About

Did You Know…

…That Laurelglen Bible Church began on January 15, 1978. The first meeting was held in the Youth for Christ building on California Avenue with 99 people attending.

…that LBC was originally called Southwest Mennonite Brethren Church.

…that, under the leadership of Pastor Ed Boschman, LBC grew steadily in membership, programming, staff, and facilities. The YFC building was outgrown quickly, and the congregation moved to the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Wilson Road. Our existing property was purchased in 1979 and construction of the existing Activity Center was completed in January, 1981.

…that our first Associate Pastor was added to the staff in 1982. Weekly attendance at the time was over 300.

…that the education wing was constructed in two phases and two additional pastoral positions were added during the next five years (1982-87).

…that Pastor Roger Poppen began his ministry as Senior Pastor in November, 1989. Since that time, LBC has continued to experience growth and God’s blessings.

…that construction of our Worship Center was completed in spring of 1994, and the church family occupied the new facility on Easter Sunday with 2,600 in attendance.

…that the Saturday Evening Service began in January 1997 to help ease the Sunday morning congestion and provide an alternative opportunity for weekend services.

…that seven pastoral elders and seven lay elders presently lead the LBC ministry.

…that as a church we contribute well over $300,000 to a variety of missions efforts each year, including missionaries sent from LBC, denominational missions, and several short-term projects.

…that LBC purchased 25 acres of property near the corner of Stockdale Highway and Allen Road (next to the new Bakersfield Christian High School site) and planted a new church which began meeting September 2003 under the leadership of Pastor Jeff Gowling.

…that the LBC Deaf Church was birthed on our campus under the leadership of Pastor Jeff Jackson in March 2005 to reach the 5,000 deaf people in Kern County and to enable LBC to reach their hearing family members also.

…that we are purchasing the condominiums on the west side of our property for future expansion purposes.