Our History  Lawndale Christian Church began in the heart of a lady named Sarah Jones. She began having Bible Studies in her home on Market Street in Lawndale Acres around 1917. After consulting with the participants and Mr. William Anderson, (Anderson School is named after him) who was very interested in organizing a church in Lawndale, it was decided to proceed in that endeavor. Sarah Jones contacted Bruce Brown, pastor of the Vermont Square Christian Church at 51st and Normandie Ave., Los Angeles. He in turn recommended Clayton C. Root, pastor of the church in Van Nuys, as an evangelist. On April 9, 1920, Clayton C. Root corresponded by postcard to Sarah Jones to gather the members to meet him along with Mr. and Mrs. Fiscus from Marshalltown, Iowa for a conference. The Lawndale School House was engaged for the three week meeting. The church at Van Nuys "loaned" Clayton C. Root which allowed his salary to continue. Sunday collections were sent to the church in Van Nuys. The meeting began April 15, 1920 and closed May 9, 1920 and on that day Mr. C.C. Root organized the church with twenty-five members. After the organization of the church, services were held in the schoolhouse until it was decided to purchase a lot and build. The lot was located on the corner of Market Street and Avenue1 (147th Street and Larch). The Lawndale Christian Church was dedicated on August 29, 1920. Clayton C. Root conducted the services. Charles Edwin Root began as the first minister of this newly formed church in the fall of 1920. In 1921, Alonzo Seed was the minister. He was, "a man full of the spirit of our Master", as described by Sarah Jones. LCC was without a minister in 1922. In 1923, Mr. Loren Howe was called to be the minister. He continued until 1926. Many accomplishments in the Lord's work at Lawndale continued under Loren Howe. On October 7, 1924, Mr. Howe proposed that the time was right for funds to be raised for enlarging the church building. On April 5, 1925, the dedication of the basement and laying of the corner stone for the enlarged auditorium was held. In February of 1926, plastering the Sunday School room was found to be necessary for the cost of $58.75. Loren Howe resigned as minister on June 20, 1926. Mr. H.L. Lewis of Clarion, Iowa, is first recorded as corresponding with the Lawndale Church on August 10, 1926. On August 25, 1926, the congregation voted in favor of calling Mr. Lewis in for one year. On September 28, 1926, Mr. Lewis attended his first board meeting. The board agreed to pay him $40.00 per week. In October of that year, Mr. Lewis brought to the attention of the board that there was a tax exempt law for churches. Final procedures of the Tax Notice for the church exemption was processed. While Mr. Lewis was minister there were times that financial problems became difficult. Mr. Lewis saw to it current expenses were paid before he would accept his weekly check. Mr. Lewis began a get-together club with the purpose of getting acquainted and it was held once a month beginning Sept. 21, 1928. Bread Sunday was introduced by Mr. Lewis in October of 1928. Every family represented at the church service received a loaf of bread. 100 loaves were ordered for this occasion. Mr. Lewis stayed as pastor until 1930 when he was followed by Mr. W.H. Boden who stayed until he passed away in early 1932. During the pastorate of Mr. Boden, the lot next door to the church was purchased. The choir loft was finished and a record attendance was set on Mother's Day 1931, with 317 persons in attendance. A committee was appointed to draw up plans for a larger basement.  Mr. Samuel W. Traum began as minister in April, 1932. Necessary benches were built for the Sunday School. Mr. Traum asked that the High School Endeavor take full charge of the evening services every second Sunday for the months of July and August. A rewiring job was done in the auditorium. A private room for the Sunday School Secretary was made available in the northwest corner of the church. Mr.Traum continued as minister until 1934 when Al Casebeer, a student at Pacific Bible Seminary, (now Hope International University) was called as a part-time minister. In 1935 Al married Mary Edith Huff of Huntington Beach and together they began a ministry that lasted until 1943 when Al was called to be the minister of First Christian Church in Anaheim, California. Al and Mary Casebeer's two daughters, Mary Louise and Lois May, were born during their years at Lawndale.  Al and Mary Casebeer ministered to LCC during the tough depression years and through the beginning of World War II. In 1935, E.A. Watts, an evangelist, held an evangelistic meeting and it was a success. In 1937 the old school bell was presented to the Lawndale Church by the Andersons. (It was later returned to the school district and is at the entrance to the School Administration Building on W. 147th Street, one block from the church.) Sarah C. Jones, charter member, gave a deed to her property on Market Street (147th Street) to the trustees of the church to be used as a parsonage. In August 1940, a dedication of the new Bible School Unit (now used by the Women's Class) was held. A larger basement was also completed in 1940. A Victory Dinner was held on July 18, 1941, to celebrate the burning of the mortgage. During 1942 the church lost two of their charter members, Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Jones. Mrs. Mary Hart passed away at the age of 92 and Mrs. Sarah Jones at the age of 89. An exciting event took place on June 15, 1942. Two of LCC's members, Buster and Hazel Resmondo were married. Buster and Hazel were midgets who worked in the movies as stand-ins. They continued worshiping at Lawndale until their deaths….Buster in the late 60's and Hazel in January of 1989. Al Casebeer's last day at Lawndale was July 31, 1943. He began his long ministry at Anaheim on August 15, 1943. During WW II 67 young men from LCC served in the Armed Forces. Blackouts were frequent in the South Bay and some happened during the evening church services. One young lady exclaimed to her aunt during an air-raid/blackout at a wedding, "Oh, Auntie Nell, it's our Lord!" On August 8, 1943, Brother Howard Kelly and his wife came to fill the vacancy and to live at the parsonage given to the church by Mrs. Sarah Jones. Brother Kelly only stayed for a year. On September 10, 1942, Brother Ralph E. Corder preached his first sermon as the new minister of LCC. He and his wife had a daughter, Esther Lynn, who was 13 months old. On June 25, 1945, their second daughter, Linda Muriel arrived. Ralph Corder resigned as minister and preached his last sermon on September 1, 1946. On September 8, 1946, Lertis R. Ellett began part-time Sunday preaching while going to school full time at USC. (There were 190 in Bible School and 35 in worship service that first Sunday.) On February 1, 1947, Brother Lertis and his wife, Kathryn, moved with their daughters, Iona Kay and Leilani, to the parsonage in Lawndale. Lertis continued on a part-time basis while continuing his education at USC on the GI Bill. LCC was incorporated on May 2, 1947. Two lots east of the church were purchased for $1,000.00 in cash and $1500.00 provided by a 3 year loan. Many necessary items for the office were purchased. A cry room at the rear of the auditorium was glass-enclosed and soundproofed and a public address system was installed.  LCC had always been blessed with lots of children and a large Bible School. In December of 1947, a much needed building for classrooms was begun where the Fellowship Hall now stands. Frank Bixler was called as the first Associate Minister for Youth in 1947. In 1948, Lloyd Cummings was called as the Associate Minister for Youth. In October, 1948, Walter McCoy, followed Lloyd Cummings as the Associate Minister for Youth. During Brother Ellett's ministry of almost 24 years many souls were won to the Lord. Many surrounding lots and neighboring houses were purchased to house the growing Bible School. Houses were moved from 145th Street and turned into the Children's Building, which is still used today. Yearly revival meetings brought many souls to the Lord. Easter Services were held in the Leuzinger High School Auditorium from 1957-1967 with the largest attendance being 988. His two daughters, Iona Kay and Leilani were raised and married. In the early 60's talk was begun about building a new sanctuary. Money was raised and recorded on a large thermometer in the auditorium of the old building (where the office stands today.) A very exciting event happened the day the new sanctuary was dedicated. After many years of dreaming, planning and saving the new building was completed. On June 18, 1967 the first service in the new building was held with 519 in attendance. The dedication service for the new building was held Oct. 29, 1967 with 415 present. Lertis and Kathryn Ellett retired on May 3, 1970 after many years of dedicated service to their Lord and Christ's Church at Lawndale. A retirement party was held with many people attending. Joe Core was the Associate Pastor at this time and filled in until Herb Read was called to be the pastor. Herbert G. Read was called as Interim Minister, following Lertis Ellett's retirement. He began his permanent ministry on August 2, 1970. He and his wife, Thelma, remained 16 years as minister of LCC. Again, many souls were won to the Lord during this time. In 1976 the new Fellowship Hall and Classroom Building was completed. The old houses that had served so well were torn down and the entire area was paved for the parking lot. During the 70's the LCC youth group reached 75. Youth ministers were hired…..Ron Robb, Scott Kjos, Tom West, Tim Riter, Jeff Leavitt, Norm Pedersen, James Lay, Shane Womack to name a few. Many weddings took place as these youth began dating and marrying. One year there was a wedding about every 2 months! Herb and Thelma discipled and counseled many as they served their Lord together here at LCC. In 1981 David Higgins was called as Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor. He and his wife, Val and son, Tim, moved to North Torrance and began a sixteen year relationship with LCC. Dave served as high school and college ministers and stepped in for Herb when he suffered a heart attack in 1985. Brad Dupray was hired in 1983 to minister to the college age youth. Glen Gibson was hired as the high school Youth Pastor in 1986. During Herb's ministry the lot south of the church parking lot along with 3 houses was purchased. Herb and Thelma closed out their ministry with LCC and a party was held in their honor in June of 1986. Many people attended the retirement part at the Hawthorne Community Center. Dave Higgins served as Interim Minister for the next 6 months. Al Karges with his wife, Carolyn, came to serve as pastor of LCC in December of 1986. During this time the remaining debt of the properties was paid off. Later, the lot east of the church with 2 houses was purchased. Now the property of LCC was completed. Al resigned in August 1989 and David Higgins was called to be the senior pastor. Dave and Val Higgins continued on for many years until January of 1998 when they were called to minister to a church in Honolulu, Hawaii. During Dave's tenure many beautiful Christmas and Easter Pageants were presented under the direction of the first Worship Minister, Jim Sluyter. Jim and Marcia and their two sons, Jason and Joel, moved to North Torrance and served for seven years. Dave enlisted many workers and led people to the Lord. During this time Glen and Wendy Gibson were called to be LCC's living link missionaries to the Phillippines. Tom Sopp and his wife, Sue, came to Lawndale in 1986 and served as Youth Minister until he resigned in 1995. Troy Gardner and his wife, Lisa, came in the fall of 1995 to serve as Youth Pastor and Worship Leader. Following Dave's resignation, a period of six months went by before the congregation called Larry Brazier and his wife, Glenna to serve as Pastor. Larry and Glenna Brazier served at LCC for over four years. Mike Blankenship was called to be the Youth Pastor in 1999. The youth group grew again to topping 50 in attendance. In September of 2000 Kathy Wagner became the Children's Director. In August of 2001 Stephen Ulangca became the Worship Minister. Larry resigned in January, 2003 and Mike Blankenship was called to be the Interim Pastor and Joe Grana from Hope International University to be the Interim Preaching Minister. Tim Anderson then filled the Youth Director position in January of 2003. Mike, along with his wife Natalie Blankenship were called to be the Senior Pastor in August 2003. The Gibsons moved back to the United States where Glen began working for Team Expansion in July of 2003. Glen trains and sends out missionaries who go through the Team Expansion program. In 2003 Dave Maciel’s position shifted from Youth Worship Intern to Worship and Audio Visual. Dave Maciel resigned in December of 2004. In his time as Youth Director, Tim Anderson remodeled the basement, which was used as the Youth Room. He held many outreach concerts for the community students in the basement each month. Tim Anderson resigned in August of 2005, at which time a team of three volunteer youth leaders filled the role. Stephen Ulangca resigned his position as Worship Minister in December of 2005. Jason Sluyter became the interim Worship Leader in January of 2006. In January of 2006, Shawn Alvira was hired as the Life Development Pastor, which oversees Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry and Missions. At the same time, Kathy Wagner shifted from Children’s Ministry Director to Children’s Outreach Director in efforts to focus on her God-given talents and passion in the area of children’s outreach. In January of 2007 Kathy Wagner resigned. During her service to Lawndale Christian Church in the Children’s Ministry, Kathy ran many clubs for neighborhood children and hosted many Park Ministry events at parks in the city of Lawndale. In October of 2006 Michelle Collins was hired to lead the Contemporary Worship Service and Jason Sluyter continued to lead the Blended Worship Service and became the Creative Arts Director. In May of 2007 Michelle Collins became the Music Director and began leading both Worship Services. Under her direction, the Worship Choir was formed, many young worship leaders were developed and two worship teams continue to grow. In 2006 Tyman Stephens began voluntarily leading the Student Ministry (Grades 6th through 12th). In the summer of 2007, Tyman made a decision to be in ministry full time. He began that process later in the year and has continued to devote time to working with Lawndale Christian Church’s Student Ministry. Under the leadership of Shawn Alvira and Tyman Stephens, the Student Ministry has reached many neighborhood teens, the basement (which has continued to be used as the youth room) has undergone many renovations; new furniture, foosball and air hockey tables were purchased through a City of Lawndale fundraiser. A basketball and volleyball court were put up in the parking lot by means of the fundraiser also. Lawndale Christian Church has had a rich history and has been a lighthouse to the community for over 80 years. Many opportunities will present themselves in the future to challenge and meet the needs of the community it serves. From the faithful leaders of the past to the faithful leaders of the present and to the faithful leaders of the future, one commitment stands out…. To serve the Lord with gladness, to come before His presence with singing, to make disciples and call them to a holiness to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN. Compiled by Iona Matson, Spring, 2003. Updated November 2007. Lawndale Christian Church History