First Christian Church of Ramona, often shortened to FCCR, sits at 1970 Vermont Street in the heart of Ramona, a town in northern San Diego County. Its members greet visitors with a simple motto that frames everything they do: "In Ramona as it is in Heaven." The church describes itself as a warm, friendly, and welcoming congregation that is like-minded in Christ and passionate about God's word, and it invites anyone in the area to come and see what discipleship looks like at this small-town corner of the Christian Church tradition.
Sundays on Vermont Street
The weekly rhythm at First Christian Church of Ramona begins before the service even starts. At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings, the doors of the Fellowship Hall open for coffee and donuts, giving neighbors a chance to catch up before the service begins. The main worship gathering follows at 10:00 a.m. and includes teaching and music led by the congregation's ministry team, including keyboards by board member Georgia Govern. Services are carried live for those who cannot attend in person through the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
At the same time that the sanctuary gathers for worship, a parallel adult Sunday study is often in session. The Pauline Theology series walks through the Letters of Paul to his son in the faith Timothy, reading slowly through the Pauline epistles and applying them to daily living. The series is organized by Lead Minister Johnny Diaz and runs on Sunday mornings as part of the regular worship hour.
With God Life on Wednesday Nights
For one hour each Wednesday evening, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., the church shifts from large gathering to small group with a program called With God Life. The goal of the program is simple and exact: to create apprentices of Jesus. The staff notes that an apprentice must have an environment in which to practice what they learn, and With God Life is built to be that space. Sessions are organized by Pastor Johnny Diaz and meet at the church on Vermont Street.
Tuesday Mornings in the Choir Room
Women in the community gather at 10:00 a.m. each Tuesday in the Choir Room for Ladies Bible Study, hosted by Georgia Govern. The group's stated mission is to make the Word of God the foundation for living, shaping and forming participants through His Word and His Grace. The study is open to any woman who wants to grow in the Scriptures, and the church welcomes new participants each week.
The MENs Group at the Country Kitchen
The church's MENs Group keeps a deliberately unhurried schedule, meeting only on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 a.m. The breakfast table location is the Country Kitchen, and the early hour allows working men to gather around a meal, share what God is doing in their lives, and study together before the workday begins.
Family Ministries
Ashley Diaz serves as Family Ministries Director, overseeing the church's work with children and families. The role is treated as a core part of the congregation's calling rather than an afterthought, and Ashley also serves on the voting board. The church's vision is to make resilient disciples of Jesus from the youngest members of the household up, teaching them the ways of Jesus so that they can stand on their own two feet in faith.
The Christian Church: A Movement, Not a Denomination
First Christian Church of Ramona carries its name carefully. The "Christian Church" as a movement traces back to two great awakenings in different parts of the United States during the 1800s. Those two streams eventually met and recognized one another, forming what is now known as the Christian Church. The movement is explicitly not a denomination; its driving desire is to bring the church back to being one whole body. In that spirit, the congregation in Ramona considers its mission to make resilient disciples of Jesus, empowering them to follow Him in daily life and to be a loving, compelling presence in Ramona and in whatever community each member calls home. The mission is rooted in Matthew 28:16 through 20, the great commission, and is pursued through the power of the Holy Spirit.
What the Church Believes
The congregation holds to five core values that shape life together at FCCR.
- Scripture. The Bible is regarded as infallible and as God's revelation to humanity from cover to cover. It is the foundation of life and faith, and the church trusts it completely, supported by 2 Peter 1:20-21 and Matthew 24:35.
- Denomination. The Christian Church is not a denomination. Members seek the unification of the universal church, following God's call to unity and praying to create community that reflects it (1 Corinthians 1:10; John 17).
- Disciples. The church seeks to make resilient followers of Jesus who love God and people and live out His ways. It aims to be a community of hope and light for the world and for generations to come, taking seriously the commission in Matthew 28:16-20 and the pattern of Acts 2:42-47.
- Communion. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first day of every week. It is understood as an act of God's grace and as His personal invitation to His table, where there is always room for one more (Acts 20:7).
- Baptism. Baptism is by full immersion, following the example Jesus set. The church teaches that baptism is an outward action of an inward reality, mirroring Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection (Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27).
Becoming an Apprentice of Jesus
More than any single program, the language of apprenticeship runs through the whole church. Becoming a disciple requires two things, the church teaches: help and intentionality. Discipleship resources, including an archive of online teaching and a curated set of Bible reading plans from the YouVersion Bible app, are made available so that members can follow Jesus "on their own two feet, one step at a time." Prayer is treated as the greatest thing a believer can do, the vehicle by which God has chosen to give His people a hand on the wheel of reality.
Leadership and Governance
The congregation is led by Pastor Johnny Diaz, who serves as Lead Minister and oversees teaching and the With God Life program. He is joined by a board of elders, deacons, trustees, and ministry leaders who guide the work of the church. Scott Field serves as Elder and Board Chairman. Charlie Watson is a Trustee and Voting Board Member. Ed Robards serves as Deacon and Voting Board Member. Georgia Govern oversees keyboards and serves as a voting board member. Jill Robards serves as Board Secretary and Voting Board Member. Ashley Diaz serves as Family Ministries Director and Voting Board Member, with a special focus on the next generation of disciples.
The Building, the Town, and Staying Connected
The church building sits at 1970 Vermont Street in Ramona, California, with a phone line at (760) 789-2371 and an inbox at fccrteam@gmail.com. A small fellowship hall and a choir room provide space for the rhythms of Sunday morning coffee, Tuesday Bible study, and Wednesday apprenticeship. Giving is offered online through the church's secure ChurchTrac portal, and a free email newsletter is available for anyone who wants to keep up with what is happening at FCCR. Visitors who want to attend in person can be added to the schedule by adding the church's calendar to Google Calendar or to Outlook through a subscription link on the events page.
The church's vision, drawn from its own words, is to be a calming, loving, empowering, and engaged presence in every community where its members live. It pursues that vision by serving neighbors, praying for the people around it, and displaying the love of God to all creation, by whatever means God places at its disposal. Whether someone has lived in Ramona for decades or is just passing through, First Christian Church of Ramona welcomes them to pull up a chair, share a donut, and see what the Kingdom looks like in a small San Diego County town.