About

Sometime in the year of 1943, a group of people apparently saw the need for a Sunday school and church in the La Presa area of Spring Valley in San Diego County, California. At that time the closest church was in Lemon Grove, California. The first church services of the soon to be La Presa Community Church were held in a vacant grocery store on the north side of Jamacha Road, opposite of Gillespie Street. Later on, when the store re-opened, Mr. and Mrs. Sauder's offered the use of a building on their of property.
In August of 1945, Articles of Incorporation were formed and filed with he Secretary of State. The signers were Rev. Allan A. Hughes, Ruby Evans, H.P. Wallace, Burt Smith, and Frank E. Mccarty. In September of 1945, Capital Incomes Corp. (T.C. Grable, Vice President) deeded a 100 X 150 foot parcel of land on the south side of Jamacha Road between Gillespie Street and Kempton Street to the church. Sylvia Wilfony made arrangements for a 20 X 26 foot building to be moved onto the land. The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Dan Apra. Members of the church in 1947 were Daniel Apra, Virginia Apra, Ruby Evans, Sylvia Wilfony, Robert Phelps, Allene Phelps, Virginia Ford and Ann Caldwell. When Rev. Apra left to assume a pastorate elsewhere, there were temporary pastors.
In December 1953, Rev. Knudsen sent in his resignation as pastor and suggested that Rev. George Norwag take over the ministry. The congregation and Rev. Norwag were both agreeable to this suggestion.
In May 1955, Rev. and Mrs. Don Tinsley of the La Mesa Foursquare Gospel Church approached Rev. Norwag about the possibility of using La Presa Church while their new church was being built, probably for about six months--certain terms to be worked out. This was brought before the church and it was agreed that the Foursquare Church could use the church  and it was agreed that the Foursquare Church could use the church on an alternate basis with La Presa Church.