HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE— Three years after losing the church to the Valley Fire, Hidden Valley Community Church held a groundbreaking ceremony at the vacant church lot on Nov. 18. The Assembly of God church received a building permit in September and will begin the foundation construction in the upcoming weeks.
Pastor Zach Pyzer was joined by Supervisor Moke Simon, special guests and congregation members to celebrate the groundbreaking. Pastor Mike Suski, District Presbyter, began the ceremony with an invocation declaring the ground ‘holy’ and that the three year wait for reconstruction was all part of the Lord’s plan for the church.
The original church construction began in 1991, taking six years to complete. It stood as a community gathering place for nearly 20 years before being lost in the Valley Fire on September 12, 2015. At one point the church building was the largest meeting site in the south county and served as the community polling site, a school, and meeting site for various community organizations. David MacDonald, one of the original congregants shared stories of the history of the church and the faith it took to see the future of the church during the six years of construction.
Supervisor Moke Simon, who was instrumental in securing the building permit for the new construction, shared that he was married in the original church and wanted to see it rebuilt. “My uncle was saved at this church and he said I needed to be married where he found God” said Mr. Simon. “I am happy to assist the church and will be here for the celebration of the church when they open their doors for the first time.”
Pastor Zach Pyzer, who became the Senior Pastor just three months before the fire, spoke about the timing of God in the rebuilding process. Quoting from Ephesians 3:20 “ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.“ The groundbreaking
is the culmination of careful planning to create a facility which will serve as home to the Hidden Valley congregation and community. The three year wait, fraught with setbacks and frustrations, has been a labor of faith by the Building Committee and Church Board.
The new 9,000 square foot building construction will be supervised by church member Charley Carpenter with foundation work set to begin with the help of Hope City, a ministry of Hope Crisis Response Network. Hope City’s mission is to serve individuals, families and communities impacted by disasters in the United States done through a network of volunteers. Because the church was built under a residential permit in 1991 and insured as a residential building the insurance was not adequate to cover the costs of the new construction. The help of Hope City and their volunteers along with donations made to the church will allow the church to meet the new building costs.
Pastor Zach Pyzer, joined by Board Members Nish McDowell, John Barrios, Lindsey Pullman, Margaret Davis, and Laurie Allen, Supervisor Moke Simon, and construction supervisor Charley Carpenter took the first ceremonial shovels to the cheers of congregation and community members.
For more information about Hidden Valley Community Church and it’s building program call 707-987-3510 or email hvcchurch2gmail.com.
