About Us
ABOUT US
Our History
In 1980 six couples began to meet for Bible study. As they met, they began to feel the need for a church home where they felt comfortable with the style of worship and Bible teaching. Out of this Bible study King City Bible Church was born.
King City Bible Church is a member of the Venture Church Network formerly called "NextGen Churches", one of the eight regions of CBAmerica (Conservative Baptist Association of America).
The first home for KCBC was at the recreation center of Rio Plaza Mobile Home Park. The first pastor was Ron Harper. He was a good choice because he had the experience needed to start a new church. As the church began to grow and develop, we felt the need for a more church-like meeting place. We worked out an agreement with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. While they had their service at 9:30 a.m., we had our Sunday school. We also provided Sunday school for the St. Mark’s children. Ron was our pastor for three years and then moved on.
After an interim of about six months, we called Phil Brownell to be our pastor. Phil was with us about two years before he moved on. During his time we slowly grew, and the desire for our own home and identity began to grow.
We went through an interim of about seven months this time. Our next pastor was Jared Jenkins. Jared was retired navy and had gone into the pastorate as a second career. He had church building experience and used that experience in helping to bring about our current building. Jared had the philosophy that we would build until our money ran out. Our money never ran out. In fact, when the building was completed, we had the same amount in savings that we had started with!
It was an exciting time for us as God provided for the building. We got the land from Prudential Insurance for three hundred dollars an acre. When we had to blacktop the parking lot we did not have the money needed. A member of the community stepped up and provided what was needed. When we were going to sheet rock the building ourselves, a contractor “happened to stop by” and told us he could do it cheaper than what it would cost us for materials. The foundation was laid in February 1990 and we officially met in the building the first Sunday in October of 1990. This experience with the building taught us as a church a lot of valuable lessons about trusting God to provide, and that He will build his church if we will only get out of the way and let him work.
Jared was with us for eight years and then he felt the need to retire. He was much loved and is missed by those who knew him. We then went through an interim period of eight months. These were exciting times because we had to depend on God and His use of the members to lead in ministry. It was a good time of depending on God to use the gifts of His people.
After Jared left, we called Dwight Koopmans to be our pastor. Dwight served well but had to leave after a year and a half because of his son’s health problems.
Our next pastor was Phil Ellrott. Phil was with us four years. After Phil left we had a retired pastor come for our interim time. Glennon Culwell helped reorganize the church and get us refocused.
The next pastor that we had was Chuck McCament. Chuck and his family moved to King City in August, 2001. He brought life and enthusiasm to our church. Chuck was a good fit for our church and we looked forward to a long tenure with him as our pastor. However, Chuck left us in 2005 because of family concerns in Southern California.
The next pastor was Bob Okerson. Bob had been involved in the church for thirty-four years. He had served as an elder since 1982. He was doing the interim preaching after Chuck McCament left. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit he and the church agreed to his becoming the pastor. Bob officially became the pastor in 2006 and was ordained in 2010. Bob left us in 2015 to move closer to his grandchildren in Southern California.
Our current pastor is Jim Stuercke. Pastor Jim has been involved in the church since 2001. He has served as an elder since 2003. He served as assistant pastor under Bob Okerson and after prayerful thought and leading by the Holy Spirit was called to be our lead pastor on February 21, 2016.
We love Pastor Jim's preaching and teaching style. He is active in our community. Jim is a full time elementary school teacher in addition to his duties as pastor. Pastor Jim has been active in community theater and other community projects.
