Gardena Valley Baptist Church
|
||
| Licensing | ||
Gardena Valley Baptist Church (currently located at 1630 W. 158th St. in Gardena, California) was founded in 1914 by the Los Angeles Baptist Mission Society, targeting the recent immigrant population that had come from Japan. The church started as a Sunday School for the children of immigrants at a small rented cottage in Moneta, California (now known as Gardena). Attendance later grew to include entire families, and a formal church was established in 1919, called The Moneta Japanese Baptist Church. Services were discontinued during World War II when the Japanese American community was forcibly removed and displaced at internment camps. After the war, the church met in various facilities including the Japanese Community Center and Seventh-day Adventist Church in Gardena. The church was never the same again; Sunday School enrollment had dropped from more than 700 children to about 200. Over the past 90 years, the Gardena Valley Baptist Church community has been indicative of the significance that a physical place of aggregation has on an ethnic community. Generations of memories, traditions, and families are tied to Gardena Valley Baptist Church, and it serves as a prevailing cultural and communal anchor for the ever-changing Nikkei community in Southern California.
Slides in this album |
|
|
Over 90 years in the communityFounded in 1914, Gardena Valley Baptist Church had survived World War II and the forceful removal of every single one of its congregation members--this is the cover of the 1974 60th Anniversary banquet program.
Celebrating Its Sixtieth |
genieinjapan
|
The young men of 1917This is a picture of the young men of the Moneta Japanese Baptist congregation in 1917. Dressed in suits and looking sharp, this photo could have been used to send to a matchmaker in Japan who would arrange a marriage with a young picture bride. The practice of Picture Brides …
The Young Men of 1917 |
|
The PioneersThe occasion for this photo is unclear, but note the western dress of all of the early immigrants while the women still carry Japanese-style parasols. Very early on, the pioneers began regularly meeting and building a community which would later become a church that spans nine decades.
The Pioneers |
|
Early FamiliesImages of the first Issei in Gardena; despite the nature of their agricultural work, the men look stately and authoritative in their suits and derby hats.
Early Families |
|
Gardena Grammar SchoolA picture of the Gardena Grammar School in the 1920s. Japanese American children are hard to be seen, though they were the target of the American Baptist missionaries who first founded Gardena Valley Baptist Church.
Gardena Grammar School |
|
1917A photo of the meeting of the Ladies of the Japanese Mission at Moneta California on January 6th, 1917. In comparison with photos of the congregation in the 1920s and 30s, the members and pioneers in this picture are humbly dressed, with looks of less certainty on their faces.
1917 |
|
Starting a FamilyA young family poses for a photo at their new home--Gardena had yet to build paved roads.
Starting a Family |
|
Where a Tithe Comes FromThese members of the congregation worked in the fields for their weekly tithes and offerings.
Where a Tithe Comes From |
|
A Community IndustryMembers of the early Gardena Church likely worked alongside each other in the produce industry
A Community Industry |
|
The Kimura FamilyAnother large and growing family in the early church; though they were likely farm laborers, their clean and conservative dress on the porch of a house represents success in their enterprises.
The Kimura Family |
|
Yoshihara Family StoreEnterprising Issei in the 1910's began their own produce stands and general stores. Members of the Gardena Valley community were limited to the agricultural industry.
Yoshihara Family Store |
|
A Picture to Send to NihonA young man in search of a bride may have had this picture taken of him in a suit with nicely coiffed hair, superimposed on an image of field workers on a vast portion of land. Although he himself may have been one of those standing in the field, it …
A Picture to Send to Nihon |
|
Otzuji RanchThe Otzuji Ranch in Gardena, CA.
Otzuji Ranch |
|
Moneta GakuenBy the 1920s, the Moneta Sunday School, or Moneta Gakuen, had grown significantly in size. On the cottage you can see both the American and Japanese flags hung together, above a sign proclaiming the overflowing group's name.
Moneta Gakuen |
|
Another Pioneer FamilyThe occasion for this photo is unclear, but it depicts a typical turn-of-the-century Japanese American family--many children, and the inclusion of members beyond the immediate family. Primarily having agricultural roots, it was beneficial for a family to have many children who would be able to serve as help around the …
Another Pioneer Family |
|
The Dedication of the Moneta Japanese Baptist Church, 1919Although the church was officially established in 1914, it moved out of the small Sunday School cottage and because a bonafide chapel in 1919.
The Dedication of the Moneta Japanese Baptist Church, 1919 |
|
Perhaps a First Christmas For SomeThis photo is of a Christmas service at the Moneta Japanese Baptist Church in 1915.
Perhaps a First Christmas For Some |
|
Christmas in 1916This 1916 photo of Christmas at the Moneta Japanese Baptist Church looks more festive, complete with decorated Christmas tree, garlands, and little girls dressed for the occasion.
Christmas in 1916 |
|
The Moneta GakuenThe Gardena Gakuen (or Sunday School), had first begun as a small gathering of farm laborers' children in a rented cottage in Moneta. In the ensuing years, however, this large gathering of Japanese American pioneers would begin to establish their presence in the community. Notice the Japanese flag flying alongside …
The Moneta Gakuen |
|
Sunday BestThis picture was taken after the formal church had been established, still under the direction of Mr. C. Howard Ross and his wife. The congregation was still composed of Issei farm laborers who lived in Gardena and the surrounding cities.
Sunday Best |
|
Gardena Japanese Baptist Church, Jan. 19, 1941In 1941, the congregation was fairly young and was still under the sponsorship of American Baptist missionaries. In a few years time, this small community would be forcefully dispersed and disbanded due to President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066.
Gardena Japanese Baptist Church, Jan. 19, 1941 |
|
How It All Got Started...The beginnings of Gardena Valley Baptist Church were in a Sunday School started by the American Baptist Mission Society in 1914. As a means of evangelizing and serving the nearby Japanese farm-laborer community, the American Baptist missionaries rented out a small cottage to teach children of the farm laborers English …
How It All Got Started... |
|
The Moneta Japanese Baptist ChurchThe Moneta Japanese Baptist Church was starting to become a real church, with their own chapel and all. Now an intergenerational congregation, the group changed out of their laborer clothes and got into their Sunday best for a commemorative and historic picture.
The Moneta Japanese Baptist Church |
|
Southern California Baptist ChurchThis photo commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Japanese American church in Southern California.
Southern California Baptist Church |
|
A PageantThese little girls were dressed for some sort of pageant, likely Gardena Valley Baptist Church's annual Harvest Festival, an alternative to Halloween festivities.
A Pageant |
|
American Baptist MissionariesA picture of one of the American Baptist missionaries who had helped found the Sunday School and early Japanese church in Moneta, CA.
American Baptist Missionaries |
|
Mrs. C. Howard Ross...Mrs. Howard C. Ross was one of the early leaders of the Gardena Japanese Baptist Church. Having served as a missionary in Japan for over 25 years, Mrs. Ross continued her ministry to the Japanese people even while in the United States.
Mrs. C. Howard Ross... |
|
Mrs. C. Howard RossA special mention in the Los Angeles Times, 1954.
Mrs. C. Howard Ross |
|
A Woman's GroupThis women's group, led by Mrs. C. Howard Ross, one of the American Baptist missionaries, served as a place for young Japanese-American Nisei women to bond and maintain solid relationships in a still racially-hostile environment.
A Women's Group |
|
The Groundbreaking CeremonyGardena Valley Baptist Church moved to its current site at 1630 W. 158th St. Gardena, CA in 1949. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church was a momentous occasion, as the congregation and more importantly the community, would be able to have a physical place to call their home.
The Groundbreaking Ceremony |
|
The FiftiesAn image of assimilation--during the 1950s, the U.S. was a place of peace and conformity after the tumultuous war years. These Japanese American youths look like the average, 1950s American teenager.
The Fifties |
|
A Serene CeremonyThe three Hagio sisters were all married in the newly built Gardena Valley Baptist Church Chapel between 1958 and 1961. After the war hysteria and forceful removal of Japanese Americans on the West Coast, some members of the South Bay community returned and were able to enjoy a peaceful, joyful …
A Serene Ceremony |
|
Wedding in the New ChapelReiko Hagio and Harold Kobata were one of the first couples married in the new chapel. Harold Kobata's photography and recollections of the Gardena Valley Baptist Church community reflect the various memories and emotions of Nisei youth during the tumultuous pre-War and resettling post-War eras.
Wedding in the New Chapel |
|
The Third SisterThe third Hagio sister to celebrate her wedding in the Gardena Valley Baptist Church Chapel.
The Third Sister |
|
Keeping it in the FamilyThe second Hagio sister to be married in the newly built chapel. The sisters' marriages can be interpreted as a yearning for stability and continuity after the abrupt disruption in their community during World War II.
Keeping it in the Family |
|
Congratulating the Happy CoupleIt was a blessing to be able to enjoy such a beautiful occasion outside of the horrors of the relocation camps.
Conratulating the Happy Couple |
|
An Easter DressA beautiful Easter Sunday dress on a beautiful Nisei young woman.
An Easter Dress |
|
Trying Not to Soil Their Sunday BestThese sansei kids are trying their hardest not to spoil their Sunday-best clothes.
Trying Not to Soil Their Sunday Best |
|
Sanctuary DedicationAlthough the church began as a small Sunday School in a rented cottage, the congregation over the years had grown to consist of over 800 members. Tearing down its old facility and building a new, contemporary chapel and educational building in its stead, Gardena Valley Baptist Church received many donations, …
Sanctuary Dedication |
|
An Overflowing CrowdThe caption reads: "OVERFLOW CROWD--800 persons attended the dedication service at the Gardena Valley Baptist Church for its new sanctuary and classrooms. Many more sent letters and telegrams of good wishes. Flowers and plants were received from A-One Florist, Bank of Tokyo, Ezell Office Furniture Co., Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural …
An Overflowing Crowd |
|
Receiving the KeysThe caption reads: "CHURCH KEYS PRESENTED--During the dedication of the new Gardena Valley Baptist Church at 1630 W. 158th St. last Sunday, March 28, the keys were turned over from the contractor to the architect and then to church trustees. Participating in this special prat of the dedication ceremony were, …
Receiving the Keys |
|
Church StaffThis image is from the church directory in 1973. Although Gardena Valley Baptist Church started out as a small, Japanese-speaking congregation, over the years it has grown into a large multi-ethnic community while maintaining some Japanese roots. Revered Harumi Nishimoto, the Issei Pastor, would lead a separate Japanese-speaking congregation which …
Church Staff |
|
Missionary OutreachGardena Valley Baptist Church continues to be active in sending out overseas missionaries, both short- and long-term. This image from a 1973 church directory shows the overseas missionaries for that year, the majority being in the field in Japan.
Missionary Outreach |
|
The LA City Mission Women's Auxiliary LuncheonThe L.A. City Mission Women's Auxiliary club held an International Doll Festival in the 70's. This is the cover of the program, designed by Mr. Al Dohi. It features a woman wearing a kimono as well as Japanese script saying "luncheon" and the date of the event. Although the program …
The LA City Mission Women's Auxiliary Luncheon |
|
An Invitation to "Majiwaru""Majiwaru" means to gather together, or to have fellowship. This hand-made invitation sent out to the women of the Women's Missionary Society Installation Dinner at the Alondra Club in Lawndale on November 4, c.1970. About 100 Japanese American women attended, with a greeting by Mrs. June Inouye: "Mina-sama, kon ban …
An Invitation to "Majiwaru" |
|
Little Girls Dressed for the Women's AuxiliaryThese girls participated with their mothers in the International Doll Festival hosted by the L.A. City Mission Women's Auxiliary club. Events of the day included a message on the 85th anniversary of Japanese Christian Work by Gardena Valley Baptist Church's Japanese-language pastor, Harumi Nishimoto and Japanese interpretive dancing led by …
Little Girls Dressed for the Women's Auxiliary |
|
On A Sunny Southern California Day...These women were participants in the L.A. City Mission Women's Auxiliary club's International Doll Festival. Nisei women served as greeters for the event. Acknowledgments in the event program read: "Our grateful thanks are extended to the following: The women of the Gardena Valley Church who prepared luncheon; Mrs. Bessie Shikagawa, …
On A Sunny Southern California Day... |
|
The Newly Built ChapelAn article in the community newspaper chronicled the history of this place of gathering: "Mushrooming from a Sunday school in 1914, the Gardena Valley Baptist Church has grown to a congregation of 408 families and more than 700 children in the Sunday school. To serve its parishioners, the need was …
The Newly Built Chapel |
|
In the Community BulletinThe caption provides a date of reference for the building projects: "Sunday school students of Gardena Valley Baptist Church pose for a class photo in 1962, 9 years before the current sanctuary was built."
In the Community Bulletin |
|
Harold Kobata Recalls the Old days"PREWAR PERIOD Although I may not be old enough to go way back to the founding of the original church, I do, however, recall church related events starting from the mid 30's. I attended Sunday School at the old Gardena Japanese Baptist Church on Dalton and 164th St. with my …
Harold Kobata Recalls the Old days |
|
A Contemporary ChapelWhat the chapel looked like in the 1970s. It remained virtually unchanged until 2006 when the most recent construction project began.
A Contemporary Chapel |
|
"An Ideal Place...To Raise a Family""My recollection of the earlier years of the Gardena Valley Baptist Church goes back to May 1951, when our family moved to Gardena. At that time, Gardena was a small community with many open spaces. It was an ideal place to raise a small and growing family. When I first …
"An Ideal Place...To Raise a Family" |
|
The Aging IsseiA picture of the Issei congregation in the 1970s. The Japanese-language congregation was predominantly female, which has not changed to this day. However, numbers were far greater then than now.
The Aging Issei |
|
"Met With Discrimination""I moved to Torrance in 1961 and immediately looked for a local church near our new home. Amazingly I found discrimination and mentioned it to one of my neighbors. They, Miyako's family, invited us to come to GVBC and we've been a part of this church--our three children grew up …
"Met With Discrimination" |
|
The Foyer on Sunday MorningThis picture from the 1970s depicts the atmosphere on any given Sunday to this day--people meeting, welcoming, and greeting each other.
The Foyer on Sunday Morning |
|
"Lost in a Big Japanese Church""When I first began at Gardena Valley Baptist Church, I felt lost in such a large Japanese church. I grew up in San Diego and attended San Diego Holiness Church which was small in comparison to Gardena Valley Baptist. As I got involved in teaching Sunday School, I began to …
"Lost in a Big Japanese Church" |
|
Sunday Morning WorshipThis image is of a typical Sunday morning worship service during the late 1970s. Currently, this chapel is under construction.
Sunday Morning Worship |
|
Thanksgiving"As Thanksgiving approaches it is easy to be filled with many thoughts of thankfulness. As I ponder what I am thankful for, I realize that the things I am most thankful for are those things which I take for granted. Since I could remember Gardena Valley Baptist Church has always …
Thanksgiving |
|
Declining Issei MembershipThese were the early pioneers and foundation of the congregation; numbers of the Nichigobu, however, began to decline in the 70s and 80s as they were an aging generation.
Declining Issei Membership |
|
"A Memorable Gift...a Shotgun!""About 1975--for serving the Children's Ministry, the GVBC presented Ron Sugimoto with a memorable gift--(a 12-gauge Remington model 1100 - a shotgun!!)--it was presented to him by Dr. Ken Hiroshige during worship service."
"A Memorable Gift...a Shotgun!" |
|
GVBC's 75th AnniversaryGVBC Celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 1989 and held a banquet at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Manhattan Beach to commemorate it. In honor of the occasion, a photo and memory album was put together with, members of the congregation writing memories or experiences they had had in the church.
GVBC's 75th Anniversary |
|
"Before and After the Japanese Evacuation...""On thinking over the great years at Gardena Valley Baptist since 1950--the year we arrived--we must thank God for all who have come to know Jesus Christ through its witness, before and after World War II and the Japanese evacuation. How thankful we are for the children growing up in …
"Before and After the Japanese Evacuation..." |
|
Why Romaji?One curiosity I found in this edition of the church directory--why is the greeting of the Issei pastor written in awkward romaji (romanized Japanese characters)? The answer was simple: it was not yet possible to type and have a Japanese-language portion of the directory printed.
Why Romaji? |
|
Fellowship = CommunitiesBy the 1980s, the church had had over 800 members. Transnational, intergenerational, and bicultural, this community began to create their own subcommunities within the church. These fellowships gathered groups of people in similar age groups with similar interests and bonded the Japanese American community at GVBC.
Fellowship = Communities |
|
MusicMusic continues to play an important part in the church; the various groups listed here continue to exist with the addition of the Ukelele Jammers and a hula-dancing ministry that performs at local convalescent homes. Essentially, the choirs and bands are places where people of all generations can gather and …
Music |
|
The Changing Face(s) of GVBCThis photographic church directory is indicative of the changing nature of the Nikkei community--characterized by outmarriage, a biracial generation, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Caucasian, and African American, Issei, Nisei, Sansei, and the baby Yonsei, the Japanese American community by the 1980s was no longer confined to people of Japanese ancestry.
The Changing Face(s) of GVBC |
|
Representative StaffA photo of the pastoral leadership in 2005. This staff photo represents the changing and diverse nature of the Nikkei community--it is intergenerational, transnational, and ethnically and culturally inclusive. The pastoral staff includes Caucasian Americans, Vietnamese and Chinese Americans, Kibei, Nisei, Sansei, and Yonsei. First Row: Pastor Daniel Matsuda, Pastor …
Representative Staff |
Gardena Valley Baptist Church
Journal feed
