Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

The Vertex

"We've tried a number of ways to reach out to people in the community. We've tried TV, parades, door-knocking; all of this didn't work. Creating the additional service is the best outreach we've ever done," Pastor Larry Hamblen said.

First Baptist Church of Coronado calls this new service "The Vertex."

The Vertex was launched one year ago as an evening service, catering to a younger audience. "A couple of people wanted to make the church more exciting. They wanted to have a service with a higher energy and more upbeat music," Pastor Hamblen told me. Hamblen described the service as having a "postmodern flavor."

Wedged between homes on Coronado, First Baptist Church's steeple rises a story above the white building. Inside, ten candles in sconces hang on the walls. The candle glow provides a faint light to the room. Thin stained-glass windows, black from the night, line one wall. The small sanctuary houses nine rows of cushioned pews. A cross, six feet in height, hangs on the front wall. Nearby, a large screen mixes artistic images with the words to the songs, displayed by PowerPoint projector.

The 38 congregants at the service were primarily college-aged students. Common attire was a Point Loma Nazarene sweatshirt, jeans, T-shirt, and an occasional baseball hat turned backward. I asked Taylor Dwyer, the lead guitarist and vocalist in the band, about who attends the service. "Half of the people live on the island. They either have been involved with the church or heard about it when we posted door-hangers in the neighborhood. The other half are friends of ours from Point Loma Nazarene College." Dwyer and the entire band graduated from PLNU last spring.

The service began with a welcome from Dwyer. Through the ceremony, the band performed nine songs. The volume of the music filled the small sanctuary as drums, keyboards, bass guitar, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar accompanied the singing. Later, Pastor Hamblen told me they had purchased a new sound system for the evening service.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Dwyer classified the band's sound as "a little harder than Dave Matthews Band. We play a lot of songs from the Passion Movement and the Vineyard, but we would like to write our own tunes." The songs for the evening included "Trading My Sorrows," "Blessed Be Your Name," "Hear Our Praises," "Lord Most High," "You Alone," and "How Great is Your Love."

The keyboardist from the band, Tim Gaines, preached the sermon. Gaines based his message on the gospel of John, chapter 11. This chapter tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The shortest verse in the Bible is this chapter: "Jesus wept." Gaines connected the story to the congregation's life by saying, "I believe Jesus weeps when we come to him without faith, when we give up on our brothers who are spiritually dead. Just like in the story of Lazarus, when we see people give up on Lazarus who is physically dead. The people didn't have faith that Jesus would raise him from the dead. I believe that is why Jesus wept."

After service, Gaines told me he preaches every four to five weeks. Gaines studied philosophy and theology at the undergraduate level at PLNU. He is in graduate school and would like to teach theology at the college level. "Theology is bigger than anything that I know. It's so much bigger than me. I love being caught up in something bigger than me," Gaines said. "I like how theology influences a church to live and do local ministry."

Philosophy comes into play in his preaching. "You can't take theology and philosophy apart. Theology has, over the last thousand years, basically followed philosophy. Philosophers and theologians have been in conversation and so you can't really study one without studying the other. You have to have both together."

After the service, people gathered outside for coffee, juice, cake, and brownies. I approached two young women, asking why they preferred this type of service. "I like the upbeat music, the service is uplifting and lively," one of the women named Connie replied. Michele chimed in, "I think it is contemporary. The service is more of a reflection of who we are."

The morning service, in contrast to the Vertex, tends toward the traditional. Pastor Hamblen said, "There are older folks. Forty to fifty percent of the church is families from the Navy base on Coronado. We're never going to be a mega-church here. Coronado is a rich community. A lot of people do not think they need to go to church. Maybe ten percent of people on the island go to church. Also, we don't have any parking. It costs $90,000 to buy a parking stall on Coronado. But even with these problems, we are doing well. Typically we have between 65 to 85 people attend on Sunday morning."

I concluded my interview with Pastor Hamblen with the question I ask at every interview's end: "What happens after a person dies?"

Pastor Hamblen answered, "A believer's spirit goes home to the Lord. Their body goes into the grave to be resurrected when Christ returns. People who do not believe in Jesus are lost, and they go to hell."

Place

First Baptist Church of Coronado

445 C Avenue, Coronado




Denomination: Southern Baptist Convention

619-435-6588

Founded locally: 2003

Senior pastor: Pastor Larry Hamblen

Congregation size: 105

Staff size: 2

Sunday school enrollment: 10

Annual budget: $150,000

Weekly giving: $4,000

Singles program: no

Dress: casual

Diversity: white

Sunday worship: 6 p.m.

Length of reviewed service: 1-1/2 hours

Website: vertexcoronado.com

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Coyote tracks in frail San Diego avocado grove

Second place winner in Reader neighborhood writing contest
Next Article

Gonzo Report: Stinkfoot Orchestra conjures Zappa at Winstons

His music is a blend of technical excellence and not-so-subtle humor

"We've tried a number of ways to reach out to people in the community. We've tried TV, parades, door-knocking; all of this didn't work. Creating the additional service is the best outreach we've ever done," Pastor Larry Hamblen said.

First Baptist Church of Coronado calls this new service "The Vertex."

The Vertex was launched one year ago as an evening service, catering to a younger audience. "A couple of people wanted to make the church more exciting. They wanted to have a service with a higher energy and more upbeat music," Pastor Hamblen told me. Hamblen described the service as having a "postmodern flavor."

Wedged between homes on Coronado, First Baptist Church's steeple rises a story above the white building. Inside, ten candles in sconces hang on the walls. The candle glow provides a faint light to the room. Thin stained-glass windows, black from the night, line one wall. The small sanctuary houses nine rows of cushioned pews. A cross, six feet in height, hangs on the front wall. Nearby, a large screen mixes artistic images with the words to the songs, displayed by PowerPoint projector.

The 38 congregants at the service were primarily college-aged students. Common attire was a Point Loma Nazarene sweatshirt, jeans, T-shirt, and an occasional baseball hat turned backward. I asked Taylor Dwyer, the lead guitarist and vocalist in the band, about who attends the service. "Half of the people live on the island. They either have been involved with the church or heard about it when we posted door-hangers in the neighborhood. The other half are friends of ours from Point Loma Nazarene College." Dwyer and the entire band graduated from PLNU last spring.

The service began with a welcome from Dwyer. Through the ceremony, the band performed nine songs. The volume of the music filled the small sanctuary as drums, keyboards, bass guitar, electric guitar, and acoustic guitar accompanied the singing. Later, Pastor Hamblen told me they had purchased a new sound system for the evening service.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Dwyer classified the band's sound as "a little harder than Dave Matthews Band. We play a lot of songs from the Passion Movement and the Vineyard, but we would like to write our own tunes." The songs for the evening included "Trading My Sorrows," "Blessed Be Your Name," "Hear Our Praises," "Lord Most High," "You Alone," and "How Great is Your Love."

The keyboardist from the band, Tim Gaines, preached the sermon. Gaines based his message on the gospel of John, chapter 11. This chapter tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The shortest verse in the Bible is this chapter: "Jesus wept." Gaines connected the story to the congregation's life by saying, "I believe Jesus weeps when we come to him without faith, when we give up on our brothers who are spiritually dead. Just like in the story of Lazarus, when we see people give up on Lazarus who is physically dead. The people didn't have faith that Jesus would raise him from the dead. I believe that is why Jesus wept."

After service, Gaines told me he preaches every four to five weeks. Gaines studied philosophy and theology at the undergraduate level at PLNU. He is in graduate school and would like to teach theology at the college level. "Theology is bigger than anything that I know. It's so much bigger than me. I love being caught up in something bigger than me," Gaines said. "I like how theology influences a church to live and do local ministry."

Philosophy comes into play in his preaching. "You can't take theology and philosophy apart. Theology has, over the last thousand years, basically followed philosophy. Philosophers and theologians have been in conversation and so you can't really study one without studying the other. You have to have both together."

After the service, people gathered outside for coffee, juice, cake, and brownies. I approached two young women, asking why they preferred this type of service. "I like the upbeat music, the service is uplifting and lively," one of the women named Connie replied. Michele chimed in, "I think it is contemporary. The service is more of a reflection of who we are."

The morning service, in contrast to the Vertex, tends toward the traditional. Pastor Hamblen said, "There are older folks. Forty to fifty percent of the church is families from the Navy base on Coronado. We're never going to be a mega-church here. Coronado is a rich community. A lot of people do not think they need to go to church. Maybe ten percent of people on the island go to church. Also, we don't have any parking. It costs $90,000 to buy a parking stall on Coronado. But even with these problems, we are doing well. Typically we have between 65 to 85 people attend on Sunday morning."

I concluded my interview with Pastor Hamblen with the question I ask at every interview's end: "What happens after a person dies?"

Pastor Hamblen answered, "A believer's spirit goes home to the Lord. Their body goes into the grave to be resurrected when Christ returns. People who do not believe in Jesus are lost, and they go to hell."

Place

First Baptist Church of Coronado

445 C Avenue, Coronado




Denomination: Southern Baptist Convention

619-435-6588

Founded locally: 2003

Senior pastor: Pastor Larry Hamblen

Congregation size: 105

Staff size: 2

Sunday school enrollment: 10

Annual budget: $150,000

Weekly giving: $4,000

Singles program: no

Dress: casual

Diversity: white

Sunday worship: 6 p.m.

Length of reviewed service: 1-1/2 hours

Website: vertexcoronado.com

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Celebrate Holi, Borrego Springs Music Festival

Events March 23-March 27, 2024
Next Article

Pet pig perches in pocket

Escondido doula gets a taste of celebrity
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.