How it all began…

Mesa View Baptist Church began as a vision. The late Dr. Timothy Winters, Pastor of Bayview Baptist Church, shared the vision with others and began to formulate the foundation for Mesa View. After a great deal of prayer and much planning, that vision came to fruition on Sunday, October 4, 1992.

The seed was planted and the first service was held at Hage Elementary School Auditorium in Mira Mesa. Pastor Edward B. Johnson was Mesa View’s first pastor. He was supported by his wife and helpmate, Sister Elaine, and their five children, Edward Jr., Ebony, Erica, Erisa and Eric. He was also supported by Rev. Reginald and Sandra Williams, and sixteen church disciples. Those disciples included, Sister Betty Allen, Deacon Van and Cynthia Brown, Deacon Joseph and Helen Davis, Deacon Fred and Cynthia Ellis, Sister Shirley Junior, Sister Beverly Knight, Brother Frank Rivera, Sister Dottie Taylor-Sauls, Sister Lauri Thompson, Sister Earnestine White, Deacon Dudley and Linda Williams, Sister Levora Winston and their families.

The foundation of the church was and remains teaching God’s word. “Seeking Sinners, Saving Souls and Strengthening Saints,” continues to be the mission of the church.

Mesa View’s first ministries were headed by the following individuals, Deacon Joe Davis (Trustee Chairman) Deacon Fred Ellis (Deacon Chairman), Sister Renee Flenoid (Minister of Music), Deacon Van Brown (Sunday School Chairman) Sister Betty Allen and Sister Dottie Taylor-Sauls, (Usher Ministry).

During the formative years, ministries established included Sunday school, Adult and Children’s Choir, Christian Enrichment, Discipleship Orientation, Women’s Mission, Brotherhood, Youth Ministry, Children’s Worship, Ushers, Deacons, Trustees, Scholarship, Benevolence, Audio, Home Bible Study, Mid-Week Prayer Meeting and Evangelism Ministry.

Through the years, Mesa View was blessed to have other Godly men to assist our founding pastor in the work that God had laid before him. Those men included Reverend Clifford Barnes, Reverend Willie Williams, Reverend Joseph Baker, Reverend Al Dillard, Reverend Oliver Garner, Reverend Chauvin Ferguson and Reverend Gary Phillips.

In Ecclesiastes 3 we read, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” Pastor Johnson began hearing from the Lord concerning his next area of work in the Lord’s vineyard. After a time of prayer, he obeyed the direction of God and moved on to his next assignment in God in August of 2001. Pastor Johnson resigned after serving as Pastor of Mesa View for almost 10 years.

The church prayed together, stayed together, and listened to God together in search of another pastor for this great church. In May of 2002, the Lord answered the prayers of His people and sent our current pastor, Dr. Darrow Perkins, Jr., who at the time was an Associate Minister, Pastor of Christian Education at the Linda Vista Second Baptist Church in San Diego and an officer serving on active duty in the U. S. Marine Corps. Although his military obligations were numerous, he did not let that stop him from doing the work that God had commissioned him to do. Pastor Perkins retired from the U. S. Marine Corps and became the full-time pastor in June 2003. His wife and helpmate is Sister Teresa, and they are proud parents of three children, Stephanie, Tara and Darrow III.

Under the pastorate of Dr. Perkins, Mesa View has continued to grow and prosper. Disciples have been added and converts have been baptized. His ministerial staff included associate ministers Reverend Joe Baker, Reverend Dewel Jamison, Reverend Damon Jefferson, Reverend Anthony Butler, and the first trial sermon under Dr. Perkins was Brother Robert Williams in April 2005 and Brother Andrew Griffin in February 2008.

From very humble beginnings to now, God has done marvelous things concerning the overall ministry and programs of the Mesa View family. Today, our ministries include: Deacons, Trustees, Sunday School, Ushers (Senior and Youth), Music (Mass Choir, Youth Choir, Children’s Choir), Praise Dancers, New Members, Audio, Newsletter, Brotherhood, Women’s Mission, Teen, Children’s Worship, Welcome, Hospitality, Mission Fields Research, Scholarship, Marriage Enrichment, and Military Outreach Ministry (MOM). God has blessed Mesa View with programs such as: Annual Church Revival, Vacation Bible School, 5th Sunday Unity Services (to include “Prayze in the Park”), Annual Good Friday Service, Annual Bible Prophecy Conferences, and Annual Youth Revival. Mesa View evangelizes through mission work to include American Cancer Society, Prayer Walk 2005, Hope Ministries, Angel Tree and holiday baskets.

In keeping with the description of the “true church” as stated in Acts 2:42-47, Mesa View Baptist Church is a church where God is in control. Mesa View is a praying church, a worshipping church, a soul-winning church, and a loving church. We thank God for our previous 12 years and look forward with great anticipation for the years to come.

To God Be the Glory!!!