Pathways Community Church opened its doors on Super Bowl Sunday in 1993, when a group of friends in Santee, California, set out to build a family church where everyone would feel comfortable, even if they had never been to church before. More than three decades later, that founding vision still shapes everything at Pathways, a Baptist congregation that meets at 9626 Carlton Hills Boulevard and welcomes newcomers with a simple invitation: come as you are.
Lead Pastor David Worcester, who joined the church in 2024 after sixteen years in ministry, leads a team that is rooted in the Baptist Faith and Message tradition but is intentionally informal in style. Pastor David, his wife Jessica, and their three boys are part of a congregation where casual dress, contemporary music, and teaching that connects the Bible to everyday life are part of the Sunday rhythm. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from Gateway Seminary and is a certified Maxwell Leadership speaker, trainer, and coach.
Sundays at Pathways
Two Sunday services meet at 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM in the main sanctuary at 9626 Carlton Hills Blvd. Both services are identical in format, giving families flexibility to choose the time that works best. The atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed, with relevant Bible teaching, contemporary worship music, and an emphasis on relationships. Pathways describes its services as featuring good music, informal dress, and deep relationships.
Sermons are also available through a podcast, on YouTube, and on Spotify, so people who are traveling or homebound can stay connected to the church. Sermon notes are posted online for every message, and a full archive goes back many years.
Children have their own dedicated programming at both hours. Kids from nursery through fifth grade meet at 9:00 AM. At 10:45 AM, programming expands to include kids and students, so the whole family can attend the same service hour if they choose.
A Church Built on Family
Children are at the heart of Pathways Community Church. The Kids ministry serves children from newborn through fifth grade, with classrooms organized by age: Nursery-Toddlers, Preschool-1st Grade, and 2nd-5th Grade. The check-in counter is on the left side of the lobby, where each family receives a pick-up slip that must be presented at the end of service for child safety.
Each week in Kids ministry includes age-appropriate Bible stories, songs, games, and activities designed to help children learn about God's love in a way they can understand. Every volunteer working with children has completed a background check and safety training. Families whose children have special needs are welcomed, and the Kids team is happy to provide individual support so that a child can participate alongside their peers; families are encouraged to reach out ahead of time to discuss specific accommodations.
Heather Corey serves as the Kids Director and can be reached at heather@pathways.cc. Parent and Child Dedication is also offered as a meaningful moment for parents to express vows before God, family, and the church, declaring a desire to raise their child in a God-honoring way.
A new Kids Corner is on the way. The former MP Room is being transformed into a bright, welcoming play and gathering space where children can play and explore while parents and caregivers connect. The renovation will include a two-level indoor play structure, cozy family seating, and lobby-view windows. A new multi-purpose room with a stage, sound, and video capability will replace the lost space.
Middle and High School Students
Pathways Youth serves students in 6th through 12th grade and meets every Sunday at 10:45 AM in the Jr. High and High School rooms located just off the parking lot on either side of the main entrance. First-time visitors are welcome to bring their teen straight to the appropriate room, where they will be greeted and welcomed in.
Each Sunday includes worship, a message that speaks to the real challenges teens face, games, and small group discussion. On Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, midweek youth programming gathers students for games, worship, a lesson, and small groups. Volunteers for the youth ministry are also background-checked and trained.
Life Groups for Every Season
Small groups, called Life Groups at Pathways, are central to the church's approach to discipleship. The church teaches that people were created to be in relationship, not only with God, but with one another, and Life Groups exist for every life stage and need.
Groups meet regularly in homes and around Santee to study God's Word, pray together, encourage one another, and build real friendships. There are groups for men, women, young adults, married couples, parents, and seniors. The Women's ministry includes Women of the Word, a seasonal Bible study, and Mom Connect, a community for mothers to share struggles and victories while growing in identity in Christ. The Men's ministry encourages men to follow Jesus in every aspect of their lives through groups and events. Young Adults, Marriage, Parenting, and Senior Life are each supported through dedicated gatherings, life groups, and resources.
The church's quarterly Discover Membership class is the next step for anyone ready to formally join the Pathways family, with classes teaching about the church's vision, values, and what membership means.
Celebrate Recovery and Care
For anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups, Celebrate Recovery meets every Friday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at The Venue at Pathways. The Christ-centered 12-step program welcomes people dealing with shame, anger, anxiety, grief, codependency, addiction, and many other struggles. Walk-ins are always welcome, and free childcare is available at every meeting.
Grief support is offered through GriefShare, a group designed to help people find support, community, and healing after the loss of a loved one. Pathways also helps families plan memorial services and celebration of life gatherings at the church, and team members are available to simply call and support anyone who wants someone to talk with during a difficult season.
Although Pathways does not offer licensed counseling on site, the church recommends Christian counselors in the San Diego area, including Leslie Hofmeister, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering telehealth, and Grace Counseling Center of Grace Church San Diego. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) is also shared with anyone in crisis.
A prayer team stands ready to pray for anyone who reaches out with a request.
Local and Global Missions
Missions are a way of life at Pathways. The church partners with ministries around the world who share the gospel through church planting, pastoring, discipling, teaching, and establishing orphanages and schools. Featured global partners include Mission Aviation Fellowship, Christian Academy of Guatemala, and Agape Myanmar Mission. People interested in serving overseas can apply to become a Global Partner through the church.
Short-term mission trips are sent out regularly. A trip to Rancho Santa Marta, a Christian ministry in San Vicente, Baja California, Mexico, is held most years. The ministry provides a year-round home for children who have been orphaned or who have experienced homelessness or abuse, along with a school that helps them learn valuable skills. Trip participants serve through construction, painting, crafts, games, and outings with the children.
Locally, the Faith in Action team coordinates service projects, a Homeless Ministry, and a Prayer Team, while current building and outreach plans include renovating youth rooms, improving the outdoor recreation space in the back lot, funding for an outreach tent and table, social media equipment, and partnerships with local ministries and church plants.
Believing and Being Baptized
Baptism is a major next step at Pathways. The church practices believer's baptism by immersion, following the example of Jesus. Pathways does not baptize children until they are old enough to understand and believe, and baptism conversations are available for anyone who has made the decision to follow Christ. Baptisms are scheduled throughout the year.
What Pathways Believes
The church's Statement of Faith is an adaptation of the Baptist Faith and Message, generally accepted by churches in the Baptist tradition, and is rooted in the Bible rather than tradition. The church frames its approach in three phrases: in essential beliefs, there is unity; in non-essential beliefs, there is liberty; and in all beliefs, there is love.
Central to that faith is the belief that the Bible is God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit and trustworthy without error. God is described as Creator and Ruler, eternally existing in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is described as the Son of God who lived a sinless life, died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin, rose again on the third day, and will return to reign as King of Kings.
Salvation is described as a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ, not by self-improvement or good works. The church teaches eternal security for the believer and the reality of Heaven and Hell as eternal places of existence. People are described as made in the image of God, marred by the attitude of disobedience toward God called sin that separates people from Him.
The church's three core values are Love God (Matthew 22:37), Love One Another (John 13:34), and Love the Lost (Matthew 28:19-20). Its overall mission is inviting everyone to find and follow Jesus.
How to Connect
Visitors are encouraged to stop by the Welcome Center on a Sunday morning or fill out a Connect Card online to let the church know how they can help take the next step. Life Group interest forms, baptism inquiries, serving applications, and membership interest forms are all available through the church's online platform. Giving can be done online anytime, and the church office can be reached at info@pathways.cc or (619) 449-1269.
Pathways Community Church continues to live out the vision of its founders: a family church in Santee where anyone can belong, grow in faith, and encounter the love of Jesus in a real and personal way.