came when God brought Enoch and Grace Kim on staff. Grace is the daughter of Dr. Daniel Kim, pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in South Korea and a family friend to the Chappells. Enoch had served with his father-in-law and is a tremendously gifted vocalist.

In July 2008, the Kims began by holding a Korean Bible study every other Friday in their home. Enoch and a few Korean college students would also interpret Pastor Chappell’s Sunday morning messages. About a year later, a core group formed an adult Bible class that met on Sunday mornings, and full Korean services on Sunday morning followed nine months later.

International Training

In 2012, with the help of Missionary Adam Fridenstine, a graduate of WCBC, West Coast Baptist College began Bible training with pastors and other church leaders in El Salvador. Dr. John Goetsch taught one of the first classes for Seminario Teológico Bautista Emanuel. Every year since then, a different group of instructors teach block classes on doctrine and ministry practice to pastors and ministry leaders in El Salvador. In May 2016, they held their first four-year graduation.

West Wing Completed

On September 30, 2012, Lancaster Baptist Church marked the next stage of growth with the grand opening of the West Wing expansion. Adults and teens gathered together for prayer and the dedication of this new worship and education space. Their prayers that day were not for the building itself, but that they would bring glory to Christ and welcome people from the community into a place where they can hear the Word of God and grow in their relationships with Him. The completion of the West Wing is the first of a three-stage expansion of the Main Auditorium.

TRACS Accreditation

In May of 2014, West Coast Baptist College began preparing for accreditation through the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). TRACS is a Christian accrediting agency that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United States Department of Education (USDE). This organization is committed to accrediting only institutions that affirm the infallibility of Scripture, biblical creationism, and fundamental doctrines. This is a Christian accreditation that has no provision for infringement upon our curriculum or convictions as a college. This decision allows the college to continue accepting international students, transfer general credits to other accredited institutions, honor our veterans’ right to the GI Bill, and provide other general enhancements for students.

Grand Opening of the Walther Center

On August 30, 2015, Lancaster Baptist Church and West Coast Baptist College celebrated the Grand Opening of the Walther Center—a building named in memory of our dear friend Leo Walther. Leo was fifty-seven years old when he first came to Lancaster Baptist Church, and he wasn’t there because he had a hunger for truth. For years, Leo’s wife, Evelyn, had prayed for his salvation and had asked him to attend church with her. He wouldn’t go, however, saying he would be a hypocrite to attend church because of the business he owned. For thirty years, Leo had been in the liquor business before he sold it and retired at age fifty-one.

Kids Corner Preschool Begins

In 2015, Lancaster Baptist School began Kids Corner—a full preschool for children three to four years old. This ministry has also become an outreach to people in our community.

Spiritual Leadership Conference Asia Begins

The need for Christian laborers across Asia is great. Considering the population to missionary ratio, it’s a greater need than it’s ever been. 

Over the past decades the Lord has called many missionaries who are investing their lives in planting churches and training national pastors across Asia. Additionally, the Lord has raised up many national laborers across Asia who are preaching the gospel as pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. Today, the Philippines is one of the highest missionary-sending nations in the world.

Many of these missionaries, and especially national pastors, are not able to attend the Spiritual Leadership Conference held each year in Lancaster, California. Thus, we  planned Spiritual Leadership Conference Asia held in Manila, February of 2016. 

30th Anniversary

In the summer of 1986, a young Paul Chappell accepted the call of God to become the Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church... Thirty years later, this is the true story of what God has done in the lives of people at Lancaster Baptist Church.

New Life Baptist Church Rancho Vista

In the fall of 2016, Lancaster Baptist Church started New Life Baptist Church, a satellite campus of Lancaster Baptist Church in Rancho Vista located on the west side of the Antelope Valley. Peter Mordh serves as the campus pastor. This vibrant church plant has grown dramatically and has purchased property in west Palmdale for a future church building.

Sergeant Steve Owen Funeral Services

On October 13, 2016, law enforcement officers from across the country and the nation gathered at Lancaster Baptist Church for the funeral services of Los Angeles County sheriff's Sergeant Steve Owen, who was fatally shot while responding to a burglary call on October 5, 2016. Many people in the community lined the streets to show their support. The service was broadcast live throughout the nation.

South Campus

On February 26, 2017, Lancaster Baptist Church participated in the Grand Opening of the South Campus buildings. The South Campus buildings, located directly across from the Walther Center, provide 16,560 square feet of space for our Spanish-speaking congregation, including space for Sunday school classrooms, children's ministry, and nurseries. It is also used during the week for additional educational space for Lancaster Baptist School. We thank the Lord for how He is developing this part of our campus.

Outdoor Baptism Service

WCBC Library

On May 2, 2017, the College Library located on the second floor of the Walther Center was officially opened. This beautiful library features nearly 100,000 volumes, almost 7,000 square feet, two collaboration rooms, a display case with antique Bibles, and a seating capacity for over 100 students.

The Eldon Lofgren Transportation Facility Groundbreaking

On June 10, 2018, Lancaster Baptist Church broke ground to begin construction of a state-of-the-art transportation facility. Our bus fleet and mechanics have had a significant need for an indoor space where our ministry vehicles can be properly maintained and where our maintenance tools and equipment can be securely stored.

Eldon Lofgren Transportation Facility

In 2019, the Eldon Lofgren Transportation Facility was dedicated. This much needed facility allows us to keep our bus fleet up to date with maintenance. This facility also houses the Striving Together Publications warehouse.

Kid City Showcase

Training the Next Generation

In February of 2020, we had the opportunity over the course of a week to walk through the Kid City Building Showcase, which was setup to take us through the history of the church and show the different rooms and features of the Kid City Building.

Reaching Forth Kid City Banquet

March 1, 2020 was a historic evening in the Walther Center. We had an opportunity to hear from kids and those who work with kids on a weekly basis. This evening, we were also able to give a cash offering of $610,320 and $2,077,235 in commitments, for a grand total of $2,687,555 toward the Kid City Building construction.

COVID-19

On March 13, 2020, COVID-19 was announced by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic. This unique time caused us to move to online services and cut back in many areas of ministry.

Online Only Services

In March of 2020, Lancaster Baptist Church moved to online only services to help keep the gospel being presented around the globe in the midst of a global pandemic.

Administration and Faculty Offices Groundbreaking

On July 5, 2020, West Coast Baptist College broke ground to begin the construction of the Administration and Faculty Offices. This much needed space provided a centralized location for administration and faculty offices as well as office space for more than 30 staff members and more than 35 student aides. The offices feature reception areas in each building and a spacious conference room. Even in the midst of COVID-19, God provided for the construction of the WCBC offices.

First Outdoor Service

Our first ever outdoor service took place outside the West Wing.

Return to Church

In July of 2020, we began having indoor services again. However, this only lasted a few weeks as the state of California began shutting down again.

Operation Christmas Child

In the fall of 2020, Lancaster Baptist Church partnered with Samaritan's Purse to do the shoe box campaign Operation Christmas Child. Each shoe box contained the gospel and an opportunity for the child to go through a discipleship program with a missionary.

Midweek Connection Groups

Experiencing Community Like Never Before

In February of 2021, Connection Groups started to meet on campus on Wednesday evenings. This transition allowed us to connect better with our classes and helped to facilitate the transition and construction of the upcoming Kid City Building.

Declare the Gospel Relaunch

On March 7, 2021, Lancaster Baptist Church restarted the bus ministry, heard great reports from missionaries around the world, and restarted the choir, singing "Jesus, Firm Foundation" with an encore performance in the evening service.

Administration and Faculty Offices Dedication

On May 2, 2021, West Coast Baptist College dedicated this new facility. These buildings will eventually be connected to the existing Student Life Center with the Baptist Heritage Walkway. This area will provide a place to relax and enjoy some time of study or fellowship with godly friends. The project cost to fully remodel these buildings was just over $1,000,000. This move allowed us to officially start construction on the Kid City Building project.

Kid City Groundbreaking

On May 9, 2021, Lancaster Baptist Church broke ground on a new Kid City Building that will be used to train up the next generation of teachers, pastors, and faithful Christians.

35th Anniversary

Food Distribution

On August 7, 2021, Lancaster Baptist Church partnered with Alex Villanueva, L.A. County Sheriff, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, and members of Lancaster Baptist Church to distribute more than 1,000 boxes of food, fresh produce, bread, hand sanitizer, and masks and backpacks to Antelope Valley families. Each box included an invitation to Lancaster Baptist and a gospel presentation.

Spiritual Leadership Conference 2021

From October 3-6, 2021 Lancaster Baptist Church hosted the Spiritual Leadership Conference to encourage and equip pastors and ministry leaders around the country.

Christmas Light Drive-Thru

Experiencing the Christmas magic

From December 9-11, 2021, Lancaster Baptist Church setup more than a quarter million Christmas lights around the campus for a beautiful, colorful, drive-thru event.

Kid City Offering

On February 20, 2022, Lancaster Baptist Church gave over $700,000 in cash toward the ongoing construction of the Kid City Building.

Ascend Youth Conference

March 23-25, 2022, the Ascend Youth Conference took place for the first time since COVID. Many teens and youth pastors from around the country were challenged to live for Christ.

Ribbon Cutting for Kid City Building

On April 30, 2023, Lancaster Baptist Church dedicated the Kid City Building to training the next generation with the truth of God's Word.

Kid City Building Grand Opening

On May 14, 2023, Lancaster Baptist Church had the grand opening for the Kid City Building.