Simi's Discovery Church turns 5
By Angela Randazzo Special to the Acorn

There were two surfboards, several decorated cakes and a live jazz band in the lobby of Discovery Church in Simi Valley last weekend as the congregation celebrated its fiveyear anniversary during Sunday services.

"One of our themes in the history of our church is the beach," said Mark McKinney, the church's executive pastor. "When we first started the church, we had our members sign a surfboard. The idea was, "Hey, I'm on board with God's work at Discovery."

In the past five years, Discovery's congregation has grown to 850 members, drawing people from Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and the San Fernando Valley.

Todd Clark, the church's lead pastor, is proud but humbled by the church's growth.

"Some people asked me if I'm proud of our facility or where we have come. I am proud, but very, very humbled," Clark said. "I didn't think we would be where we are at the five-year mark."

Before coming to Simi Valley, Clark and McKinney, along with Mike Clear, the church's family life pastor, were colleagues at a church in Louisville, Ky.

Under the sponsorship of the Rev. Dudley Rutherford of the Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, the three men moved west to start a church they named Discovery.

"We really believe that our relationship with God is a discovery. We are on this journey of discovery," McKinney said. "We can be relevant to the culture and still have fun and live a life with hope."

In February 2003, the members of the fledgling church began meeting at the Edwards Cinema on Los Angeles Avenue.

After three years in the movie theater, the congregation met at Royal High School for six months before moving into a church facility of their own on East Easy Street.

"We feel that God had done some great things and has really been good to us," McKinney said. "We look forward to God's work in the future here in Simi Valley and in Discovery Church."

The church is nondenominational Christian. The Bible is "what we live our lives by," McKinney said.

In addition to Sunday services, the church offers a variety of prayer groups, workshops and community outreach programs.

Globally, Discovery is building churches in Poland and the Dominican Republic, as well as locally in the Compton area.

The church conducts a 45minute Discovery Kidz service at 10:15 a.m. Sundays for elementary age children and their parents.

The DK presentation features music, videos, comedy and sketches on a variety of topics.

"It's a Nickelodeontype production. There's skits, music, videos and live dancing," McKinney said. "This month's theme is kindness. They try to communicate that in all kinds of different ways."

In the future, Discovery will continue its outreach programs in the community and globally.

"We are focused on families and the community. We want to be a voice of Jesus Christ," Clark said. "We would like people to know they can be helped in the name of Christ."

The services are Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

For more information, call (805) 522-1360.