MAN OF GOD-The Rev. Glen Jackson, pastor of Faith Christian Church, sits in the Simi Valley chapel where he's preached the Bible for 26 years."Our stand is the Scriptures," Jackson says. When Glen Jackson took a career aptitude test in high school, he was surprised at the results.

"I wanted to be a coach," Jackson, 56, said. "The test showed I should either be a police officer or minister."

Neither vocation seemed appealing at the time, but something was stirring in Jackson. It wasn't law enforcement.

Now, the Rev. Jackson and his congregation in Simi Valley are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Faith Christian Church, a ministry he's served for the past 26 years.

More than 100 people commemorated the event with a postworship service luncheon at Paul's Italian Villa on Sept. 17.

"It's a more down-to-earth church, smaller, and you know pretty much everybody," said Randy Watkins, 21, a Sunday school teacher at the church. "It's more of a family."

In its earliest years, the congregation met in elementary schools, gymnasiums and other places. Then they held services at a church on Appleton Street for 10 years. When that church changed hands, the congregation moved again.

Faith Christian now holds services in the charming 90-seat chapel owned by the Crossroads Christian Fellowship. The partnership, going on four years, has given Faith Christian a new home.

"Where we are now is great; everything fell into place," longtime member Richard Inman, 68, said. "Glen is a very good teacher. I enjoy his insights. My wife and I really feel at home there."

In his lectures, Jackson doesn't force his own beliefs down the throats of his 150member congregation. Instead, he allows church members to have their own personal feelings and opinions on biblical text.

"Everybody has to make a stand. Our stand is the Scriptures. I've preached over 1,000 sermons and there are still people in my church that don't agree with me," Jackson said. "I think that's one of our strengths. We can be biblical, but we can also allow for disagreements."

Faith Christian Church is an

ndependent Bible church with about 5,000 members nationally. It is loosely associated with the Independent Christian Church.

"We take the Bible seriously but we believe you can believe the Bible but still be kind and compassionate and tolerant of everybody," Jackson said. "The best way to reach people who don't agree with us is not to be hateful, but loving."

Faith Christian, at 1925 Royal Ave., can be reached by phone at (805) 581-0938 or online at faithchristianvs.org. Sunday services are at 11 a.m. with Bible class at 10 a.m.