The Ventura Baptist Church was founded January 7, 1970. The beginning of this ministry started with founding pastor, Dr. George Golden, meeting with thirteen people in the living room of a home. After just a few meetings, the Poinsettia Pavilion was rented and the church began meeting and growing there. It was not long until every room available was rented and running over. The church needed its own facilities. Through the sacrifice of the members, property was acquired on the corner of Ralston and Saratoga streets - just an ordinary lemon orchard at that time. The members realized if a building was going to be built, they would have to build it themselves, so they did.

December 23, 1973, the church had the privilege of occupying their own building. In 1976 a second building was completed to house the church and school ministries.

In 1985 the gymnasium was completed. Since the auditorium was too small by this time to accommodate the people coming, the services were moved into the gym.

Pastor Golden retired from the pastorate January 4, 1998, and the church called Lewis McClendon to become the second Senior Pastor of Ventura Baptist Church. Pastor McClendon has been part of the Ventura Baptist Church staff since 1976. He was assistant pastor from 1976 to 1982 when he moved to the San Bernardino Mountains to be the executive director of our church's camp. He returned to Ventura in 1995 to be the co-pastor of the church. Then upon Pastor Golden's retirement, he was elected Senior Pastor.

On January 8, 2006 the church occupied the new Sanctuary and moved out of the gym. The new Sanctuary provides a place totally dedicated to the worship of God. We are excited to fill all 688 seats for the glory of God.

Our church offers exciting opportunities for Christian fellowship and growth as well as opportunities for Christian service to every person of every age.

The members of Ventura Baptist Church have taken a giant step of faith to build a new sanctuary. After much prayer members not only voted overwhelmingly to build a new sanctuary but they have also sacrificially committed to give the funds to build the new sanctuary. The name of our project is "Love Builds." To reach our community for Christ we need larger facilities and more parking. Because we love the lost we are willing to make the sacrifices to build.

We have done as much as we could to prepare the property for construction (thereby saving over $8,000) and now the first part of the construction project has begun. On Monday Dec 8, 2003 the new parking lot and restroom addition got under way. It is exciting to see the project in progress. We know there will be many challenges because of less parking on site and entrances blocked off at different times but we are up to the challenge and expect to grow. Pray as this project goes forward that God will provide the wisdom as decisions are made.