More Than a Church
Services were held in Pastor Hemphill's home until November 1979. The Church rapidly gre, but complaints were made in Building and Safety and much prayer was made that God would give us a permanent place of worship. God heard and answered our call giving us this place where we are presently located. We leased it with the option to buy. The building was purchased in November, 1980 all run down, shabby and in need of much repair, but look at it now. Even with building not presentable, the Church grew.
Over and over, we have seen the hand of God move opening doors that were closed, closed doors that were open. Miracles have been worked. Souls hae been saved, the hungry fed, hurting - healed, the saints equipped for the work of the minisry. God blessed us to pay off the Church, note in June 2000. In November, 2000, we purchased the property next door and have accessed it for the Multi-purposed Center. God has smiled on us. This truly is a work of faith, hope and love. Living in the purpose of God through: Magnification, Membership, Maturity, Ministry, and Missions.
Pastor William H. Hemphil
Serving the Los Angeles Community
Pastor William H. Hemphill was born in San Antonio, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California State College Dominguez Hills, a Master of Divinity from Talbot School of Theology, and doctoral work completed except the dissertation which is in progress.
Pastor Hemphill organized Concord Church in Los Angeles in 1979 with just a few people. And today it is one of the outstanding churches in the United States, small enough to reach down and pick-up the lowly and large enough to reach those that lavish in their wealth, for all men need Jesus Christ. Concord offers more than 25 community service ministries and support groups for families, parents, children, couples, addicts, sick and shut-ins, prisoners, addicts, and those that have hurts, habits and hang-ups.
Pastor Hemphill and Concord is very passionate about missions besides doing work in South Africa, Nigeria West Africa, Caribbean Islands, there is a lot of work done through Saddleback, Southern Baptist Convention and CMTA Convention where he serves as one of the executive board members.
Pastor Hemphill works hard “attacking the five global giants” in South Los Angeles of poverty, disease, spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, and illiteracy. One of pastor’s phrases is, ‘I don’t want you to be ignorant”.
Important Information about the church
ABOUT ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8, Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Bible is God's word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
ABOUT BAPTISM
Baptism by immersion symbolized the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is your public declaration that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that you have already been saved. And while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41, Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
ABOUT COMMUNION
Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ's broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer's faith in the atoning work of the cross.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29
ABOUT GOD
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons -- The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 1:2; 2; Corinthians 13:14
ABOUT MAN
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God's creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called "sin". This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; PSalms 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2
ABOUT ETERNITY
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived as a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate his power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22; 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14; 10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works -- only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God's offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin's penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; john 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1