About Westside

Westside Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational Christian church located in Leona Valley. We recognize the desperate need for Truth, Love, Discipleship, Holiness, Prayer, Power, and Christ.
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Our Mission & Vision

Our vision and mission is to promote truth

To promote the TRUTH through inspired preaching and teaching, praise-filled worship, compelling discipleship, passionate intercession, and compassionate outreach….Striving to honor God, individually and corporately, by applying the wisdom of His Word to our daily lives….Continually growing in a deeper, more intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Our Team

Our Beliefs

Worship Times

Teachings

Youth & Kids

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We exist to

Welcome all to the kingdom of God…

(John 1:12-13)

Worship God in spirit and truth

(John 4:23-24, Matt. 6:9-13, Acts 17:24-28, II Tim. 3:10)

Through unity and corporate worship by the Holy Spirit.
Through individual and corporate prayer.
Through the proclamation of the Word of God.

Walk in personal relationship with God

(Eph. 2:18-22, Eph. 4:10-16, John 3:16-18, Deut. 6:7-9)

Through commitment to Jesus Christ.
Through the application of Biblical principles to life.
Through strengthening and equipping.

Work with one another in service to God

(Rom. 15:5-7, Gal. 6:1-2, I Cor. 12:4-6, Acts 2:44-45, Matt. 18:15-17)

Through development and deployment of spiritual gifts.
Through sharing resources and meeting one another‘s needs.
Through mutual accountability.

Witness about God’s love to the world

(Matt. 28:18-20, I Peter 3:15-17, James 2:14-16)

Through the process of personal and global evangelism.
Through caring for those in need.

Wholeheartedly study God’s Word

(II Tim. 2:15, Psalm 119:111, II Tim. 3:16-17)

Through faithful preaching in weekend services.
Through personal study time
.
Through proclaiming God’s Word in small group settings.

We Believe

THE TRINITY

We believe that there is only one God, who is eternal and immutable, and who manifests Himself in three distinct Persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory. We believe that this triune God is the immortal and eternal Creator of all things, both visible and invisible, and He sovereignly rules over all things. (Gen 1:1; Deu 6:4; Isa 48:16; Mat 28:18-19; Joh 10:30, 14:10, 26; 2Co 13:14; Heb 1:1-3).

GOD

We believe in God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, who is the Supreme Being, with no gods created before or after Him in all of existence. He is eternal and self-existent. He has always been God. (Isa 43:10, 44:6; 1 Ti 1:17; Psa 90:10). We believe that God is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and immutable. He is Love, Light, Spirit, and Truth. (Rev 4:8; Jer 32:17; Psa 139:7; 1Jn 3:20; 1Jn 4:8; 1Jn 1:5; 1Jn 4:24; Mal 3:6). We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and that He saves from sin and death all those who come to Him through Jesus Christ. (Psa 139:4; 1Pe 3:12; 1Jn 5:14-15; Joh 3:16).

JESUS CHRIST

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, is the eternal Son of God. He became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men. (Isa 7:14, 9:6; Luk 1:34-35; Joh 1:1-2, 14; 2Co 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Php 2:5-8). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead. (1Co 15:3-4; Heb 4:15, 7:25-26; Rom 3:24-25; Eph 1:7; 1Pe 2:24; 1Pe 1:3-5). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Mar 16:19; Acts 1:9-10; Rom 8:34; Heb 9:24; 7:25; 1Jn 2:1-2).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin, of unrighteousness, and of judgment; and, that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (Jn 16:8-11; Act 1:8; Rom 8:9; 1Co 12:13; 2Co 3:6; Eph 1:13-14). We believe that He is the divine Teacher who assists believers to understand and appropriate the Scriptures and that it is the privilege and duty of all believers to be filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to believers to be an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. (Eph 5:18; 1Jn 2:20, 27; Rom 8:26; Rom 15:13).

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. We believe that the Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of scripture and that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of the writings without error or contradiction as they appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that all scripture centers on the Lord Jesus Christ in His person and work and is the mind of Christ as revealed to man. All scripture is designed for our practical instruction and is the infallible and final authority for all Christian faith and practice. The Bible is the foundation upon which this church operates and is governed. (Joh 17:17; 2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:21; Isa 40:8; Luk 24:27, 44-45; Heb 4:12).

Salvation

We believe that all people are sinners by nature and are under condemnation. We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are forgivable. (Rom 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10; Joh 1:12; Eph 1:7, 2:1-3, 8-9; 1Pe 1:18-19; 1Jn 1:9; Mat 12:31-32).

The Church

We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by saving faith and are united as the body of Christ, of which He is the head, and that this body of believers is the espoused bride of Christ. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament. The local church is to preach and teach God’s Word and administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper. It is where believers are discipled and serve to build up one another. (1Co 12:12-13; 2Co 11:2; Eph 1:22-23; 5:25-27; Act 20:28; 1Pe 5:1-3; 1Ti 3:1-12; Tit 1:5-9; 1 Thess 5:11).

The ordinances

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of water baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper (taking Communion) as the scriptural ordinances of obedience for the church in this age. We believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation but it is an important act of obedience for a Christian and represents a person’s public identification with Christ. It is an outward manifestation of an inward reality of faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who secured our redemption through His sacrifice. We believe that we are to celebrate the communion service as a church body. We believe that it is a memorial service to bring us into remembrance of what God has done for us through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the elements of the bread and juice, we are to remember both the body and blood of Christ as He died on the cross to pay for our sins. (Mat 28:19; Act 2:38, 41-42, 8:36-38; Luk 22:19-20; 1Co 11:23-26).

The Second coming

We believe in the personal and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. When humanity’s decadence and depravity has reached its fullness, the Lord Jesus Christ will bodily and visibly return from heaven to earth with great glory, accompanied by His angels. He will exercise His role as final Judge, and His Kingdom will be consummated. (Joh 14:3; Mat 16:27, 25:31-34; Act 1:9-11; Rev 1:7, 19:11-16, 20:1-6, 11-15).

Heaven and Hell

We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life in Heaven, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment in Hell. We believe that heaven is a real and literal place where the saved will dwell forever in the presence of God. We believe that Hell is a literal place where those who reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation will reside forever, experiencing unending torment and eternal exclusion from the presence of God. (Mat 18:9, 25:31-34, 41-46, Mar 9:42-49; Luk 12:5; Joh 3:18, 5:28-29, 11:25-26, 14:3; 2Th 1:7-9; 1Pe 1:4; Rev 14:10-10; 20:11-15, 21:8).

MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY, AND GENDER

Marriage: We believe that the human race was created as male and female by a direct and intentional act of God to fully reveal His image and that God declared it to be “very good.” We believe that the union of male and female produces life. As revealed in the Bible, God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is a sacred covenantal union between a genetic male and a genetic female that limits sexual relations to monogamous, heterosexual marriage. (Gen 1:27, 2:24; Mat 19:5-6; Mar 10:6-9).

Sexuality: We believe that God has commanded that there should be no intimate sexual activity outside of a marriage between a biological male and a biological female. We believe that any relationships or activities involving homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, or pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. (Gen 2:24, 19:5-7; Lev 18:22; Rom 1:26-27; 1Co 6:9-10, 18; 1Th 4:3-8; Heb 13:4).

Gender: We believe God defines gender within the context of creation, as He created mankind male and female. These two distinct, complementary sexes each reflect the image and likeness of God. The Bible is explicitly consistent in equating gender with biological sex. There are undeniable biological differences between males and females and these differences extend to gender. A man is an adult biological male human. A woman is an adult biological female human. The Bible is our standard and there are no instances of gender fluidity (changing from one gender to another). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of God’s design and creative order, a rejection of the image of God within that person. Someone redefining or not accepting their biological sex goes against God’s will and design. Not only did God create males and females, but He beheld His creation and called it “very good.” If God’s creation is “good,” in that it reflects God’s glory, then the attempt to fundamentally change it is not good. We believe that God is not the author of confusion, and that we should speak the truth that there are only two genders while also demonstrating love to those struggling with gender dysphoria. (Gen 1:27, 31; Deu 22:5; Mat 19:4; Mar 10:6; 1Co 14:33; Tit 2:1).

7 CORE VALUES

Recognize the Desperate Need for Truth

Absolute truth is a hill on which to die. In battle, there are key strongholds that must be taken, or kept, at all costs in order to win–these are “hills on which to die.”
Today, absolute truth is one such hill.
A weapon of destruction has set its sights on our nation, our homes, and our families. Relativism/postmodernism continue to challenge truth, but to their own destruction. Attacking absolute truth is like waging war on a lighthouse. It cannot be negotiated, bargained with, or debated. When people, groups, denominations, or movements depart from absolute truth, and thus, quench and grieve the Spirit of God, they become mechanical in their approach to Christianity and lose the ability to guide. The Word of God is not “in their hearts like a burning fire,” but relative, powerless, and debatable. This is what we see today; many are not truly worshiping
God, as Jesus said, “in spirit and in truth.”
Unfortunately, Christians who are sounding the alarm are often categorized as irrational, judgmental, bigoted, and intolerant. But how can we warn if we won’t confront; correct if we won’t challenge; and contend if we won’t question? We are not called to make truth tolerable, but to make it clear. It is a “hill on which to die.”

Recognize the Desperate Need for Love

Will others know that we are Jesus’ disciples by how well we translate the Greek? or unravel the Hebrew? or by how well we convey pneumatology, eschatology, soteriology, or eschatology? Will they know by how many scriptures we quote, or how often we read the Bible? The answer is a resounding, “No”. Jesus said that love, not knowledge, is the characteristic of a genuine disciple.
It’s possible to be “Bible taught,” but not “Spirit led”—straight as a gun barrel theologically, but just as empty—”the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” This is fertile ground for modern-day Pharisees. Don’t get me wrong, we are to study the scriptures and defend the faith. I enjoy reading systematic theology; it’s essential to Christian living, but how often are we taught to fast and pray for wisdom? How often are we taught the need for brokenness and repentance instead of how to dissect and translate the Greek language—more concerned about a Master’s Degree than a degree from the Master? We must equally balance truth and love.

Recognize the Desperate Need for Discipleship

Your faith must stand trial. When God strengthens our faith, He does so to help us meet the challenges ahead, to prepare us for life, and to mold us in to Christ’s image. Trying times are not intended to break us down, but to build us up. The only way to build into our lives such qualities as love, joy, peace, humility, and patience is to be confronted with situations that require love, joy, peace, humility, and patience.
Discipleship in these areas is vitally important.
How do we develop patience if we’re not tested? How do we develop forgiveness if we are never wronged? How do we develop humility if we’re never humbled? How do we develop character if we are never challenged? James 1:2-4 advises us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” “The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction” (C.H. Spurgeon). Brokenness, true brokenness, is humiliating and painful, but it strengthens faith.

Recognize the Desperate Need for Holiness

Holiness is not a prudish, outdated word. It means being set apart, or separated from anything that causes us to sin, whether mentally (in what we think), or physically (in what we do). Holiness begins in the heart. We should continually strive for holiness in all that we do and say. “The Holy Spirit is first of all a moral flame. It is not an accident of language that He is called the Holy Spirit, for whatever else the word holy may mean it does undoubtedly carry with it the idea of moral purity” (Tozer).
Why walk willingly into the enemy’s camp? Why quench and grieve the Spirit of God? It’s impossible to develop a deep respect and desire for God if we repeatedly fill our mind with things that oppose Him. If we would make it our goal to know Christ more personally, we would preach Christ more powerfully. For example, if a Christian fills their mind with the world all week and expects the Spirit of God to speak boldly through them, they will be gravely mistaken. “The gratification of the flesh and the fullness of the Spirit do not go hand in hand” (R.A. Torrey). “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). What goes in ultimately comes out. It’s time to recognize the desperate need for holiness, beginning within our homes.

Recognize the Desperate Need for Prayer

A prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian. Where are those with uncompromising spiritual power in the church today? Granted, there are some, and I so appreciate them, but as a whole, the church is lacking. The men, and women, who do the most for God are always people of prayer.
Need examples from the past? E.M. Bounds, who was born in 1835, began his three-hour prayer routine at 4am. To him, prayer was not a prelude; it was a priority. Edward Payson, who ministered during the Second Great Awakening, was said to have wore grooves into his hardwood floors as a result of prayer. Adonia Judson attributed his success in Burma as a missionary to a life of prayer, as did J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission. George Mueller petitioned God for millions of dollars to fund his orphanages in the 1800s. John Fletcher, one of the leaders of the Methodist movement, “stained the walls of his room with the breath of his prayers” until his death in 1785.

Recognize the Desperate Need for Power

The Holy Spirit is not some weird, mystical force; He’s part of the triune nature of God. The Bible says that the Spirit intercedes, leads, guides, teaches, and so on. (Check out Romans 8:26; Acts 8:29; John 16:13.) He enables and empowers us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to boldly live for Christ, and to help others within our sphere of influence. God’s Word becomes living and active in the life of the believer who is continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon said it best, “What can a hammer do without the hand that grasps it, and what can we do without the Spirit of God?”

Recognize the Desperate Need for Christ

If current statistics hold true, many will continue to reject Christ, never to return; or, they will embrace a glamorized Christianity, both to the same end. Life is a battleground, not a playground! Who is Jesus? How you answer this question is the difference between right and wrong, light and darkness, heaven and hell. When asked this question, the apostle Peter gave the correct response: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus Himself confirmed this by saying: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Seriously consider who and what you choose to follow. We are sinners who need a Savior. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood, there is no removal of sin. His blood was shed for our sins; we should be forever thankful. Jesus isn’t an option; He’s the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Shane Idleman

Lead Pastor

Morgan Idleman

Abram Thomas

Family Ministries, Pastor, Elder

Erica Thomas

Windsor Taunton

Emeritus Elder

Pat Taunton

Joe Lindaman

Elder

Melinda Lindaman

David Thies

Elder

Donna Thies

Brian Hobbs

Elder

Kathleen Hobbs

Rick Carr

Deacon

Ron Emard

Elder Emeritus

Madelynn Arroyo

Worship Team

Susie Woodruff

Church Facilitator

Luke Duncan

Deacon, Media

Yvette Emard

Prayer Team

Phil De La Tova

Deacon/Youth

Carrie De La Tova

Youth

Ray Murgatroyd

Security, Deacon

Larry Tyler

Deacon

Melissa Ford

Office Assistant

Randy McMillen

Deacon, Treasurer

Dana Byrnes

Security

Tim Atkerson

Family Ministry/Prayer

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