About City View

Over 100 years of sharing God's light in San Diego.

Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts —

Rooted in Revival

If there is one thing that has characterized the presence of City View Church since it joined the San Diego scene in 1922, it’s influence. Jesus said His followers were to be the light of the world. You don’t put a flame under a basket. You don’t hide its light from those who need it most. You let it shine.

Which is exactly what this community of faith has been doing since the day it began. While our name has changed over the years, there has been one continuous, Spirit-filled church family serving San Diego –  always with the singular theme of being the hands, heart, and hope of Jesus Christ to the world.

It’s our desire that everyone who visits will sense a culture that communicates these words: “Welcome. You’re home.”

Get to Know Us

Our Why

  • THE MISSION

    REACH. BUILD. INFLUENCE.


    City View Church exists to reach our city with the Good News of Jesus Christ, to build our church community in the faith, and to influence our world to be devoted followers of Jesus.


  • THE VISION

    Our vision is to build a church where every person counts as we reach our city and our world with the truth of God’s love.


    "Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ." - Ephesians 4:12-13


Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts —

Our Core Values

Image alt
Worship is a whole-life experience in which God is honored at both the individual and corporate levels. By faith, we always acknowledge the very real presence of the living God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” - Romans 12:1

WORSHIP

Image alt
All people are important to God and to us. We want to help people discover the joy of God’s Salvation, experience what it means to become a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and for them to realize God has designed them for extraordinary acts of ministry.

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” - Acts 17:26-27

PEOPLE

Image alt
Through our various ministries and services we desire to help people discover who Christ is and what they can do with their lives and in their communities.

"And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ." - Philemon 6

EVANGELISM

Image alt
Our worship of God is all about living our life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Assisting people to develop their faith is at the heart of everything we do. Our Ministries, Bible Electives, and Small groups are designed to teach Biblical Truths, values, and characteristics that will transform individual lives, marriages, and communities into beautiful reflections of Christ.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.'" - John 8:31-32

DISCIPLESHIP

Image alt
We believe in equipping people to be devoted to serving so they can experience what Christ has enabled them to do for the church and the world by serving God’s interest in the lives of others. We want people to have a deeper passion to love their neighbors, peers, family, friends, and this world.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.” - Philippians 2:3-4

SERVANTHOOD

VIEw ALL STAFF

Behind every church is a dedicated team with a heart for serving. Discover the passionate people who make City View feel like home.

Meet Our Team

Our History

[Caption: Public service with Aimee Semple MacPherson at Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park, 1921.]

The Seed is Planted

When the charismatic evangelist Aimee Semple MacPherson brought her dramatic gospel style to San Diego, it produced unexpected results. Then known in the press as Sister Aimee, her crusade drew 30,000 people to the city’s largest venue at the time, Balboa Park’s outdoor Organ Pavilion. Two local residents were so moved by the meetings that they established a church where gifts of the Holy Spirit such as miracles and healing could be experienced by all. That church community has been known by many names, including Gospel Tabernacle and San Diego First Assembly. It is now known as City View Church.

Over the Years

Over the years, that vision of a power-infused gospel would be expressed in a language the people could understand – the language of God who listens and is compassionate to human needs.

1920s

Reeling from the aftershocks of the Great War, many sought relief from new levels of spiritual and physical healing provided in a Spirit-infused faith environment.
1930s

The Great Depression stoked a desire to lean more fully on the provision of God for all life’s needs, rather than trust in the human institutions of commerce and government.
1940s

During WWII San Diego became a military hub and training center for Navy recruits signing up to serve on the Pacific fronts. The very real awareness of human mortality created a void that only faith could fill.
1950s

Even during a time of relative peace and prosperity, the church was a necessary source of sound Bible teaching and Spirit-filled equipping to counterbalance the often superficial nature of earthly securities.
1960s

During the Jesus Movement, a new generation of believers with non-conformist expectations challenged the status quo but ultimately found a place of acceptance in the change-ready church.
1970s

Restricted by the limitations of its downtown complex, the congregation relocated to a lot overlooking Mission Valley. There they built a 1,200-seat auditorium, children’s and youth buildings, and a 56-unit retirement center.
1980s-On

Taking advantage of a big, brand new campus and freeway-friendly access, the church refocused with a new level of influence in San Diego.

City View Today

Since the beginning of the 21st century, City View has continued to remain responsive to the needs of each new generation. City View now has services in English, Spanish, Swahili, and two Ethiopian languages. We also reach out to neighbors in the nearby Lincoln housing for military families, as well as incoming residents in the Civita community and throughout Mission Valley. And always forefront in the formula is the never-changing need of human souls to discover a new, purposeful, and restored connection to the One who created them.

Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts — Here, every person counts —

Our Beliefs

  • THE BIBLE

    We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative, and applicable to our everyday lives.

  • GOD

    We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.

  • JESUS

    The Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man and is the only one who can reconcile us to God. 

  • THE LORD'S TABLE

    Each time we receive the bread and the cup at communion we remember Jesus lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory over sin and death and empower us for life.

  • SALVATION

    We believe that sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives. In order to receive forgiveness we must repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ and submit to His will for our lives. 

  • PERSONAL GROWTH

    God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and meaningful lives, experiencing all the fullness Jesus promised and helping others more effectively. 

  • BAPTISM

    In order to live the holy, fruitful, and power-filled lives God intends for us, we need to be baptized in water, set our mind on Him and His purpose, and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. 

  • THE CHURCH

    We believe that God has individually equipped us and corporately gathered us as His living body so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives, which is to worship God, strengthen the Church, and share the Gospel of His love with the community in which we live.

  • CHRIST'S RETURN

    We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised and will rule and reign on this earth. History will conclude as the wicked are judged and the righteous enter a new heaven and a new earth.