My wife Sally and I moved to Temecula in 1989 with our two sons, Brad & Jeff. We had come from Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa where we were involved in the Children's Ministry. Once in Temecula the Lord put it on my heart to attend the Bible College in Vista. Around this time, He also opened the door for a Bible study to begin in our home. It began as a small group of people meeting together to study the Word and share Christ's love with one another.

After only few short months we outgrew our home and the Lord opened the door for us to meet in a beautiful recreation center at an apartment complex in Temecula. The Bible study continued to grow in number and within a few months the people asked me to change the meeting day to Sunday and become their pastor. This was the most humbling thing that had ever happened to me, I was overwhelmed to say the least. As God continued to move and do a work, I discussed what was happening with Pastor Chuck Smith.

Pastor Chuck graciously opened up a couple of buildings at the Hot Springs Conference Center for us to meet in on Sundays. On April 6th, 1996 we began nurturing the lawn, cleaning and painting the building, and getting the space ready for us to meet in. Interestingly enough, the pulpit and the stage were built with the materials from a wall that came down! Everyone pulled together and helped transform this old building into a Sanctuary for the saints! It took about eight days to get the building somewhat ready for services. What a labor of love! God continued to do a work, and there were too many miracles to write down. Ephesians 3:20!

After meeting every Sunday for about six months, our time at to meet at the Hot Springs was over. The Bible College had gained County approval to move from Twin Peaks and it was time to renovate the Fellowship's building into dorms. This left us with nowhere to meet. But God had gone before us, and what we thought was a setback actually turned out to be a blessing. In September of 1996 I was driving home from work and the Lord prompted me to drive one block further. He led me into the parking lot of an abandoned nursery. At once I noticed the "For Sale or Lease" sign. The place was a mess, but the moment I stepped foot on the property I knew it was where God had directed us.

We began by holding many prayer meetings on the front porch seeking God's will. We watched as He opened doors and made impossible things happen. We stepped out in faith and proceeded to purchase the property. From that point God continued to bless our ministry. After the first rain we realized we needed a roof, and within two weeks God brought materials for a new roof. As we approached the summer months God provided Air Conditioning units. Little by little, it began to look like a little country Church. .In October of 1996 we held our first Sunday service at the new building. (If you have not looked at the photo albums, please do, you will be blessed to see the transformation. Again, what a labor of love!)

As our church continued to grow we began to experience opposition from the enemy, but God always proved faithful. At first, we received permission to move in and hold church services, but when the "Calvary Chapel" sign went up, the Vintners complained to the County. The County tried to get us out of the "Barn" by trying to pass an ordinance that would ban churches in the Wine Country. However, God had other plans. I received a phone call from Jay Sekulow with the American Center for Law and Justice as well as Bob Tyler and they began to come along side as legal counsel. Once again God proved Himself faithful on our behalf! On June 22, 1999 the County gave us our Public Use Permit, and on July 9, 1999 we closed escrow for the purchase of the property. In March of 2003 we held the first Sunday service in the newly constructed facility, the "new barn." Then in November of 2004 we completed the amphitheatre (our final major project) on the upper pad. God has been so gracious to us here at CCBF and we continue to stand in awe of the work that He does as we simply study His Word and lead others to Him.

So here we are, continuing with the same vision we had when we were just a small home Bible study. Our vision is and always will be to love God, love others, minister to the needs of God's people, and continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What a blessing to serve God's people here at the Barn. We pray He would continue to bless you, watch over you, fill you with His grace, strengthen you, and cause you to stand for Him. We love you all dearly and pray for you daily.

In Christ's Love,

Pastor Clark & Sally Van Wick