From Big Bear Christian Center to The journey church

In 1964, little more than a handful of people started a home meeting in Big Bear City. Rev. Louis and Lorene Weiss led this small congregation in worship of God and learning His ways.

The following year, on April 7, 1965, that group incorporated Big Bear Christian Center, moving ahead with the will of God to form an independent, indigenous Full Gospel church.

After the passing of Rev. Weiss, Pastor Orlin "Gene" Greeley and his wife Alvern led the church from 1973 to 1984. They passed the leadership to Pastor Jeff and Peggy Tunnell on Easter Sunday 1984, and they served as Senior Pastors until Palm Sunday of 2012.

The Tunnells and the Elders laid hands on Pastor Rob Hastings and his wife Shannon, setting them into ministry as our Lead Pastors on April 1st, 2012. The church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014 and is moving into a strong future of ministry to Big Bear Valley.

In 2019 the name was changed to The Journey Church Big Bear, knowing that our life on this earth is not static but dynamic, changing and moving--that until we are at home with Christ in heaven, which is our final destination, we all are simply on a Journey. We also realize that each and every individual is at a different part of this journey, and it is our responsibility as believers to help everyone with whom we come in contact to grow one step closer to Jesus, who is THE WAY.

Our highest calling is found in Matthew 28:18-20, "The Great Commission," coupled with Matthew 22:36-40, "The Great Commandment." Loving God and our neighbor demands that we be continuously occupied with the expansion of His Kingdom throughout the Earth. While there are people groups that have not yet heard of Jesus the Savior, we have a job to do. His “Great Commission” is our mission. Go, make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey. There is no greater calling than this!

We are fulfilling this calling by building a strong, doctrinally sound and practically functioning congregation that is dedicated to sharing the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and discipling those accepting Him as Savior. Our goal is to produce disciples that are strong in the Word and faith and who mature to be able to disciple others.

Prophetically, the Lord has designated this assembly as a “Lighthouse on the Mountain.” Lighthouses help those on a journey. A lighthouse warns of danger, directs people to safe harbors, and sometimes just lets travelers know that they are not alone on their journey.

We are called to reach out to those in great need, seeking direction in their Christian experience. The Journey Church exists to help people on their journey by providing a place of family, community, and spiritual advancement for all ages and backgrounds.