History

Around the year of 1950, in a little town called Perkins, California, which is near Folsom Blvd and Power Inn Road, a small group of people started having prayer meetings and church in the home of Grace Mendenhall. Her son C.J. Mendenhall was a recent graduate of the Assembly of God Bible School in Waxahachie, Texas, and was anxious to start a church. There were about 30 people who attended, mostly family. 

After a while the accommodations became too small, so Pastor Mendenhall found a war surplus Quonset hut and made it into a church building on Power Inn Road, where they leased some land to put the building on. 

In 1953, the congregation moved to 35th Avenue and Power Inn Road and was named Capital Evangelistic Tabernacle. In 1962, Pastor Mendenhall resigned the church. In October of that year, Pastor Hazen Chester was asked to become pastor of the church. As we grew in number, we also grew in building size by several additions. At this time, the church was renamed as, “35th Avenue Assembly of God”. This building is still being used as a church to this day. 

As the church grew, a larger building was needed. After locating the site at 7520 Stockton Blvd, it was decided that this was the place that the Lord would have us build a new church. Several buildings had to be removed before starting to build. In the interim, we rented a small day nursery on Stockton Blvd. During the time between November 1965 and February 1968 we had church in this small building. Many items had to be transported from member’s homes to be able to have services each Sunday.  

In February 1968, our growing congregation moved to our present site here at 7520 Stockton Blvd, renaming the church “Faith Assembly of God”. The name seemed very appropriate since many obstacles were overcome by faith to accomplish the move.  During the following years, as the congregation continued to grow, the new facilities were inadequate, and modifications began with the addition of the “Fireside Room” and classrooms. After three major modifications of extensions, space was filled as rapidly as it was built. On August 2, 1984, Pastor Hazen Chester went to be with the Lord, with a new sanctuary still in his vision. 

Faith Assembly then asked Dr. John Abernathy, who was serving the District as Men’s Ministries and Christian Education Pastor, to come and Pastor this congregation. Under his Pastorate, our current building was built, and the church was renamed and dedicated on July 3, 1988, as Southpointe Christian Center, along with Southpointe Christian School. Dr. John Abernathy was our Pastor for 6 years and when he resigned, Pastor Jack Wright became our Pastor in 1990. Pastor Wright resigned December 2005 after serving as our Pastor for fifteen years. In June of 2006, we elected Pastor Mike Trenton of Modesto California to serve as our Senior Pastor. Pastor Mike Trenton served the church well for 10 years until he resigned in February 2016 to go back to Modesto. In June 2016, Pastor Brent and Jacki Sorlien, were elected to be our Lead Pastors. Pastor Brent resigned in April 2024 to be closer to family. On July 28, 2024, Pastor Geary and Christina Jimenez, were elected to be our Lead Pastors. 

There are a few members left who have been here since the first building who attend regularly, work hard and are still found faithful. In the 75 years of this church, we have had seven men of God lead us well.