Update - Petaluma Christian Church

Jason Baker and family

Petaluma Christian Church engaged a new pastor in September, 2014, Jason Baker.  Jason is married to Leisha, and they have two sons, Evan (5) and Caleb (2).

Pastor Jason last served at East Park Church in Vancouver, Washington, where he began as a Youth/Men's Pastor, advanced to an Associate Pastor, and then served as an Interim Pastor when the Lead Pastor left.

Jason was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and still roots for all the Arizona sports teams.  He attended and graduated from Arizona Christian University.  He then attended Golden Gate Baptist Seminary (mostly attending their Phoenix, Arizona campus).  He earned his Masters of Divinity degree in 2009.

Let's pray for Jason (and his family) as he shepherds the flock at Petaluma Christian Church.

Original post for Petaluma Christian Church

Petaluma United Methodist Church - Update 1

Pastor Burke Owens

The Petaluma United Methodist Church in Petaluma has a new pastor, Burke Owens, who began his ministry in Petaluma this July (2015).  He has a background in growing grapes for wineries, so of course he focused on the rich symbolism in the Bible about vineyards, vines, and grapes, as well as sharing his knowledge of other ancient cultural practices of grape growing for various purposes reaching into our times. He left that background to tend to the local Methodist vineyard here in Petaluma, though he still works part-time in other business related vineyards (a sort of tent-maker).

Original Post

360 Church of Petaluma - Update 1

A few years ago, I wrote about a new church - 360 church of Petaluma.
http://visitingchurches.blogspot.com/2011/10/360-church-of-petaluma.html

They have sinced moved from their location at Valley Vista School (at 360 N. Webster St., Petaluma) to 879 Lindsburg Lane (also in Petaluma).  http://360churchofpetaluma.com/contact-us/

As they told me, they first sought to lease this sight.  However, the owner, who also owned North Bay Construction, wanted them to buy the property, which they did for around $5,000,000.  It's a large piece of property, so they lease out most of it to businesses (mostly along the Payran side), which pays for the mortgage, so, as they tell me, they have no mortgage payment.

Meanwhile, they have been renovating the warehouse where they meet.  They have been raising the funds to renovate this space, which they have done in stages, and continue to do in their upstairs Sunday School rooms.  They have raised these funds from their congregation and friends.

Since I last visited them, they have increased their average attendance from about 200 adults on a given Sunday to around 300 or so, with many children in the Sunday school.

I rejoice in their growth both in their membership as well as their property holdings.  May God bless them as they continue to grow.