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Assembling a community
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Posted by nwv_admin Fri Jun 17, 2005 16:11:00 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments  When Steven Yeary came to Brimhall Road as a boy, he wasn't drawn there on a spiritual mission. He was going to the dump with his dad.

"There was absolutely nothing here. This was ‘the end of town,'" said Yeary.

That's not the case now. During the 13 years that the Brimhall Road Assembly of God church has sat at 10700 Brimhall Road, members have seen new developments, new businesses, a park and Liberty High School spring up around them.

Not that Brimhall Assembly has let the growth spurt go to its head.

"We're still a neighborhood church. You have a real opportunity to make a difference here and influence people in a positive way," said Yeary, now senior pastor at the church.

The church's mission statement reads "Brimhall Road Assembly of God exists to build bridges to families in Northwest Bakersfield through the pursuit of excellence in relevant, age-appropriate ministries that reach, equip, empower and send a younger generation to carry the message of Jesus to their world in an environment that provides joy for the journey."

The church, which is coming up on its 50th anniversary and has 450 members, originally consisted of about 35 members who met out of what is now the Kmart on Rosedale Highway. Once Kmart bought the space, they leased from Greenacres Community Center for two-and-a-half years, then relocated to the Brimhall location.

"The church was looking to make connections with people in the area," said Yeary, who will celebrate his 11th anniversary as senior pastor July 11.

Yeary lived his early years in Taft before his father, an ARCO employee, was relocated to Texas, where Yeary attended high school and college. Yeary moved back to Bakersfield for a time to serve as associate pastor at the First Assembly of God from 1984 to 1990. He then returned to the Dallas area and started a congregation in Ralout, Texas, where he remained for four years before returning to Bakersfield to accept the Brimhall position.

Today, he oversees the Assemblies of God in Kern County and is very connected with the Kern High School District -- especially Liberty, where his two daughters attended and his son is currently a student. Yeary said being well-off socio-economically, as the school is, brings with it it's own set of challenges, as students have made available to them an extensive amount of resources.

"We connect youths with positive role models who live healthy lifestyles, and help them find a sense of purpose and belonging when they ask, ‘Why am I here?'" said Yeary.

The church, which is attended by many young families, prides itself on its kid-friendly, teen-friendly atmosphere, as well as its contemporary flavor. Boys and girls are in scout-like groups called the Rangers and Missionettes. Mardi Yeary, Steven's wife, is in charge of much of the children's ministry. Junior high and high-schoolers can join the EPIC youth ministry. Worship bands and cutting-edge multimedia are paramount, and Yeary said services are highly interactive.

Adults aren't left out, though. Those ages 30 to 42 make up the majority of the congregation. Brimhall Assembly just hired an adult ministries pastor to help assimilate adults into the church family and help with their spiritual formation.

"We put our money where our mouth is. We say that every member of your family deserves the highest quality of ministry we have available, and we mean it," said Yeary.

From the street, though, the church -- made up of two small buildings -- looks modest compared to a RiverLakes or a Valley Baptist.

"Their size doesn't indicate the fact that we are a thriving community," said Yeary.

But that should change soon. For two years, church officials have been planning to expand Brimhall Assembly by erecting a new building on the property -- a 17,800-square-foot sanctuary with 122 parking spaces. The new building would seat about 600 and include classrooms, nursery rooms, a kitchen and other facilities. They're set to break ground on the project in August, and if all goes well the building should be completed by Easter of next year.

Yeary hopes that tripling the church's capacity and presenting a look that is more compatible with what's going on inside its walls will allow them to reach more people.

"The project is great evidence of the depth of what is taking place here," said Yeary.

Brimhall Road Assembly of God
10700 Brimhall Road
589-5254
Services are held Sundays at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Adult Bible study and the youth groups meet Wednesday nights from 7 to 8:15 p.m.

Brimhall Road Assembly of God Serengeti Trek
By Mardi Yeary, Brimhall Road Church Director of Children's Ministries

The Serengeti Trek summer youth program is open to kids in kindergarten through sixth grade. Each day, participatns will sing catchy songs, play teamwork-building games, nibble watering hole snacks, take on a daily challenge to let God's love grow into their homes, experience electrifying Bible adventures, collect Bible memory buddies to remind them of God's word, and create Bible point crafts they will take home and play with all summer long.
Serengeti Trek is an exciting way for kids to learn more about God's love. We will be studying stories about Bible characters who were wild about God. Each day concludes at the mane event -- a celebration that gets everyone involved in living what they've learned. Family members and friends are encouraged to join us daily for this special time at 11:30 a.m. each day. We hope Serengeti Trek will leave a little bit of God's love in our community.
Serengeti Trek begins on Monday, July 18, and continues through Friday, July 22. We will meet at the church daily from 9 a.m. to noon. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and can be done online at www.brimhallassembly.com or by calling the church office at 589-5254.

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