Living Oaks Community Church

With the purchase of land and the calling of a pastor, the Board of Mission of the American Lutheran Church began what we know as King of Glory Lutheran Church. During our 40 plus years of existence we have maintained a small church friendly atmosphere. We are proud that over this time we have produced 8 Seminarians. Rev. Floyd Grout and a group of less than a dozen families broke ground for King of Glory Church at 2500 Borchard Road, Newbury Park, on September 20, 1964. Pastor Grout had chosen the name from Psalm 24: 7. A committee formed to assist in making future decisions. Weekly meetings were held for the next four months. One of the needs was finding a place to worship until the new building was completed. Worship services were held in an unfinished, unheated and unlighted industrial building, in a home and in the Lou-Bea Ranch house located near our present driveway. After three months, Pastor Grout became ill and had to resign. The work of the committee continued and on December 18, the church was organized under the direction of Bishop G. Falde, the Bishop of the South Pacific District. A call was extended to, and accepted by Rev. William Schumacher of South Dakota. During the interim period, Rev. Conrad Braaten and Rev. Arnold Thompson served. Pastor Schumacher and family arrived and conducted the worship service on February 17. The church was completed and the first worship service in the new sanctuary was May 18. The dedication and installation of Pastor Schumacher was on June 5. He was devoted to building a solid foundation and to serving Christ. The church programs were started and the pastor took an active role in leadership and participation. Pastor Schumacher provided us with leadership until June, 1970. His genuinely folksy and caring manner with the people in the community provided a necessary element in forming a new congregation. In 1970, he resigned to accept a call in Mondovi, Wisconsin. A call was extended to Pastor Fred Lee. He, along with his family, arrived in July. The foundation had been laid, our church grew with emphasis on each person being a minister of the church and sharing in the responsibility of being an informed member of the entire American Lutheran Church. The members actively participated in the worship service. The word was ably and articulately proclaimed as Good News. Traditions of parish education were strengthened by beginning a two-week summer Day Camp, a fun, as well as learning, experience. Interest in local politics served to cement relations with California Lutheran College and the community, as well as its leaders. Our current emphasis on World Hunger was started as was the process of refinancing. Pastor Lee resigned in 1976 to become one of the Assistants to the Bishop of the South Pacific District. During the interim from January to May, the parish was ably served by Rev. Robert Shofner. Rev. Mark Huggenvik and his family came to us on May 1. During these past years we saw the completion of several projects; the refinancing and Phases I and II of the church remodeling. We began a program which has financially enabled us to complete the much needed entrance driveway and landscaping. Through dynamic preaching, Bethel Bible Series and the parish education programs, we continue to know and serve Christ. We are actively concerned with feeding the hungry, the administration of justice, and providing low-cost housing. The increase in staff of an associate pastor, parish education associate, and parish secretary have strengthened our outreach ministry. Our Associate Pastor, Rev. Clarence Solberg and wife Helen, came to us in October, 1983. Pastor Solberg's ministry enhances our spiritual growth, dedication and participation. Having two pastors allows more time for necessary follow-up visitations. There is a continued focus on the living, loving God who provides the daily grace for renewal of faith. We will always remember Pastor Ken and his focus on the gospel, his teaching of o