NUMC History

A Brief History of Northridge United Methodist Church

Compiled by Dr. DeWayne Johnson Northridge United Methodist Church has been serving our community for over 80 years and looks forward to many decades ahead. Throughout NUMC’s history, “nothing has been so constant as change”. The community of Northridge began as an important agricultural center in the early years of the development of the San Fernando Valley. That early community of farm homes was called Zelzah, a biblical name for a “watering place in the desert.” The name was changed first to North Los Angeles and later to Northridge Village. The Community Methodist Episcopal Church of Zelzah was established in 1924. The first group of 25 parishioners met in a two-room schoolhouse at the corner of Canby Avenue and Gresham Street, with lay preachers ministering to the needs of the congregation on a Sundays-only basis. In 1926 the congregation purchased the school building for $20 from the Los Angeles School Board. Following the donation of a half-acre lot, the structure was moved to the northwest corner of Reseda Boulevard and Nordhoff Street and was remodeled for Sunday services and fellowship events.
	That location was later leased to the Standard Oil Company for a gas station, then sold, and is today occupied by a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant. The sale of that property generated capital funds that have been carefully guarded through the years to finance improvements on the present church property and maintain an on-going Missions Fund. The Great Depression of the 1930’s and the war years immediately thereafter were difficult for the still-fledgling church, as they were for the rest of the nation. However, by 1946 the membership was up to 120, with Sunday School enrollment numbering 153 students. They met for Sunday School across the street at the home of “Aunt Phil” Bousset. In 1954 the church bought 4.8 acres of orange grove facing Reseda Boulevard between Superior and Halsted Streets. When the property at Reseda and Nordhoff was leased to the Standard Oil Company, the church began construction of the chapel on Halsted Street which now serves as the Youth Activity Center (YAC). The Fireside Room and several Sunday School rooms were built during that same construction phase, and were completed by the end of 1958. At this time, the Rev. Dave Sharp was the leader of the fast-growing congregation, and expanded the church to three Sunday services.
In 1961 the church acquired property facing Reseda Boulevard, and later the corner lot at Reseda Boulevard and Superior Street. In 1963 a contemporary-style sanctuary/multipurpose building (now the Fellowship Hall) were built. Additional Sunday School rooms and the Nursery School were dedicated in 1968. The Rev. George Walters became pastor in1968, and served our church for 16 years. He was followed by Rev. Al Gorsline in 1984, and the Rev. David Richardson in 1987. In the early 1980s, as the congregation faced issues of continuing expansion of our ministry, visions arose of a new sanctuary to be built on the still-vacant land at Reseda and Superior. After much debate, a long-range plan was adopted which divided the building projects into three phases. The initial phase, improvement of Sunday School and Youth facilities, was completed in 1990. The second phase was the largest one, as it included construction of a new sanctuary for NUMC. Plans for the structure were drawn, pledges were solicited, financing was obtained, and construction finally began. The new sanctuary was dedicated at Thanksgiving 1992. The third phase of the building project included a separate building to house the church offices, and the Kendall Building for program activities of the church, including a women’s craft room. That building was named for Ruth and Pat Kendall who donated the funds for the much-used facility. Just when the whole campus, as envisioned in the Master Plan was complete, the Northridge Earthquake of January 1994 shook the entire community to its foundations. The church was fortunate that superior planning and construction techniques enabled the new buildings to survive without major damage. The heaviest damage was the consequence of a broken sprinkler system in the sanctuary and the collapse of sound panels above the choir loft. The church itself became a vital survival center for earthquake victims in the surrounding neighborhood. In the ensuing years since 1994, only physical maintenance and minor improvements have been necessary. The church mission has continued to evolve, in keeping with the slogan “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”
	Long time members of the congregation take pride in the fact that many of its senior and associate pastors have moved on to significant accomplishments within and outside the United Methodist Church. Several have served as District Superintendents, some have been involved in the establishment of new churches, others have assumed key positions in the larger church body. Pastors in recent years have included the Rev. Dave Richardson, Rev. Maria Davis-Hanlin, Rev. Dr. Mark Ulrickson, Rev. Soomee Kim, Rev. Karen Delaney-Ellis, Rev. Sandy Liddell, Rev. John Woodall, Rev. Sunny Pak, Rev. Dr. James Goss, Rev. Joy Price, and Rev. Dr. Paula Ferris. In July 2007 we welcomed our new pastor, Rev. Stan Ferguson, and are looking forward to his ministry. Each of these church leaders has been focused on building “a bridge to the future” with an emphasis on innovation, challenge to the Christian conscience and dedication to the creative spirit. Our congregation is confident that our church will continue as a major “point of light” in the San Fernando Valley.