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Lodi Avenue Baptist Church
A B O U T : L A B C
Beginning as First Southern Baptist Church, Lodi Avenue Baptist Church was started as a mission in early 1950 by a family from First Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona. The church began meeting in a hotel and in 1951 purchased a house on Pine Street, east of Highway 99. Later, they rented a Seventh Day Adventist church building after selling the house and purchasing 3 1/2 acres at the present location.
The first pastor was D.D. Toby who served until 1953. Melville Chatfield served briefly bofore accepting a position with a seminary in Washington. Next, Herman Bell came as pastor and served from 1953 until 1959. He led the church to build the first permanent building. The new building was dedicated May 12, 1957. Truman Skaggs followed Bell in 1960 and remained until 1962. The church averaged 145 persons per Sunday in Sunday School in 1962 and baptized 40, records that have never been equaled. He remained until 1962.
In 1962, Reul R. Cook became pastor and served until August 20, 1964. Dean McCracken was called on January 1, 1965. During his pastorate the present auditorium was begun. He left after three years and John Hughes came, June 9, 1968. One of his first functions was to bedicate the new auditorium. John left in 1974. Larry Baker came in April 1975. During his pastorate the church built and completed the parsonage. Also the section connecting the fellowship hall and the auditorium was built with the addition of an office, and a pastor's study, restrooms and classrooms. Pastor Larry left in November 1977.
Bob Lewis was called August 16, 1978. During his pastorate Bill Leathem was called by the church as Minister of Music and Youth (1981-82). Also during his tenure the church called Curt Estel, April 5, 1983 as Music and Education Director. In addition the church was renamed Lodi Avenue Baptist. Bob left January 1985 after almost six and one half years of service.
Jack Lee, Jr. came in May 1985 and remained until July 1986. Ted Cotten was called March 1987 and retired from the ministry in June 1990. During Ted's tenure the church ordained one of our members, Rick Manies, to the ministry. During this interim period, Rick Manies and Curt Estel acted as co-associate pastors. Dr. Craig Skinner, professor from Golden Gate Seminary delivered the Sunday morning messages until Mike Reed came in 1990.
Mike Reed served seven years before leaving March 1998 to serve as a Chaplain in Cochran Prison. Tom Seesing came as Intentional Interim Pastor to guide the church through a self-study program of it's membership, and community. Tom Seesing served from April 1998 to March 2000 when he felt the study had completed it's purpose. Dick Kalebjian followed as Interim Pastor from April 2000 until September 8, 2000 when we received Mike Abdollahzadeh as our present Pastor.
Beginning as First Southern Baptist Church, Lodi Avenue Baptist Church was started as a mission in early 1950 by a family from First Southern Baptist Church, Phoenix, Arizona. The church began meeting in a hotel and in 1951 purchased a house on Pine Street, east of Highway 99. Later, they rented a Seventh Day Adventist church building after selling the house and purchasing 3 1/2 acres at the present location.
The first pastor was D.D. Toby who served until 1953. Melville Chatfield served briefly bofore accepting a position with a seminary in Washington. Next, Herman Bell came as pastor and served from 1953 until 1959. He led the church to build the first permanent building. The new building was dedicated May 12, 1957. Truman Skaggs followed Bell in 1960 and remained until 1962. The church averaged 145 persons per Sunday in Sunday School in 1962 and baptized 40, records that have never been equaled. He remained until 1962.
In 1962, Reul R. Cook became pastor and served until August 20, 1964. Dean McCracken was called on January 1, 1965. During his pastorate the present auditorium was begun. He left after three years and John Hughes came, June 9, 1968. One of his first functions was to bedicate the new auditorium. John left in 1974. Larry Baker came in April 1975. During his pastorate the church built and completed the parsonage. Also the section connecting the fellowship hall and the auditorium was built with the addition of an office, and a pastor's study, restrooms and classrooms. Pastor Larry left in November 1977.
Bob Lewis was called August 16, 1978. During his pastorate Bill Leathem was called by the church as Minister of Music and Youth (1981-82). Also during his tenure the church called Curt Estel, April 5, 1983 as Music and Education Director. In addition the church was renamed Lodi Avenue Baptist. Bob left January 1985 after almost six and one half years of service.
Jack Lee, Jr. came in May 1985 and remained until July 1986. Ted Cotten was called March 1987 and retired from the ministry in June 1990. During Ted's tenure the church ordained one of our members, Rick Manies, to the ministry. During this interim period, Rick Manies and Curt Estel acted as co-associate pastors. Dr. Craig Skinner, professor from Golden Gate Seminary delivered the Sunday morning messages until Mike Reed came in 1990.
Mike Reed served seven years before leaving March 1998 to serve as a Chaplain in Cochran Prison. Tom Seesing came as Intentional Interim Pastor to guide the church through a self-study program of it's membership, and community. Tom Seesing served from April 1998 to March 2000 when he felt the study had completed it's purpose. Dick Kalebjian followed as Interim Pastor from April 2000 until September 8, 2000 when we received Mike Abdollahzadeh as our present Pastor.