What We Believe
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, as the only mediator between sinful man and a holy God.
We believe a person is saved by faith in Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, and only infallible, authoritative Word of God. Therefore, Bible teaching is of extreme importance.
We believe that the true basis of Christian fellowship is His Love, which is greater than any differences we possess.
We believe the worship of God should be a spiritual experience and be both intelligent and fruitful. Therefore, we remain flexible and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct our worship, and a prominent place is given to music.
City Church in San Diego is affiliated with Horizon Christian Fellowship and Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, CA.
Our Vision
City Church San Diego is a vibrant new church in downtown San Diego, meeting in the UA theatres in Horton Plaza in the Gaslamp Quarter.
WIN a person to Jesus Christ
Mark 16:15 - "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
DISCIPLE a person in Jesus Christ
Matthew 28:19 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
SEND a person out for Jesus Christ
Acts 1:8 - "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Our Story
In the late 60's and early 70's, a revival swept across America. This revival known as the Jesus Movement brought a resurgence of biblical Christianity amongst our nation, and especially amongst the American hippie-culture. Many people attribute much of this revival to God using a man named Chuck Smith.
In 1965, God used Smith to transform a small church of only 25 people into what would become one of the largest churches in America, Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. Through his ministry at Costa Mesa, Smith demonstrated a biblically based acceptance of all people, regardless of their mode of dress, cleanliness, or length of hair. Smith and the Calvary Chapel Movement provided a church environment where the youth culture of America could come as they were and worship God.
This helped set the stage for a sovereign work of God, resulting in a remarkable growth in church attendance of some ten thousand percent between 1965 and 1975. God was working mightily through Smith; and Horizon Christian Fellowship was soon to become a fruit of that work.
Horizon Christian Fellowship began in 1974 as a home Bible study of twelve people. Mike MacIntosh, then director of Maranatha! Music, drove from Orange County to San Diego every week to teach and lead the group. By August 1974, the study had grown and moved to the Ocean Beach Women's Club, where it hosted evangelistic concerts along with Bible studies. Attendance grew so fast that within three months the fellowship had to move again, this time to the House of Hospitality in Balboa Park. In February 1975, the church relocated to Linda Vista. Continued growth propelled a search for new facilities, which resulted in the purchase and renovation of the old North Park Theater in the summer of 1976.
Horizon Park Chapel began with Mike MacIntosh in April 1994 as a Wednesday night outreach in Downtown San Diego.
In 2001, Park Chapel launched Horizon Urban Ministries as a network of assistance programs for the needy including free community dinners, food and clothing distribution, single mom's assistance programs, and ongoing ministry to street kids and the homeless. The church is widely diverse with many races and ethnic backgrounds blended into the congregation and a mix of all different socio-economic levels as well. Horizon Park Chapel is a unique, urban representation of the ministry of Jesus in the world today.
In January of 2007, Horizon Park Chapel will be planting a new church in the heart of the Downtown San Diego re-development called City Church. City Church in downtown San Diego meets in the UA theatres at Horton Plaza, reaching the new influx of residents in the downtown community.