our story

Our story began in the spring of 1989, when Lloyd and Joan Heinonen contacted the Evangelical Free  Church district office to initiate the conversation about starting a church in Crescent City. They were counseled to start a prayer group & bible study and revisit the idea in a year. Obediently they did so, and to their surprise just a few months later in the summer of 1989, they received a call from church planter Randy Kay, who made a visit to the area. Shortly after that visit, Randy moved his family from the Bay area and became the first pastor. Just seven months after that call to the district office, in November 1989, Pelican Bay Church held its first service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church with 30 people in attendance. In 1993, the church acquired the lush redwood-covered 6.5-acre property where the worship center and “Wherehouse” were subsequently built.

Fast-forward to 2021. Rob Foster, a church member who had previously served as a stateside missionary and pastor in Temecula, California, became the Senior Pastor at Pelican Bay Church. By God’s grace, Pastor Rob continues to lead and teach based on the foundational truths of the bible.

As we move forward, we invite you to join us in writing out the next chapters in our church story. We trust and pray and eagerly anticipate this developing story of Pelican Bay Church. To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

We believe that God, in His kindness, has communicated to us through the Bible. In it He has told us all we need to know to live lives that accurately display His Holy character. Therefore, in our preaching we are committed to the process of exposition, seeking to accurately understand the meaning of the Scripture in it’s original context. As we do so we believe that the Spirit of God will use the Word of God to shape and mold us more and more into the image of Christ.  

Our congregation includes people from all backgrounds and in all stages of life, from single young adults, to the newly married, from young families, to middle age as well as those who have been part of this historic church for decades. Regardless of your age or demographic, we want to help you get connected in meaningful relationships here at Pelican Bay Church. Given our wide diversity of age and backgrounds, on any given Sunday morning, you'll find anything from jeans and sweatshirt, to suits and ties.

Here at Pelican Bay Church, we are passionate about children embracing and learning to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach the supremacy of God in all things, so that our kids will know Jesus as the only one who saves and who satisfies the desires of the heart. We don’t believe “having something for kids” is enough. We want our children to become life-long followers of Jesus. The process of making disciples of Jesus is intentional, multi-faceted and requires a partnership with parents and families.  Learn more on our Children's page.

As those who have come to know God’s forgiveness, we love to sing Him praises. Together, as a church, we want to give glory to God for the grace He has shown to us through Jesus Christ. We do this through a blend of old hymns and contemporary songs, all declaring the truth of who God is and what He has done. While we have a variety of musicians and vocalists assisting us, the main “instrument” of our singing is the congregation, as we lift our collective voices together in worship to God. 

The first Sunday of every month we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. In partaking of the bread and the cup, we remember how our Lord gave His body and blood for our salvation, and has united us together into one body.

Each Sunday morning, between our Adult Sunday School class and regular service, we gather for a time of fellowship and refreshments . If you don't attend the Sunday School class, come early and give us a chance to get to know you. We love talking with visitors and catching up with friends, so feel free to introduce yourself to someone around you. And on the second Sunday of each month, we hold a potluck lunch, and you're invited to attend that as well. It's a great time to get to know our church family!