Fifty people gathered on November 8 1980. They had a dream. A new Baptist church in the Victor Valley. This was the genesis of Faith Baptist Church. It started small. Seventy-seven charter members signed up by the end of November. They met in a rented space. Faith Baptist Church wasn’t located in Los Angeles initially. It was in the High Desert. Growth was slow. Military families moved frequently. The church faced challenges. Pastor Baker resigned in 1983.
The church persevered. They purchased two acres of land in 1982 to build their own space. This was a significant step. Later they moved to Apple Valley to save money. More changes came. Pastors came and went. In mid-1985 they bought five acres. Building plans developed. Faith Baptist Church continued to expand. Pastor Ron Hogue arrived in 1987. He brought his family from Canada. The congregation grew rapidly. They moved to Hesperia in late 1987.
The High Desert boomed. Faith Baptist Church needed more space. They purchased 7.5 acres on Amethyst Road in Victorville. A new ministry center was built. A gymnatorium seating 1000 was planned. The 1990s brought both triumphs and trials. A spiritual renewal occurred between 1992 and 1994. The economy slumped and George Air Force Base closed. This impacted the church significantly. Some members left. The building plans were paused. A temporary Sprung vinyl building was erected. It could seat 550. Modular buildings were added for ministries.
In 1994 Faith Baptist Church dropped the Baptist label. They became Faith Community Church. They also left the High Desert Association of the SBC in 1998. Pastor Hogue served for 14 years. He resigned to become a full-time missionary. Randy Howard became pastor in 2001. The church underwent a transition. By 2004 it had stabilized. In 2007 it changed its name again. It became The GATE Church of the High Desert. The name reflected a new vision a gateway to the community. In 2013 they rejoined the Southern Baptist Convention. They also partnered with Kingdom Ministries USA. The GATE Church continues to grow. It strives to serve its community and spread its message worldwide.
This is the remarkable journey of what began as a small gathering in 1980. It grew into a thriving church with a global vision. The story of Faith Baptist Church is one of perseverance faith and community.