A Church at 4505 Katella
Cottonwood Church sits on Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos, a few minutes from the Orange County and Long Beach line. The community that meets there describes itself as a non-denominational, multi-ethnic church rooted in Christ Jesus, gathered around a single phrase that the church treats almost like a compass: Bringing a Living Jesus to a Dying World. From the same address the church runs an extensive slate of ministries for children, students, adults, seniors, and Spanish-speakers, as well as a second campus on Viking Way in Long Beach.
From 1983 to the Present: The Conley Family Story
Cottonwood was founded in 1983 by Pastors Bayless and Janet Conley, whose life and ministry have been centered on that same vision for more than four decades. Their continual involvement remains a meaningful part of the church's story. Pastoral leadership now rests with their son and daughter-in-law, Pastors Harrison and Bethany Conley, who carry forward the spiritual legacy of the founding family by providing vision, leadership, and direction for the church.
What Cottonwood Believes
Cottonwood's stated tenets of faith cover the classic evangelical ground, with a Pentecostal-leaning accent. The church teaches belief in one God eternally existent as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; in the deity, virgin birth, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; in the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God; in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It also affirms the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as a subsequent gift to salvation, the provision of bodily healing in the atoning work of Christ, and the future return of Jesus and the resurrection of both the saved and the lost.
Sundays on the Katella Campus
Services at the main campus meet at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. PT, with doors opening roughly twenty minutes before each service so first-time guests can park, check in kids, and grab a seat. Guest parking spots closest to the main building are reserved for newcomers, and complimentary cart drivers help anyone who needs a lift across the lot. Once inside, visitors can choose between two seating areas: the Main Sanctuary or the outdoor Amphitheater for those who prefer the open air. There is no dress code; jeans and sneakers sit comfortably alongside Sunday best.
Each service includes worship, praise, and the preaching and teaching of God's Word. Cottonwood Kids serves children from birth through sixth grade at both services, including a nursery and a special-needs classroom. Cottonwood Youth, for grades 6 through 12, meets at 11:00 a.m. in Building B. A Welcome Center in the lobby answers questions and hands out a small gift to first-time guests.
First Wednesdays and a Steady Diet of Prayer
On the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., the whole Katella campus gathers for a worship and prayer night called First Wednesdays. The church describes these evenings as a chance to set aside time as a family and lay everything at the feet of Jesus; Kids Ministry is open so parents can bring the whole family. Anyone unable to attend in person can join via livestream.
Prayer at Cottonwood is woven through the week rather than limited to a single meeting. Morning Prayer meets every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Sunday Pre-Service Prayer runs from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. in the Cry Room of Building A. All-Church Prayer convenes on the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel, uniting generations to pray for each other, leadership, and the work of the church. A separate Spanish-language prayer gathering, En Español Pre-Service Prayer, meets every Saturday from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the upstairs loft of Building B.
Kids, Youth, and Young Adults
Cottonwood Kids envisions every child developing a personal relationship with God, learning to know Him intimately, love Him passionately, serve Him selflessly, and share His love fearlessly. Kids programming runs at the Sunday services at the Katella campus, and the children's ministry also offers a monthly Kids Water Baptism Class for children and a parent or guardian to attend together, held the third Monday of each month.
Cottonwood Youth exists to help middle and high schoolers (grades 6 through 12) develop an everyday faith that influences how they relate to God, themselves, and others. The community meets on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. in Building B and hosts small groups on Wednesday evenings during the school year, led by Youth Pastor Anthony Roldan and Youth Facilitator Raylene Roldan. Parents can sign up for a monthly newsletter that walks through that month's series, small-group dates, special events, and parenting resources.
The Young Adults community, known as CYA, gathers for ages 18 to 30 on the first, third, and fifth Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in Building B, with a Spring Season from February through May and a Fall Season from August through November. The community is built around three words: stir, encourage, and prompt to action.
Communities for Every Season of Life
Cottonwood organizes much of its adult life around gender- and stage-specific communities that meet weekly in Building B.
The Men of Cottonwood meet on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. for teaching, mentoring, and friendship. A dedicated Mentoring program pairs wise, mature, and caring men of God with men of all ages for guidance, offered both individually and in groups.
Cottonwood Women also meets Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., welcoming women of all ages and stages for worship, growth in God's Word, and Christ-centered community. Kids Ministry is available during the gathering. Throughout the season the women also host casual off-campus meet-ups at Peet's Coffee in Seal Beach and at The Square in Cypress. A Mentor Program connects spiritually mature women with younger generations; enrollment opens in February and July each year.
Young Marrieds is a community of small groups that meet monthly on the Katella Campus from March through November, with three tiers: Community Couples (married less than 10 years and under 40), Leader Couples (married 10 years or more), and Coach Couples (married 20 years or more).
Seniors (60 and above) focus on fellowship and the breaking of bread as a means to discipleship, gathering several times a year for shared meals, encouragement, and prayer together.
Growth Track and Bible Reading
Growth Track is Cottonwood's three-step starting point for anyone wanting to get connected, discover their purpose, and serve. The three steps walk newcomers through who Jesus is and who Cottonwood is as a church family, how to plug into community through small groups, and how their gifts and personality reveal a God-given purpose. Growth Track is offered online in both English and Spanish, so people can complete it at their own pace from home. The church also reads the Bible together as a congregation, with a yearly reading plan shared so the whole church stays in the same passages at the same time.
Celebrate Recovery and Support Groups
Celebrate Recovery is Cottonwood's Christ-centered, 12-step recovery ministry for anyone struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kind. It meets on Fridays at 7:00 p.m. in Building C, with Kids Ministry available from birth through fifth grade so families can attend together. Spanish translation is available through headphones, and the gathering is for adults 18 and over because of the adult nature of the conversations. The CR Step Studies are a deeper, gender-specific walk through the 12 Christ-centered steps and 8 biblical principles, meeting together over nine to twelve months.
A wider support-group network meets on and off campus to walk alongside people through some of life's hardest seasons: GriefShare for those grieving the loss of a loved one, a widows and widowers group that meets the first and third Thursdays, DivorceCare, Men of Courage for men seeking wholeness in spirit, emotions, and sexuality, the Single Moms Support Group, an Alzheimer's caregivers group, From Surviving to Significance for those moving out of codependency, Hurting Moms for mothers of adult children in difficult seasons, and Stepping into His Image for women focusing on physical, spiritual, and emotional growth. Financial Peace University classes are offered in partnership with Ramsey Solutions.
Helps and Hope: Outreach Near and Far
The Helps Ministry provides practical, handyman-style assistance to single parents, widows, the elderly, the disabled, and those facing financial hardship in the church and wider community - fixing gates, doors, plumbing, electrical, painting, yard work, and other home repairs.
Hope Teams are volunteer-led, cause-focused groups that serve the practical and spiritual needs of people near and abroad. Teams are organized under four umbrellas: Kids and Youth (mentoring foster youth, hosting art projects at a group home, online Bible study for Spanish-speaking unaccompanied minors, court-appointed mentorship through CASA, support for survivors of commercial sex trafficking, and cross-border partnerships in Myanmar, Uganda, Israel, and Egypt); Unhoused and Vulnerable Adults (serving meals at the Long Beach Rescue Mission, providing lunch to those experiencing homelessness in downtown LA, knitting handmade items for veterans and unhoused individuals, visiting a skilled nursing facility, and sending discipleship materials to Orange County jail inmates); Women (encouragement and support to women and children in temporary housing, prayer for residents of Casa Teresa, widow care in Nepal, and care packages for survivors of trafficking); and Ministry and Prayer (street prayer in Long Beach and Huntington Beach, fundraising runs, and outreach partnerships in the Philippines and Mexico).
Hope Initiatives are short-term, congregation-wide service drives held throughout the year. Recent initiatives have included packing thousands of grocery bags for local families in partnership with Convoy of Hope, snack and gift bag packing, a military family event for military-connected kids and teens, and a Human Trafficking Care packaging day.
H4: The Great Invitation
H4 is Cottonwood's annual Kingdom-focused generosity initiative, built around what the church calls The Great Invitation - an invitation to partner with God in His redemptive work locally, nationally, and globally. Three named causes receive special emphasis: the Olive Crest Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Program, which provides housing, education, job support, and trusted relationships for young adults aging out of foster care across Southern California; Convoy of Hope's summer feeding program, which provides nutritious meals for food-insecure children across the U.S.; and the church's Spanish-language television outreach, which broadcasts across 22 nations in Latin America on major networks, local stations, and digital platforms. Gifts to H4 can be made online or by texting H4 to 605405.
The Long Beach Campus
Cottonwood's Long Beach Campus, located at 4130 N Viking Way, is pastored by Ruben and Cindy Diaz. Weekend services meet on Sundays at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m., with Kids Ministry available at the 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. services. A midweek Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., and small groups run throughout the Long Beach area.
Getting Connected, Weddings, and Pastoral Care
Beyond Sunday services and small groups, Cottonwood offers a wide pastoral care net. The Care team coordinates hospital visits, funeral and memorial services, premarital classes, and weddings officiated by Cottonwood pastors. Premarital classes run for five evenings and are recommended nine to twelve months before a wedding; completion satisfies one of the requirements for being married by a Cottonwood pastor. Baptism is hosted on the fourth Sunday of each month except December. Child Dedication is offered several times a year as a parent's first commitment to raise a child according to God's Word. A dedicated prayer team is available for anyone who submits a prayer request online, and the church maintains an active library of sermons and podcasts through its Cottonwood OnDemand library, Apple and Spotify podcast feeds, and a seasonal Spotify playlist.
Giving
Cottonwood supports its ministry through online giving, recurring gifts, stock contributions, and legacy giving through the church's Legacy Team. The online system is powered by Pushpay, with Level 1 PCI DSS compliance. Cryptocurrency donations are also accepted. Checks can be mailed to PO Box 1207, Los Alamitos, CA 90720. The church is candid that giving is processed through a secure, dedicated platform, and a giving team stands ready to help anyone with questions.