After receiving an $850,000 donation, members of Pacific Christian Center will hold a mortgage burning service and celebrate 70 years of ministry this month.

A Santa Maria-style barbecue is planned for 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at Pacific Christian Center's Palmer Hall, 3435 Santa Maria Way. Tickets will cost $7 for adults and $3 for children 10 years old and younger.

On Oct. 12, special mortgage-burning services will occur at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Half of the four-page mortgage document will be burned at the first Sunday morning service, with the second part saved for the second service.

“I think it's going to be a great time,” Senior Pastor Rick Bloom said. “It's exciting to be out of debt.”

Several guests will participate in the celebration. Former pastors, including the Revs. Ernest Kumpe, Harris Lidstrand, Robert Palmer, will participate in the anniversary events along with the Rev. Ray Rachels, district superintendent.

The mortgage had been scheduled to be paid off in 2015. But on April 1 one member, who wished to remain anonymous, provided the $850,000 check to Bloom, he said.

“He really blessed us,” Bloom added.

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Now debt-free, the church recently has added 116 much-needed parking spaces. For recent large funerals, parking for attendees had often spilled into nearby streets.

The Assemblies of God church began in 1937 and relocated four times as it grew. It also changed its name from Santa Maria First Assembly of God to Pacific Christian Church and later became Pacific Christian Center.

Most recently they moved from a Stowell Road site to the present location in 1989.

The church now sits on more than 12 acres bordered by Santa Maria Way, Bradley, Lakeview and Hillview roads. Pacific Christian Center has 1,100 people who attend two Sunday morning services, he said.

Among its ministries, the church provided a preschool and later added elementary and junior high schools. Future plans call for adding a new gym and a junior high school campus, according to Bloom.

For information, call 934-3491 or visit the church's Web site at www.pacificchristian.net.

October 5, 2008