You Belong Here on Centinela Avenue
Vineyard Church sits at 3838 S. Centinela Avenue on the Westside of Los Angeles. The congregation carries a pedigree few others in the country can claim: it is the first Vineyard Church in history, planted in 1974 out of the Jesus People Movement. More than fifty years later, under a new generation of pastoral leadership, Vineyard Church still describes itself in the same simple way - a community where imperfect people encounter the living God.
Where the Vineyard Movement Began
The story starts in 1974, when a group of young people began encountering Jesus on Santa Monica Beach. Within a few short years that group had grown into a revival seen around the world. Kenn and Joanie Gulliksen started what would become the first Vineyard church in West Los Angeles the same year. Believing God had instructed him to do so, Kenn officially gave the name "Vineyard" - drawn from Isaiah 27:2-3 and John 15:5 - to this association of churches and led them for about five years. By 1982 at least seven Vineyards were gathering in a loose-knit fellowship.
In the spring of 1982, John Wimber and several other pastors brought their churches into relationship with the Vineyard, and the movement expanded rapidly, planting churches across the world. In the 1990s Brad Bailey and his wife Leah stepped into leadership of what was then called Santa Monica Vineyard. For more than thirty years Pastor Brad faithfully served, stabilized, and set a trajectory of health for generations to come, purchasing the church's first property and preparing the congregation for a generational shift in leadership.
In 2024, Josh and Brianne Shaw were called and confirmed as the new pastoral leaders, carrying that legacy forward with a fresh passion for God's Kingdom and God's people across Los Angeles.
A Sunday Morning at Vineyard
Two Sunday services are offered each week, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., with the earlier service also livestreamed on YouTube. Services run about seventy minutes and follow a steady rhythm: an energetic opening song, around thirty-five minutes of biblical teaching focused on the good news of Jesus, and then roughly twenty minutes of worship and response. The atmosphere is engaging and inclusive, and everyone is welcome.
New guests are encouraged to arrive about fifteen minutes early to grab a coffee, check in children, find a seat, and meet someone new. Greeters, who go by the name Kingdom Builders, welcome each person at the door. A first-time visit guide gives the full rundown.
Parking is available on Centinela Avenue and at additional rented lots marked with Vineyard Parking signs. Families with children can pull into the South parking lot off Pacific and Centinela, turn on their hazard lights, and let the parking team guide them to a reserved spot. From there, kids check in through a gated, secured entrance on the south side of the building.
Out of consideration for space, allergies, and comfort, personal pets are not allowed in services. Registered service animals are welcome both indoors and outdoors, with pre-registration required.
Encounter, Formation, Mission
At the center of Vineyard's identity is a three-word rhythm: Encounter, Formation, Mission. The church is committed to being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and living life empowered by Jesus.
Encounter means gathering with the expectation that God is present and active in and through the church. As Vineyard worships, studies Scripture, and pursues the work of the Holy Spirit, the community expects to meet God.
Formation is the process of becoming like Jesus through discipleship. It happens through a combination of learning, shared life, and practices that include both the contemplative and the charismatic expressions of faith.
Mission is participating in God's kingdom arriving on earth as it is in heaven. Kingdom mission is empowered by the Holy Spirit and marked by God's love expressing itself through signs and wonders - evangelism, healing, justice, and mercy.
These commitments are rooted in five stated values: partnering with the Holy Spirit, experiencing and worshiping God, reconciling people with God and all creation, engaging in compassionate ministry, and pursuing culturally relevant mission in the world.
Three Streams of Faith
Vineyard Church describes itself as drawing from three theological streams that it embraces and participates in across all its ministries.
The Spirit-Filled stream emphasizes the Holy Spirit's active presence in the lives of believers today, including openness to spiritual gifts like prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues. Worship is passionate and expectant.
The Sacramental stream focuses on the importance of rituals and practices - baptism and communion - as visible signs of God's grace, with ordered worship, communal experience of God through liturgy, and a connection to Christians throughout the ages.
The Gospel-Centered stream places the good news of Jesus at the very core of belief and practice, emphasizing a personal faith response, biblical authority, and the call to share this good news locally and globally.
The church holds to the historic teachings of Christian orthodoxy as articulated in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed, and subscribes to recent summaries of Christian doctrine as formulated in the Lausanne Covenant and the Langham Partnership's statement of faith.
Vineyard Kids
Vineyard Kids serves children from birth through fifth grade at both Sunday services. The program runs in a dedicated, secure space on the south side of the building, complete with a floor-to-ceiling playground, a craft area, and age-appropriate teaching and singing. Each child is prayed over, and the team emphasizes fun, creativity, and friendship. Classroom sizes are designed so each child can meet new friends while reconnecting with old ones.
Parents are asked to arrive fifteen minutes early to park in a Reserved for Families spot, check children in, and make their way to the main sanctuary. Sofie Alfaro leads the program as Kids Director.
MANNA Groups and Next Steps
Discipleship at Vineyard extends well beyond Sunday morning. MANNA is a simple daily practice of receiving God's Word and responding in faith. Each week, MANNA Groups meet throughout the week in homes across the city to read Scripture, pray together, and follow Jesus alongside one another.
For newcomers wanting to know more about who Vineyard is, what it believes, and how to get connected, Vineyard 101 is a three-week seasonal class that meets during the 9:00 a.m. service. Kids can be dropped off at Vineyard Kids during the class.
Baptism is described as a critical next step in following Jesus. Multiple times a year the church hosts Baptism Encounter Nights on Sunday evenings, celebrating everyone in the congregation who has given their life to Jesus and desires to be baptized.
For those wanting to serve, Vineyard calls its volunteers Kingdom Builders - greeters, song leaders, kids ministry workers, and others who keep the church running. Sign-ups are open online. The church teaches that tithing, returning the first ten percent of income, is the biblical baseline for giving, and giving is available online, by mail, or through stock, grants, and crypto gifts.
Encounter Nights and Prayer
Since the beginning of the Jesus Revolution, Encounter Worship Nights have been a crucial expression of the church's life. Encounter Nights occur once a month on a Sunday evening, with the entire service focused on encountering God's kingdom through prayer and worship. Trained prayer team members are available for individual, encouraging prayer before the service begins.
Prayer is woven into weekly rhythms as well. Vineyard hosts prayer meetings every Sunday morning and includes a time of intercessory prayer during each Sunday morning service, alongside a monthly prayer and worship night. Anyone can request prayer online.
Leadership and Awaken Cafe
Josh Shaw serves as Lead Pastor alongside his wife Brianne Shaw, who serves as Lay Pastor. They have two sons and are known for meeting new guests at the connection center on Sundays and for exploring the latest ramen and taco shops on the Westside of Los Angeles. Megan Budd serves as Executive Pastor, Joel Moses as Associate Pastor, and Jacob Fritchman as Worship Pastor. Sofie Alfaro leads Vineyard Kids.
Adjacent to the church's ministry is Awaken Cafe, a partner ministry that extends Vineyard's hospitality into the surrounding neighborhood and offers another touchpoint for the community. Ashley Allen manages Awaken Cafe.
A board of directors - including Monica Goudis, David Parker, Emily Olivencia-Audet, Joel Moses, and Joshua Shaw - oversees the church, and members are welcome to reach out to the board with questions.