At 13925 Nelson Ave in La Puente, First Fundamental Bible Church of La Puente is known for Bible-centered teaching, worship focused on Jesus Christ, and ministry that includes children, teenagers, families, men, and women. The independent church is affiliated with IFCA International, and Pastor David Abeyta has served since 1986. Its central message is the gospel: God loves humanity, sin separates people from God, Jesus died and rose again, and faith in Christ brings forgiveness, new life, and eternal life.
The gospel of Good News
Pastor Abeyta calls the gospel the church's Good News and presents its teaching in four connected parts:
- God's love: God created people for a relationship and loves them deeply.
- Our need: Humanity is separated from God by sin, which leads to spiritual death.
- God's solution: Jesus died on the cross to pay for sin and rose again to conquer death.
- Our response: By faith, people accept this gift, repent of sin, and follow Jesus as Lord.
The church places John 3:16 at the center of its welcome: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Its teaching describes trusting Jesus as the way to receive forgiveness, a new life, and eternal life as a free gift.
Independent fellowship with a Bible-teaching mission
Pastor David Abeyta is a member of IFCA International, an association of independent churches, pastors, Christian workers, and laypeople founded in 1930 in Cicero, Illinois. The fellowship seeks to proclaim God's Word accurately, exemplify Christ's character, declare God's holiness to the nations, reflect an ethnically blended body of Christ, and strengthen the church through ministry partnerships centered on Great Commission objectives. First Fundamental Bible Church of La Puente maintains this connection through its pastor's participation in IFCA Southern California Regional.
Abeyta's own preparation includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from California State University Long Beach, a Master of Divinity from Talbot Theological Seminary, and a master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from California State University Los Angeles. His service on the IFCA Southern California Regional Ordination Committee places his pastoral work within the wider fellowship of independent Bible churches.
Sunday school, worship, and children at 9 and 10:30
Sunday school runs from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. The classes are arranged for adults, high school students, middle school students, children in grades 3 through 5, and preschool through 2nd grade. Raul Caracoza teaches the adult class, Leonard Arzate teaches high school, and nursery care is available. The one-hour class gives each age group time to learn together before the church's worship gathering begins.
Morning Worship and Children's Church start at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 11:30 a.m. Children's Church is led by Andrew and Jennifer Martinez and Franklin and Amalia Rivas. For families, the morning has a straightforward rhythm: an hour of Sunday school followed by an hour of worship, with dedicated children's teaching during the service. The congregation's services are also available through its Facebook livestream.
Sunday evening Bible study and Friday Awana
Sunday evenings continue with a 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible study led by Les Noriel. The hour is set aside for Bible study and remains part of the church's regular weekly rhythm alongside the two Sunday morning gatherings.
On Fridays, Awana meets from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The ministry is led by Michelle Ceballos and combines Gospel teaching with Scripture memory and fun activities. Its teaching points to 2 Timothy 2:15 and the aim of handling the word of truth accurately. Children learn about Christ and are encouraged to serve Him. Adults may join an Adult Bible Class while the children participate in their clubs. The evening can then continue with fellowship, food, and conversation.
The church has also used Friday evenings for summer VBS, pairing children's classes with adult Bible study and Friday night fellowship. This gives the church a recurring seasonal pattern in which children, adults, and families take part in teaching and spend time together afterward.
Christian education and a commitment to searching the Word
Christian Education, led by Raul Caracoza, is built around classes for all ages. The church places particular emphasis on searching Scripture rather than treating Bible reading as a separate exercise. Its “Searching the Word” teaching highlights Deuteronomy 29:29 and the example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures every day.
This pursuit of understanding reaches through several parts of church life. High school and adult classes, children's ministries, Women of the Word, and the adult class held alongside Friday Awana all place Scripture at the center. Bible search tools and Bible Gateway are also offered to help members look up verses and return to the text in personal study.
Worship, sermons, and Bible-centered resources
The Worship Team, led by Priscilla Gracia, is described as a dynamic music team serving the congregation during worship. The church also maintains an extensive audio and video sermon archive, organized into 16 sections of recordings. The archive gives church members a substantial collection of messages to hear and return to.
Beyond the church's own teaching, First Fundamental Bible Church recommends a group of Bible-centered ministries and resources. Grace to You is the nonprofit media ministry associated with John MacArthur and emphasizes expository Bible teaching. Desiring God carries John Piper's preaching and more than 25 years of messages and teachings. Focus on the Family provides help for couples and parents, while Our Daily Bread has offered a daily devotional since 1956. Back to the Bible and Bible Gateway round out the resources available to the church family.
Men's leadership, counseling, and outreach
The Men's Executive Board meets every third Sunday and is led by Pastor David Abeyta. Made up of leaders within the church, the board oversees operations, finances, and mission. It guides the church's vision, makes strategic decisions, and watches legal, ethical, and Biblical standards. Pastoral leadership has also organized community outreach intended to connect with men who may need support or hope.
The Lion Tamers group, led by deacon Gilbert Longoria, is a Christian counseling group that keeps all matters private. Men have also hosted a fellowship breakfast for the church family. Deacons carry specific responsibilities throughout the congregation: Franklin Rivas chairs the deacons, serves in baptisms, and teaches children's church; Andrew Martinez oversees building maintenance and vehicles; Gilbert Longoria and Leonard Arzate share safety responsibilities; Kenny Chan serves in welcoming, opening, and supplies; and Richard Torres serves as a deacon.
Women's leadership, Bible study, and hospitality
Women's ministry is organized through the Women's Executive Board, which works under the elders and is composed of the wives of deacons and elders. Its responsibilities include overseeing women's functions, banquets, and retreats; supervising the Women of the Word Bible study; coordinating nursery care and the hostess ministry; assisting with church-wide potlucks and picnics; maintaining the kitchen; and helping women exercise their spiritual gifts and abilities.
The Women of the Word group, led by Roberta Abeyta, is a small-group ministry that meets periodically on Tuesday evenings. Its gatherings consist of Bible study, prayer, and encouragement. The nursery and hostess responsibilities connect the Women's Executive Board with regular Sunday activity, while the food and hospitality duties help the church make room for fellowship as well as instruction.
Caring for the campus, opening, and safety
Ministry extends beyond worship and classes to the practical work required to care for the church. The Landscape Ministry, led by Pastor Abeyta, cleans the campus, waters plants, and adds or removes plants and trees. A separate Media and IT team led by Bernardo Mendez supports the church's streaming, media, and technology needs. Opening the church, welcoming people, maintaining buildings and vehicles, maintaining supplies, and watching safety are all assigned to specific leaders, giving the congregation's worship and teaching a dependable practical foundation.
Watch Night, youth activities, and family fellowship
Watch-night gatherings have brought worshippers from First Fundamental Bible Church La Puente together with brothers and sisters from First Fundamental Bible Church Whittier. These gatherings have included worship, prayer, testimonies, music, a message from God's Word, and a shared meal. The emphasis is on spiritual connection, renewed hope, and fellowship across congregations.
Youth activities include conferences and teen dinners, including gatherings hosted with Community Church of Anaheim. Families have enjoyed camping together, and church picnics have brought people together for food, games, and waterslides. Men have hosted breakfasts, children have participated in Awana and VBS, and Friday evenings have included classes followed by shared time. These activities extend the church's teaching into relationships among children, teenagers, adults, and families.
Giving for tithes, mission, and special needs
Financial participation has two forms: church tithes and special offerings. Both can be given as one-time gifts or set up as recurring payments. Special offerings are designated for special times, mission, and the special needs of the church body. The church makes both forms of giving available through online giving.
A settled identity in La Puente
Taken together, First Fundamental Bible Church of La Puente is a local independent church shaped by Bible teaching, a clear gospel message, structured worship, age-specific learning, family participation, and practical service. Pastor David Abeyta's leadership since 1986 and the involvement of elders, deacons, ministry leaders, and families give the congregation a continuing identity. At 13925 Nelson Ave, First Fundamental Bible Church of La Puente remains gathered around Scripture, worship, teaching, and fellowship.