Spotlight - FBC Nipomo

Spotlight - FBC Nipomo, a GCA ReNEW Church

By Associate DOM Christopher Cole

In January, 2021, God began an amazing journey of renewal in the life of First Baptist Church of Nipomo. The church had, through various trials and challenges, dwindled to six mostly senior adult members. Pastor Tom Williams, who was retiring after faithfully serving for many years as FBCN’s shepherd, courageously asked Pastor Michael Denton to consider moving to Nipomo to help replant the church. Pastor Michael and his wife Katie began to pray earnestly to explore what it would mean to lead a church through intentional strategic change. GCA’s ReNEW program was still in its infancy, but God was moving in the hearts of all the leaders involved.

Pastor Michael moved with his family to FBC Nipomo that spring and with the help of Redeemer Baptist Church, Paso Robles, the parsonage was renovated to accommodate the family. GCA’s ReNEW coach, Pastor Christopher Cole, began to work with both the congregation to prepare them for their renewal journey and the Dentons to equip them for this work.

Pastor Michael, with boundless energy, joy, creativity and tons of hard work, has been leading the congregation through this journey ever since. Under his leadership, the church began significant outreach efforts to the local elementary school, the local unhoused population, and a wide cross section of the Nipomo community. The church prayed, studied and made many changes to their worship services, their facility and leadership. New partnerships were built with the onsite Hearts and Hands Preschool and parents were engaged with the Good News of Jesus. The whole Denton family serves actively in the church and a youth ministry was started. Spanish language Bible studies and Spanish language worship elements were added to the corporate worship service. And, by God’s grace, this once tiny congregation began to grow.

In 2024, this congregation saw a peak attendance of almost 200 persons on Palm Sunday. 18 persons were baptized by this congregation that just a few years ago had only six regular members! New leaders are being discipled and equipped regularly. The journey has not been straight forward and many challenges along with a few setbacks have occurred. Yet God has remained faithful and blessed the vision of this church’s renewal. Pastor Denton has gone from never being a Senior Pastor to being featured on a national podcast for replanters! The youth group includes over a dozen teenagers who’re actively learning about being fully formed followers of Jesus.

Time and space do not permit us to tell all of the other amazing stories of God’s hand being at work in and through this church that courageously made the choice to walk through strategic renewal. And that journey is not over! Pastor Michael continues to lead the church through dynamic changes in ministry and developing leaders. God has brought in new leaders, some for a short season and others for a longer partnership. New ministries and outreach opportunities abound.

You and your congregation can learn more about Pastor Denton’s and FBC Nipomo’s ministry at: https://surferfam.com and Nipomo.church  They’re continuing to seek prayer, volunteer and financial partners for the next stages of this congregation’s renewal and you can give directly to support that ministry here.