It all started while…

 While kneeling at the altar during the ordination service for becoming an Itinerant Elder in 2002, I heard the Lord high and lifted up calling me to start a church in Castaic, CA an unincorporated area of North Los Angeles County. 

Eventually in conversation with a work colleague who lived in the area and further discussion with her teenage son, we acquired a lease for space in the Castaic Community Center's child care room.

Our Bible Study started 04/08/2004 at 7pm using the "Purpose Driven Life “as the guide. On 09/11/04 10:00 am was the first worship service.

I became involved in the life and politics of the community as the First African American Female to be the President of the Chamber of Commerce and was approached by a member of the Castaic Area Town Council. She asked me to officiate the memorial service for her recently deceased husband in the adjacent neighborhood's historic Val Verde Community Center. Afterwards returning home and losing direction, my husband and I discovered an abandoned church building. Our member who was a real estate agent researched to find we could lease the property of a fully operational church edifice.  

The first worship service in the sanctuary was held January 4, 2009. During the tenure the Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, while the late Bishop Richard Allen Chappelle was presiding over a segment of the 86th Session of the Southern California Annual Conference, Castaic Community AME Mission was brought into the conference as a Church. To God be the Glory for the Great Things He has done. Hallelujah!

Blessings,

Rev. Latisha Stewart Smith, Pastor and Founder

Castaic Community AME Church

 Established: as a Mission 04/08/2004

Entered Southern California Annual Conference November 1, 2009 - 86th Session of the Southern California Annual Conference