Our Story

“Our mission to make disciples permeates everything we do as a congregation. Grace Rancho has sending in its DNA, and we hope to continue the tradition of training and sending leaders to plant, revitalize, or serve in other churches.”

The story begins with two men who were instrumental in getting Grace Fellowship of Alta Loma started. Ken Shively and Pastor Ken Churchill could see that Alta Loma and surrounding areas were going through a housing boom and would need a church. They were the ones that made the pitch to Brethren Home Missions in Indiana. A small Bible study started at the house of Sandy and Phyllis Fairchild shortly thereafter.

The Bible study grew large enough that a Pastor Gary Nolan was hired. Pastor Nolan came out of North Long Beach Brethren Church. He was the college pastor there. The first Sunday service was in August of 1977. In 1978 the church began meeting at Alta Loma High School. By 1979 funds were acquired to purchase the property at 5719 Beryl Street that is still in use today. A ground breaking ceremony was held on May 20, 1979 and the building was finished in 1980.

Throughout the years, the church experienced years of growth and years of decline. Through it all, the Lord worked through faithful members and pastors to care for the church.

Then, in February 2017, the leadership at Grace Church of Simi Valley started praying about expanding the ministry and replicating it in a new place. They were open to planting or revitalizing a church, and were praying for clarity and direction.

They prayed this way until early October when a few leaders were invited to a meeting of churches to discuss the future of Grace Fellowship of Alta Loma. Their pastor, Roy Halberg, who had served the church faithfully for 15 years, was retiring at the end of the year. The church had a small group of saints in need of help, who, in faith, believe that God’s work wasn’t finished in Alta Loma.

Grace Simi felt this was an answer to their prayers. They began working with Grace Fellowship to develop a plan to bring the church back to health. In November 2017, Grace Simi, Grace Orange, and Grace Fellowship agreed to partner together on the revitalization. On January 1st, the church was renamed Grace Church of Rancho Cucamonga (Grace Rancho), and Eric Durso became the lead pastor.

Grace Rancho exists today because of the faithful providence of God and the vision of sending churches. Grace Simi and Grace Orange sent around 30 individuals to Grace Rancho in 2018. From the beginning, the Lord has been at work to provide far more than ever expected. It is by his grace and abundant provision that he has restored the church to health, raised up biblically qualified men to lead the church as elders, and provided the necessary finances for Grace Rancho to become an autonomous local church on January 19, 2020.

Our mission to “make disciples” drives everything we do as a congregation. Grace Rancho has sending in its DNA, and we hope to continue the tradition of training and sending leaders to plant, revitalize, and serve in other churches.