CHATSWORTH CHURCH TO CELEBRATE ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

CHATSWORTH - Juliet Moreno thinks it's the love visitors feel. Terry Brehm thinks it's the family environment. Luis Segovia thinks it's the peace that comes with a visit.

All could be reasons why Chatsworth Foursquare Church is expecting 500 former and current members to attend the 50th anniversary celebration Sunday.

``People have been saved here. They've become strong and the Lord sent them on their way,'' said the Rev. Jerry Moreno. ``On Sunday, it will be like a giant family reunion.''

The late Rev. Carl Burns held the church's first service in a double garage on Devonshire Street on Feb. 10, 1952, with his wife, Georgine, son, Steve, and his parents in attendance. The following Sunday, attendance increased by two.

Little by little, membership grew and, after meeting for a time in an American Legion Hall, a ground-breaking ceremony was held at the current location on Canoga Avenue in 1956.

Burns led Chatsworth Foursquare Church for 37 years, until his death in 1989.

Jerry Moreno was a young person attending church when he met his future wife, Juliet Federico, in the youth group. Juliet had given in to a high school friend's repeated pleas to attend.

Moreno had planned to become a lawyer after he graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, but an offer by the Burnses ``changed the course of my life.''

The founding couple offered to pay his tuition if Moreno would go to theological college. He graduated in 1986.

Moreno became the full-time assistant and youth pastor, and Moreno and Federico were married in 1987. After Burns' death, Moreno was asked to be senior pastor.

``We're like ordinary people. Visitors can see we're serving the Lord and they feel the love,'' said Juliet Moreno. ``All of these people, even if they've moved away, feel that this church is their home church.''

Brehm, a member since 1975, was invited to Chatsworth Foursquare Church by a friend. He went to a youth service and ``gave my heart to the Lord.'' He also met his future wife, Sandy.

``To me, the church is special because the whole family is in on it. Our life centers around church activities,'' said Brehm. ``I've been happy here. My wife and I met and got married in the church. I got baptized. My children got baptized. The pastors are right on with the word and they've set an example for us to follow.''

Moreno admitted that most visitors aren't familiar with the teachings of the Foursquare Gospel Church, which was founded in 1923 by Aimee Semple McPherson.

``We believe that Jesus Christ fulfilled four aspects of ministry. Number one, he is our savior. He is our healer. We are baptized with the Holy Spirit and Jesus fills us with his spirit. We believe that he will come again as a king,'' he said.

For member Segovia, even though he heard that people in three churches prayed for his recovery while he was in a hospital for seven days after a car crash, he didn't want to hear anything about God after he left the hospital.

But a relative urged him to go to the church, and he now sings in the choir during the 6 p.m. Sunday service.

``I was raised in the gospel but I backslid for about 11 years. It got to the point where I was at the lowest of the low,'' said Segovia. ``There was something about the love and peace when I walked in. I felt the presence of the Lord. I felt at peace.''

The church relies on word of mouth to attract new members.

``I would tell them I'm attending a beautiful church,'' Segovia said. ``They would see the change in me if they were my friend. I would say give it a try and see what the Lord has for them.''

The 10 a.m. service will welcome the Rev. Paul Risser, president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, as the guest speaker. The Rev. Karen Heimbuch will portray McPherson as she delivers the message ``This is My Task'' at the 6 p.m. service.

Regular Sunday service hours are 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Chatsworth Foursquare Church, 10210 Canoga Ave., Chatsworth. Call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Chatsworth Foursquare Church members, from left, Terry Brehm, Juliet Moreno, the Rev. Jerry Moreno, daughter Jami and Luis Segovia will take part in the

church's 50th anniversary celebration on Sunday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer