42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
(Acts 2:42-47 – NASB95)
I love reading about the early church, because it’s obvious that they loved their church. Brand new believers were devoted to being together to worship, learn, grow, and serve. They did it as often as they could with an openness and an honesty that allowed one another to know what their needs were and have opportunity to meet them. There was a spirit of volunteerism and everyone participated. A bit of heaven on earth.
I love hearing or reading about the early years of our church. As I mentioned last Sunday, in God’s providence I had the privilege of meeting a former member named Paul Thompson. He now lives in Dana Point but was in the Valley last Saturday, so he dropped by to see if anyone was at his old church. He came into my office and gave me a little bit of his family history at First Baptist Church of Reseda (now The Bridge Bible Fellowship). His family started attending in the 1950s and his dad, Bengie, helped build our current worship center (see picture of Bengie up on the ladder installing the arches).
In my email correspondence with Paul, he included his two sisters (Laura Brewer & Janet Wright). I received an amazing email from Laura describing her childhood at Reseda Baptist, and the impact our church had on her back then and to this day. She gave me permission to share it with you. Please note how the Lord worked through a lot of people in our church (paid & volunteers) to profoundly impact her life at a young age. Also note that like her parents, she loves her church and is a devoted volunteer. She is faithfully using her gifts and abilities for the benefit of the body of Christ and for the glory of God. I hope you are as encouraged by her email as I am. May her tribe increase! Sometime soon I will share her brother Paul’s email about how his dad served our church, but for today, here is Laura’s:
Pastor Paul,
I’m so glad you and my brother, Paul, got a chance to meet, go over old memories, and begin to develop a friendship. Our dad and mom (Bengie and Martha Thompson) had a deep love for your church and its people. They were very involved. Dad was a deacon, played the violin, led music worship, and mom sang in the choir. Her voice was requested to sing at numerous weddings and funerals, as well as a Sunday morning soloist.
As the youngest of my parents’ children, I have different memories than my brother and sister. The church was already built by the time I started walking down the aisle. I began attending as early as the first Sunday after my birth in 1957. The first pastor who made a big impression on me was Robert Wells.
My favorite memory of Pastor Wells is when I was about 7 years old. I confessed that I was a compulsive liar. I went to his office on my own and wanted an appointment. With my parents’ encouragement, he met me every week for a couple of months. Week after week, he gently showed me how to break the habit. He never divulged my secret to anyone. He and I had a special bond after that.
At 7 years old, Pastor Wells baptized me in the sanctuary baptismal that was so deep I could barely see over the glass. I acknowledged that Jesus was born, died, buried, and rose from the grave. I asked Jesus to forgive my sin and make me a new creation. I now know I am justified by faith and redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
In Sunday School, I learned about heroes of the faith with the aid of a flannel board, attended Pioneer Girls, summer camps at Indian Village and Forest Home in Arrowhead. These were all foundational to learning how God loves me and will never let me go.
When I outgrew it, dad donated my playhouse to the church preschool area. For many years it served as a place for children to play and make believe they had a small house, just their size. I wonder if it’s still there.
I started to become a stubborn teenager, not wanting to go to church, when I heard someone loudly call my name, “Thompson!” from across the parking lot. It was Dawson McAllister. He always had a posse of kids around him and he wanted me to feel included. I still can’t believe that he taught the book of Romans to a bunch of junior high kids, and we were enraptured by every word. He had a way of making scripture come to life.
Dawson started something called “The Upper Room” on the corner of Reseda Blvd. and Sherman Way. We would all make our way there after school or in the evenings to sing and learn more about Jesus. It was a great place to invite our friends who didn’t attend church. This was all during the time of the Jesus Movement in the 70’s.
The church secretary, Arlene Likes, had a great influence on me as well. She was a force to be reckoned with if you were out of line. But if you wanted to help her with the office chores or work in the library, she was always encouraging. Much later in life, after I had moved away, I brought my third child to see Arlene at her house. She stopped what she was doing, invited me in and prayed over my child. She was an example of a Proverbs 31 woman.
Today, I am 67, living in Texas, happily married, and attending Denton Bible Church. I am active in missions and discipleship. Two of my three children are believers and I’m praying for the third. He was the one Arlene prayed over. I rely on God’s promises of allowing the real powerhouse, His Spirit, to work in my son’s thoughts, relationships and circumstances, to draw him to Jesus.
I have much to be grateful for. One thing for sure is First Baptist Church of Reseda, now known as The Bridge Bible Fellowship. Thank you for your consistency and love for the people of the San Fernando Valley. Continue to follow the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.“
Come Quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings,
Laura (Thompson) Brewer
