35 Years on East Yosemite Avenue
Yosemite Church sits on East Yosemite Avenue in Merced, California, a single campus where a multi-generational congregation has gathered every weekend since the early 1990s. The ministry marks its 35th anniversary of continuous pastoral leadership with Senior Pastor Jeff Leis, who is being honored at a Next Summit Retirement Dinner as he transitions out of day-to-day preaching. Lead Pastor Jason Briesacher, Executive Pastor Rueben Rodarte, and the rest of the staff describe the church's heartbeat with a single sentence: Meeting people where they are and loving them to where Christ wants them to be.
Locally the church is known for its strong Next Generation ministry - a coordinated birth-through-high-school discipleship track with its own custom age-appropriate curriculum - and for the partnerships it sustains across Merced County through food distribution, jail ministry, and short-term mission trips that travel as far as the Philippines and Uganda. A bilingual footprint, a free midweek meal before youth programming, and a public food pantry have made the building a regular stop for families across the city.
Weekend Gatherings: Saturday Night and Two Sunday Mornings
Three identical-style weekend services rotate through the main auditorium: Saturday at 6:00 pm, Sunday at 9:00 am, and Sunday at 11:00 am. The 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday services are also livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who want to participate from home. Each gathering opens with time to grab a coffee and check in with the Next Steps booth in the foyer before moving into a set of contemporary worship songs led by the Worship Team under Worship Director Jen McCary, followed by a Bible-centered message that the church describes as both engaging and thought-provoking.
The dress code is whatever a guest is comfortable wearing, and the atmosphere is intentionally casual. First-time visitors are encouraged to stop by the Next Steps booth after the service to learn about small groups, volunteer teams, baptism classes, and other ways to get connected. A Discover YC class meets several times a year on Sunday afternoons for anyone wanting to hear the mission, vision, and values directly from the pastors while enjoying light refreshments.
Bilingual Services at El Capitan
Yosemite Church runs a Spanish-language congregation under YC en Español Pastor Tony Medina. The En Español service meets on Sundays at 11:00 am at the El Capitan Building in Merced, in addition to the English services held at the main East Yosemite campus. This gives Spanish-speaking families in Merced a full worship gathering in their first language, with the same teaching pipeline and discipleship resources that English speakers use throughout the week.
The Next Generation: From Nursery to High School
Parents who arrive for any weekend service can drop their children at one of two age-grouped programs. Lil' Explore serves children from birth through kindergarten during the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday services. The nursery (children under age two) is a space to discover, play, and rest, and nursing mothers are welcome to keep watch on the service from there. The toddler and preschool rooms run a six-week rotating curriculum that introduces simple Bible stories, age-appropriate crafts, and worship.
Kid Explore continues the learning for 1st through 5th graders. These classes go a little deeper, with scripture memorization, worship, crafts, and games designed to match how older elementary children actually engage. Children's Ministry Coordinator Stephanie Moe oversees both programs, and the church maintains an Amazon Wishlist so families and volunteers can donate snacks and supplies. On Wednesday nights from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, the same children are invited back for Midweek Explorers, a curriculum-based program for kindergarteners (age five) through 5th grade focused on what it looks like to live like Jesus. A snack is served at the end of the session, and no pre-registration is required.
Families who want to mark the birth or arrival of a child can take part in a Child Dedication ceremony. The church frames it as a three-fold covenant: a commitment from parents to God to raise their child in the faith, a commitment from parents to their child to love them unconditionally, and a commitment from the church body to walk alongside the family. Child Dedication sign-ups are handled through the registration portal.
Summit Youth on Wednesday Nights
Middle and high school students (6th through 12th grade) have their own midweek gathering called Summit, which meets Wednesdays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The night is built around food, fellowship, games, worship, teaching, and small-group time. A snack bar is open from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm serving dinner for purchase, and first-time visitors get a free meal deal (the meal of the week plus a soda) so no one walks in hungry. Menus rotate weekly to keep things fresh.
Summit is led by Youth and Young Adults Coordinator Ashley Dawson, with a volunteer Student Ministry Team that parents are welcome to join. The students fundraise throughout the year - for example through the annual Mother's Day Treat Boutique - to cover summer camp travel costs, and donations of supplies can be dropped through the program's Amazon Wishlist.
Encounter Young Adults, Jesus Saves Men, and Women's Connections
Young adults in their twenties and thirties meet as Encounter on Monday evenings at 6:30 pm. The group describes itself with a one-line goal: to be and make disciples - people, quoting Merriam-Webster, with a devoted allegiance to the teachings of one chosen as Master. Members study the Bible together and push each other to be hearers and doers of the Word, drawing on James 1:22.
Two weekly small-group communities gather separately for men and women. Jesus Saves Men meets Tuesday nights from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm with food, worship, and breakout Bible study groups. Women's Connections meets on Wednesday evenings for a study of Experiencing God, with childcare available so mothers can fully participate.
Outside the regular weekly calendar, the church also runs a Celebrate Recovery ministry on its campus. The annual CR Yard Sale in early May raises funds for that program, with donations accepted the day before.
Baptism and the Next Steps Path
Baptism is taught as the first step of obedience after committing to Jesus Christ - a public declaration that mirrors Christ's death, burial, and resurrection and signals entry into the family of God. A one-hour Baptism Class meets on the second Sunday of every month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am in the main building, covering what baptism means, why it matters, and the personal significance of taking that step. Those who want to be baptized can sign up through the church's registration system.
The wider Next Steps pathway includes the Discover YC newcomer class, the SHAPE class (Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experience) for discovering personal design, the six-week How to Study the Bible course led by Pastor Jason at the El Capitan Building, and seasonal studies like Stretch - a three-month discipleship experience created by Pastor Jeff that combines weekly small groups, an exercise program, daily Scripture meditation on Romans 12, and outdoor excursions including a kick-off day in Yosemite National Park.
What Yosemite Church Believes
The church articulates its identity in a single mission statement: We are becoming a loving community of growing disciples, mentoring the next generation to live the mission of Jesus through the power of the gospel. Around that statement sit five core values - each anchored in a specific Bible passage:
- The Inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
- The Intrinsic Worth of every person (Psalm 139:13-14; Genesis 1:27)
- An Intimate Walk with God (John 15:11-17)
- The Investment Work of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20)
- The Intentional Witness of unity (John 17:20-21)
On doctrine, the church holds the classic evangelical essentials: one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); the Bible as the inspired, error-free Word of God; humanity created in God's image and marred by sin; salvation by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ; the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus; the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer; one universal Church that gathers for worship, prayer, teaching, baptism, and communion; and the reality of heaven and hell as eternal destinations. Marriage, grounded in Genesis 1-2 and reaffirmed in Matthew 19 and Ephesians 5, is taught as a lifelong union of one man and one woman.
Two additional phrases capture the church's posture on disagreements: In essential beliefs - we have unity. In non-essential beliefs - we have liberty. In all our beliefs - we show love.
Small Groups, S.O.A.P., and the Rule of Life
The small groups ministry is the backbone of adult discipleship. Groups meet in homes and on campus throughout the week, with sign-ups and group listings managed through the Church Center platform. Each week, sermon-based small group and family guides are posted online so every household can study the same passage together, and a printable version is available for download.
The church teaches a four-step Bible engagement method called S.O.A.P. - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer - that members are encouraged to use daily. S.O.A.P. journaling helps readers slow down, write out the main passage, note what they observe, record personal application, and finish in prayer.
For those who want a deeper framework, the Rule of Life ministry offers a structured path of daily, weekly, and monthly habits organized around what the church calls classical practices (which every follower of Jesus should practice) and personal practices (which vary from person to person). Daily habits include kneeling prayer three times a day, one communal meal with others, an hour with the phone off, Scripture before the phone, Bible engagement, meditation and memorization, individual worship, and physical activity. Weekly habits include a one-hour conversation with a friend, curating media to four hours, a 24-hour fast, Sabbath, silence and solitude, liturgy reading, corporate worship, exercise in a faith community, and small-group participation. Monthly habits include tithing, loving a neighbor in a practical way, using spiritual gifts on a ministry team, sharing one's testimony, attending an Experience class, serving in the community, meeting the needs of someone in crisis, and going on a mission trip. The framework comes from a partnership with The Martin Institute.
Generosity as Discipleship
Yosemite Church treats giving as a spiritual discipline rather than a transaction. Six reasons are taught for why members give: because God gave first (John 3:16); with an eternal mindset (Luke 16; Matthew 6:19-20); sacrificially, as measured by the heart rather than the amount (Mark 12:41-44); to put God first through tithing (Deuteronomy 14:23; Matthew 23:23); out of obedience and joy (Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 9:7); and to advance the gospel locally and globally (1 Corinthians 16:2-3).
A sermon series on generosity walks through five identity statements: I am loving, I am a disciple, I am loved, I am a mentor, I am a missionary. A recurring phrase summarizes the whole theology: Give. Grow. Go. Online giving runs through Pushpay, with scholarships and special funds (such as the Stretch Scholarship Fund) handled by the office.
Local Partners and Global Mission
The church supports ten local non-profits and missionaries through giving. In Merced County these include Alpha Pregnancy Help Center (pregnancy support, ultrasounds, post-abortion counseling), Love INC (a referral clearinghouse for food, clothing, furniture, and basic needs), Merced County Jail Ministries (spiritual guidance for the incarcerated), Merced County Rescue Mission (services for those experiencing homelessness), and Without Permission (a Central Valley collaborative working against sex trafficking). Young Life Merced and InterVarsity campus ministry receive ongoing support, as do JMJ Maternity Home for pregnant women in need and Lifeline CDC's community empowerment work. Celebration Radio broadcasts contemporary Christian music and biblical programming.
On the national and global side, the church partners with Navigators, the Jesus Film Project (through the Nordman family), New Life Disaster Relief (founded after Hurricane Katrina), Standing Stone Ministry, SURV Readiness Training, ACE Overcomers (which teaches parenting skills and family wellness in Uganda), Hope Mountain Foundation (a children's home for survivors of trafficking in the Philippines), Hope Positive Africa, Pioneers, IBMA (through the Tangub family in the Philippines), and Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child. Each November, Kid Explore packs shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, and members can pack a shoebox online or in person.
Seasonal service projects keep the mission visible at home: an annual Book Drive in August collects paperbacks for Merced County Jail Ministries; a Thanksgiving Table of Plenty grocery drive in November; Adopt-a-Family through Love INC at Christmas; a Trunk or Treat on the church campus in late October; a Spring Mother-Daughter Tea Party and Father-Daughter Sock Hop Dance; a Hope Mountain Filipino-style dinner and auction fundraiser in the spring; and a Drive-Thru Pasta Dinner to support the Missions Team. A church-wide Book Drive and Celebrate Recovery Yard Sale round out the year.
The Campus and How to Connect
The main building at 2230 East Yosemite Avenue is open for visitors throughout the week. Office hours run Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday 9:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm, Thursday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. A free food pantry hosted on the campus is open to the public on Wednesdays from 9:00 am until supplies run out.
Twelve volunteer teams carry the ministry each week: Care, Communications, Creative Arts, Facilities, Missions, Children's Ministry, Student Ministry, Production, Safety, Weekend Service, and Worship. New volunteers can sign up online, and anyone unsure where to plug in is encouraged to email the office for help finding a fit. Prayer requests, help requests, and a Share My Story testimony form are all available through the Church Center portal. The YC App, available on both Apple and Android, carries the church calendar, registration links, sermon notes, small-group directory, and a daily devotional feed.
For anyone who wants a soft first step, Discover YC meets several times a year on Sunday afternoons for an hour in the foyer, with no registration required. For those ready to commit, baptism classes run the second Sunday of each month, and a SHAPE assessment class helps new believers find their ministry fit. Either way, the front door is the same one that has been open on East Yosemite Avenue for 35 years.