SCV churches merge congregations
South Valley and Heart of the Canyons hope to have greater community impact with combined resources
South Valley Church in Newhall ministered to the community for many years with roots going back to the 1950s. But after a series of staffing changes last year, church members began leaving and South Valley was in need of help.
Heart of the Canyons Church, which meets at La Mesa Junior High School on Sundays, answered that call. The churches decided to merge after a nearly unanimous vote by both congregations in December. They would be known as one congregation under the name of Heart of the Canyons.
“Within a matter of weeks, we lost our pastor, worship leader and youth leader,” said Marc Botello, South Valley’s community outreach coordinator.
After South Valley’s lead pastor left the congregation for another church in Santa Clarita, attendance began to dwindle. Then the church’s youth and worship leader felt called to go on a mission to China. The changes left the congregation without leadership and wary of the future.
The church transformed from a thriving congregation with nearly 200 attendees at its peak to a small congregation of 50.
“It was a matter of trying to maintain 50 or work together with another church that has people, leaders and finances,” Botello said.
South Valley approached
Heart of the Canyons with the idea. The congregation felt Heart of the Canyons was the natural choice since it had its start as a church plant by South Valley, known then as First Baptist Newhall, more than 25 years ago.
“Most people saw it as a benefit and a good thing,”
Botello said.
The merger would help save South Valley and provide Heart of the Canyons a permanent church, office headquarters and a location to host midweek events.
“We wanted to be good stewards of the facility and resources,” said Aaron Crawford, associate pastor at Heart of the Canyons. “We wanted to do justice to serving both the Newhall and Canyon Country congregations.”
Blending congregations
The change became official Jan. 1. South Valley is now Heart of the Canyons South. Services will continue at La Mesa, and that campus is Heart of the Canyons East.
“We knew something needed to be done. When they came up with the idea, I was very excited,” said Judi Winkle, South Valley office manager. “Now we are already coming together. Heart of the Canyons opened their arms for us.”
The merger also brought other change. Much-needed renovations began at South Valley. Plans include a new roof and renovations to the parking lot and offices. Both congregations meet at La Mesa, but the South campus will be reopened by the end of March and Sunday services will be held at both locations.
“We simply folded the congregation in,” Crawford said. “We are now one church and functioning like that.”
The merger and renovations have not affected Little Light Preschool, which has operated at South Valley for years. Renovations were not needed on the preschool, which is at full capacity this year.
Members from South Valley are excited about the change and the opportunity it provides for the church to do more community outreach.
“They’ve already put on a few functions we wouldn’t have been able to do,” Winkle said.
South Valley has spearheaded the Give Thanksgiving homeless outreach for several years and has a tradition of offering cold water and popsicles to people during the city of Santa Clarita’s 4th of July Parade, since the church is located at a major intersection along the parade route.
“We’ve always done things in the community,” Botello said. “We want people to see how God has worked in our lives – that we have a joyful heart – and we want to serve people; maybe they will start to understand how God can impact their lives.”