"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 feel a part of the church. I feel that involvement in our church provided many opportunities to get to know others on a deeper level and to develop a network of support and encouragement.

Over the past twenty-four years I have been able to establish many friendships. I am thankful to the Lord for the many ways people at Gardena Valley Baptist have blessed my life and have helped me to grow in my Christian life. God's love has been shown through the lives of others. We are all in progress and in the process of becoming more and more like Christ."