Connect, Grow, Serve and Go, combined with Acts 1:8, is the vision of Magnolia Church. In one form or another, this has been the vision of Magnolia Church throughout its history.
When plans were being finalized to move California Baptist College to its present location in Riverside, the concept of Magnolia Avenue Southern Baptist Church was born in the hearts and minds of a few students and faculty. They began to pray and plan for such a church even before moving to the city. They were under the deep conviction that a church adjacent to the college was essential to under-girding the spiritual life of the college family. Thus, an early vision of Connect, Grow, Serve and Go led to the location, organization, and development of Magnolia Church.
Since that humble beginning in 1955, Magnolia Church has continued to live out and broaden its vision to a growing Inland Empire. This broadening has included the physical expansion of the campus. Under the leadership of gifted pastors and lay leaders, the campus currently encompasses 100,000 square feet of worship and education space with a current resident membership of nearly 1,000. Current lead pastor, Dr. Montia Setzler, has brought vision and growth to the church for 26 years.
Although ministry programs have changed over time, there has been a consistent focus on evangelism and discipleship to train church members to effectively live out the church’s vision within the church family and the community at large. Magnolia Church has supported Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic language groups as they endeavor to reach the increasingly diverse “Jerusalem” that is the Inland Empire. Having a desire to truly embrace Acts 1:8, Magnolia Church has further extended its vision to encompass its Judea, Samaria and “to the ends of the earth.” Connect, Grow, Serve, and Go and Acts 1:8 are not just words. They are integral to the identity, history and mission of Magnolia Church to “lead people to become authentic followers of Jesus Christ.”
