A Look Back

Last week we began looking at the colorful history of the Foursquare

movement in Huntington Beach and the unique design of its church at 715

Lake St.

We left off with the Korean War beginning in the early 1950s and with

Rev. Pete Nyenhuis leading his congregation in the early days of the war.

In 1951 Rev. Inman became pastor and during his three years he

undertook having the church property fenced. Inman, and his wife and

two children remained until 1953.

Rev. R.J. Kelly replaced Inman, but left the church after a short time

because of his wife’s ill health.

Kelly was replaced with the first Rev. Smith -- Rev. R.J. Smith.

He stayed there from 1953 to 1954 with his wife and

their two children- Donna and Jerry.

Smith was left and was replaced with the second Rev.

Smith.

Pastor Charles “Chuck” Smith became pastor here in 1954 with his wife

Catheryn.

The little church was now known as the Lake Avenue Community

Foursquare Church and during Smith’s pastorate, a church organ was

purchased.

Smith left in 1960 to form his own Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and

was replaced with Rev. Gary Robinson.

One of his first acts was to draft plans to enlarge the church

building by 3,000-square-feet.

Groundbreaking for the new addition took place in February of 1961.

With a new look, a new name was needed and so the Church by the Sea

name was selected.

On Sept. 23, 1962 the church held a dedication ceremony in thenewly

completed addition.

On hand for the occasion were Huntington Beach mayor, Robert Lambert

and several members of the city council.

Howard P. Courtney, general supervisor of the Foursquare churches was

the guest speaker.

Robinson received the Certificate of Dedication from Harold W.

Jefferies, pastor of the Portland Oregon Foursquare Church.

During the program, the guests toured the new rooms and admired the

beautiful new Palos Verdes stonework and the 100-seat Crusader Chapel.

Robinson stayed until 1985 when Rick Gilmore became its new pastor.

With him came yet another new name for the church.

It was now known as the New Hope Fellowship. Gilmore and his wife

Debbie stayed until 1989.

Pastor Mike Boyer replaced Gilmore and he and his wife Gwen stayed

until 1995.

Its present pastor, Mark Lesback and his wife Brenda took over and the

name was again changed to Hope Chapel.

Lesback is a Professor at LIFE Bible College and he holds two masters

degrees, one in theology and one in religion/ethics.

Lesback grew up in Orange County and has 22 years of full-time

ministry experience.

Brenda Lesback is also an Orange County native and holds a masters

degree in special education.

For several years she taught special education at Dwyer Middle

School and is today the children’s pastor at the church.

Hope Chapel today meets at 10 a.m. in the student center at Huntington

Beach High School on Sunday mornings because the little church’s

congregation has outgrown the building.

Two other churches, Ohana Fellowship and Coastlands Fellowship, meet

inside the little church now.

With Huntington Beach loosing so many of its rich historical

buildings, it’s nice to be able to see this little church that Lesback

described as “a most unique 1960s style of architecture.”