A Brief History of Westlake Community Baptist Church,  Daly City,  California

In September 1950,  the Rev. Roy Milam,  then an associate pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Francisco,  came to the Westlake area to survey the residents of the community in order to determine the viability of beginning a new church there.  The building of homes by Henry Doelger in Westlake was well underway by this time.  Finding interest among the residents in a new church start,  a first worship service was held in one of the homes on Cliffside Drive.  There were 17 persons in attendance.

By October the group had grown to 35 persons and the Westlake Community Baptist Church was formally organized.  First Baptist in San Francisco released Rev. Milam from his responsibilities there in order to become the founding pastor in Daly City. 

After meeting in private homes,  theaters,  the Abbey Chapel of the Olivet Memorial Park in Colma for three and a half years,  the leadership began to look for a location on which to build.  Through the determination,  perseverance,  and faith of Rev. Milam and others,  the lot on the corner of Elmwood and Southgate was purchased from Henry Doelger.  Building plans were drawn,  permits obtained,  materials acquired,  and work begun.  The completed sanctuary,  office,  and basement were dedicated in October of 1955.

The second pastor of the church,  Rev. Lynn Hodges,  began a brief yet fruitful ministry in 1959.  Under his leadership the church finished the basement area and added new space to the building.  Many new members were added and outdoor “fish fries” were a frequent occurrence. 

It was also Rev. Hodges strong leadership which resulted in the Westlake area and Daly City becoming the ethnically diverse and integrated community it is today.  He organized a meeting of leaders from the community,  the NAACP,  realtors,  and homeowners that resulted in a landmark agreement.  What was agreed upon was that no one would be denied the opportunity to purchase a home in Westlake,  nor would there be allowed an establishment of ghettos.  The result was that an area which was intended to be essentially for “whites only” became not only integrated,  but diverse on each and every street.

In 1962 the Rev. Hansel Stembridge was called.  Rev. Stembridge was committed to the civil rights movement and consciously worked to integrate Westlake Community Baptist.  Both Rev. Stembridge and his daughter participated in the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery,  Alabama,  organized by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,  Jr.

The late sixties was a low point in the history of W.C.B.C. By the time new pastoral leadership could be found,  the church probably had only two or three dozen active members at most.

The church called the Rev. Al Muro in 1971 to be the pastor.  Rev. Muro not only restored integrity to the pastoral leadership of W.C.B.C.,  but also skillfully led the church out of its financial hole.  The church grew in numbers during the few years of his service and leadership.  He also established both the strong music ministry and commitment to missions that is evident in the church family to this day.

Rev. Muro was succeeded by Rev. Grady Higgs in 1975.  Rev. Higgs gave the church a much-needed long-term pastorate,  serving for 10 years.  His emphasis on evangelism and soul-winning helped the members to have a greater outward focus and not become ingrown.  The average worship attendance grew,  the multiethnic makeup of the congregation came to the fore,  and the church was primarily made up of families with children.

Rev. Higgs retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 1985.  After a lengthy search the Rev. Charles Northrop was called in 1987 and began as the seventh pastor of W.C.B.C. in September of 1987.  The congregation reflected the ethnic diversity of the Westlake area,  and to this day has no ethnic majority in the membership.  The unofficial motto of the church is “One In Christ--Ethnically Diverse.”

Significant growth began in late 1995 with the launch of an Intercessory Prayer Team and a Children’s Ministry.  In addition,  the training provided by the American Baptist Churches of the West under the vision of “Growing Healthy Churches”,  and the development of leaders in the church family had all contributed to God’s blessing of growth.

A major remodeling and renovation of the church facilities began in 1997.  New entrances,  new restrooms,  painting inside and out,  new carpeting throughout were the major results of the project entitled “Building Our Church Into the 21st Century”.  The new vestibule entry in front of the sanctuary was dedicated to the memory of the founding pastor,  Rev. Roy Milam,  in September 1997.

The 50th year of the church family was the year 2000.  The Jubilee Celebration was held in October.  Over 300 current and former members,  the two living former pastors (Lynn Hodges and Al Muro),  two sons (Steve Milam and James Higgs) representing former pastors,  and many others attended parts of the all-day 50th anniversary celebration.

W.C.B.C. took a new step of faith in June of 2001 by calling for the first time in its history a full time associate pastor.  The church’s part time Minister of Music for over 20 years,  Mr. Rey Dela Cruz,  became the full time Minister of Worship & Youth.  He further developed the music ministry and launched a Friday evening Student Ministry.

In the year 2007 a cellular telephone antenna was constructed on the church property.  It was built in the form of a steeple,  and it has a cross on the top.  This new addition has given a greater visibility and identification of the church within the Westlake area.  It also fulfills the dream of the members who built the original building to have just such a steeple!

At this point in her history,  Westlake Community Baptist continues to be a church family that is diverse across all ethnicities and ages.  Our focus in worship in on the Living God.  Our goal in worship is to enter into His Presence so that he may transform our lives and our community.  Our current theme is “MISSION: POSSIBLE Being Christ In Our Community”