On the day before Thanksgiving in 1891, Rev. Augustus Bernhard Orgren arrived in San Diego with his family determined to begin a gospel work amidst a growing colony of Swedes who had come to make their home in this remote corner of the United States. He had received a well-rounded education in his native Sweden, including attendance at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Shortly after his arrival in America in 1869, he felt called to the gospel ministry and enrolled in Bethel Seminary, then located in Chicago, and graduated in the class of 1875. Once in San Diego, a choice piece of property at the corner of 19th and H (now Market) was purchased for $1,600. 

Even before a regular church was organized, a chapel was constructed and ready for  Bethel Swedish Baptist Church’s occupancy on July 14, 1892. The original building and parsonage still stand today and have housed various churches in that time.  The dedication of the chapel took place on October 20, 1892 was a significant enough event that it made the "local Intelligence" column of The San Diego Union the next morning: "The new Swedish Baptist Church at the corner of H and 19th Streets was dedicated last night by the Rev. Tinker, General Missionary for Southern California."  (Rev. Tinker was the representative of the newly formed Southern California Baptist Convention, an organization with which our church was affiliated until the early 1940s.) 

Pastor Orgren served at a salary of $300 per year from the church with supplemental aid of $300 yearly from the American Baptist Home Mission Society. Under his brief ministry, the church grew rapidly and by the end of 1896 the membership had reached 41. The treasurer's record book shows the morning offering at $1.50 and the evening offering $2.00 for Sunday, November 13, 1892.  Pastor Orgren presented his resignation on several occasions in 1895 and 1896, but each time the congregation convinced him to stay before ultimately leaving in 1897.

The minutes of August 25, 1897 reflect the anguish of the people: "A feeling of despondency comes over us as we view our fruitless attempts at getting a leader." Their prayers were answered on November 1, 1897. Rev. Nils Peter Palmquist arrived with his family and agreed to serve at a salary of $600 annually, half of which was again paid for the Home Mission Society of the American Baptist Convention.

Like his predecessor, Pastor Palmquist was a native of Sweden. He had served as pastor of a church on the island of Gotland before coming to the United States and had earned a doctorate in osteopathic medicine.  Pastor Palmquist had ongoing health problems though and left the church in 1899.  He died of tuberculosis only 8 years later.

The church had struggled along without a pastor for almost a year before a young man who had just recently been ordained arrived.  At a business meeting on August 26, 1900, Rev. Carl Johan Christianson was elected moderator of the meeting and was extended a call to become the pastor in that order. He had just celebrated his 35th birthday two weeks prior.  Pastor Carl is described as having "a zeal for the Lord” and that “he won the hearts of his listeners with his fervent preaching, his guitar, and his excellent singing voice.”

Soon San Diego, like the rest of the nation, would experience a severe economic down-turn in the wake of the Free Silver policy. The small congregation really struggled to support their pastor on the "generous" salary of $25 per month. Attendance and financial support gradually dwindled as members moved away and the final meeting of Bethel Swedish Baptist Church at the 19th and Market location was held on November 24, 1901. Only 15 members resided in or near San Diego at that time.

For all intents and purposes, the work terminated; but the remaining members continued to meet.  Several Swedish pastors from Los Angeles came down during those years and worked with those who remained.  In the winter of 1906, Fredrick Nelson came to San Diego to hold a series of special meetings. It was through his efforts that the church was reorganized on September 16, 1907.  At this point the church consisted of nine believers, six of whom had been members when the old building had been lost in 1901.  A new name was given to this remnant church: Bethel Baptist Church.

Carl Mauritz Nelson received a unanimous call from the nine members to serve as their pastor and arrived in San Diego in February 1908.  Like all the pastors up to this point, Pastor Nelson was born in Sweden and immigrated to America.  In 1909, they purchased a vacant lot on the corner of 16th and E Streets for $2,500. Here the people built a simple structure which became their church home for the next 30 years.  The simplicity of this original building cannot be understated.  The church received a citation from the Board of Health in 1911 for violating sanitation rules and were told they had to connect their restrooms to the public sewer system.

 The church was only six blocks away from the much more grandiose First Baptist Church which, along with the church’s strictly Swedish language services, became an impediment in attracting young people. When Nelson left in February 1911, there were 36 members and total income for the previous year was $1,131 including the building fund. 

The only pastor to maintain a bachelor status while serving as pastor was the church’s fifth pastor, Karl Erland Byleen.  Pastor Karl was born in Sweden where he also attended Bible School before completing his education at Bethel Seminary.  On one occasion he walked all the way from downtown San Diego to El Cajon to deal with a brother whom he led to Christ.  At only 30 years old, much of his focus was on the younger generation.  He started a group named "Forsta Svenska Ungdomsforeningen-Hoppets Stjerna" (The Star of Hope — First Swedish Young People’s Society). According to church records, in February 1913 disclose that the "ungdomsforeningen” (youth) were "to plan a festival to raise money for electric lights for the church."  Pastor Karl left the church later that year.

On February 22, 1914, John Amandus Carlson "proof-preached" for a congregation of 50 members who promptly extended him a unanimous call, including moving expenses not to exceed $100 and an annual salary of $900 (40% was subsidized by the Southern California Baptist Convention).  As anyone would guess at this point, Pastor Carlson was born in Sweden and studied at Bethel Seminary before moving to San Diego.  Due to his natural tenderness his fellow preachers dubbed him "the weeping Carlson." During his seven-year pastorate, membership averaged 60 and annual income was around $1,400 per year.

Things looked different in the church back then.  No budget existed during this period and these years were marked with many individual appeals for funds.  Delinquent members were dealt with by the pastor or a special committee and the vote of the congregation.  Some of the reasons for dismissal were rather different as well, including being baptized by the Nazarenes, ruled by an unappeasable spirit, and for deserting your spouse.  In April of 1918, the church held a special meeting and voted to sign a petition to President Wilson requesting termination of the manufacture of spirituous liquor during the war.

Pastor Carlson left in 1921 and, eight months later, Rev. Karl Johanson began his ministry. during the era of the crystal radio set and the open touring car (the machine).  As the decade of the 1920s got under way, the transition from the exclusive use of the Swedish language in all services absorbed the attention of the congregation.  When initially asked about his ability to preach in English, Pastor Johanson said "I can use English if it is required, but it isn’t as easy as it is for those who are born here."  Unsurprisingly, he too had been born in Stockholm, Sweden before moving to Canada and then the US.  He agreed to accept a salary of $1,400 per annum with an additional $300 subsidy again provided by the Southern California Baptist Convention.

The younger generation in that time recounted the growing frustration of their generation sitting through long sermons in the Swedish language.  Pastor Johanson’s attempts at preaching in English resulted in a strange sounding mixture of both languages.  Pastor Johanson realized that the time had come and stepped down in 1925.

After seven consecutive Swedish pastors, would a Swedish church call a Danish pastor as their next leader? Rev. Edward Carneh accepted the position.  Pastor Edward was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and was christened in the Lutheran church but studied in Stockholm and spoke fluent Swedish.  He served as pastor during the roaring twenties and through the great depression. He was described as a man with a warm smile and a quick sense of humor.  When an acquaintance asked him what kind of a car he had, he replied, "There’s only one I can a Ford."

At the very beginning of his work at the downtown location on 16th and E Streets, when membership totaled 64 people, he stressed the importance of using a language which the children growing up in the church could understand. During his entire ministry of almost nine years, he taught a Bible class in Swedish for the older generation, but always had a "sermonette" in English for the younger people before the regular morning message. Pastor Edward left the church in 1934 and went to First Baptist Church of San Diego, just up the road.

In July of 1934, the Sunday school teachers recommended that the August and September morning services be conducted in English. On January 1, 1935, the problem of bilingualism was finally settled when they decided to conduct all services in the English language.

Victor Malcolm Johnson, the church’s ninth pastor, was unlike any of his predecessors in at least two ways.  First, he was much more charismatic in his theology and preaching style.  Second, his approach to people could be described as confrontational. One member looking Pastor Victor in the eye and saying, "Brother, are you Swedish?"

Pastor Victor was not Swedish. He had been born in the small town of Akron, Iowa and was previously the pastor of a Pentecostal church. Under his direction, the church experienced the first notable growth since its earliest days. It was during this time that the name of the church was changed to Evangel Baptist Church, all in the hope that the Swedish connection would be shed. Although membership reached a high of 86 in 1937, many problems continued to plague the church arising from its small size, unfavorable location, and lack of sufficient finances. Victor Johnson ended his ministry with the church in March 1938.

H. Lewis Coates’ listed occupation in 1937 was “Bible Teacher” and he already lived in San Diego, making him a strong candidate for the church’s next pastor.  In June 1938, Lew Coates was engaged as interim pastor and a few months afterward he was called as a full-time pastor. Lew was afflicted with an eye condition called pathological strabismus. His eyes appeared to be partly closed and as he spoke, he would tilt his head to one side.

Pastor Coates’ ministry lasted for only 15 months, but his influence may have been one of the most significant in this church’s history. The Coates family moved to the "distant" College area in 1938, not too many years after San Diego State University moved to its present campus. College Avenue was paved at the time, but most of the lots that lined both sides of the street were vacant.  At his urging, the crucial decision was made in November 1938 to purchase two lots on the corner of College and Adams Avenues.  The total cost for the real estate and the new chapel came to $16,000 in 1940. The old property at 16th and E Streets downtown was sold for $2,500 — the exact amount paid some 30 years earlier.

L.C. Anderson, the church chairman at the time, acted as the contractor and builder for the new church facing College Avenue. Joseph Sonka was the foreman in charge and many hours of labor were donated. A business associate of Anderson's sent word that his wife wanted to make a donation to the new church. Congregational leaders were hoping the gift might be as much as $200. When the envelope was opened, they found a check for $2,000.

At a Board meeting held on December 29, 1939, it was proposed that a young chaplain’s name be presented to the church the following Sunday as their next potential pastor. A unanimous call was extended, an affirmative response was immediate, and on January 1, 1940, Rev. Edwin Greene became the eleventh settled pastor.  Pastor Greene had grown up in Oklahoma and received his Bachelor of Theology before being invited to be the chaplain at John Brown Military Academy in Pacific Beach.  He was 27 years old when he became the church’s pastor.

On July 28, 1940, 60 active members met at dedication services for the new chapel on College Avenue and the name of the church was changed to College Avenue Baptist Church.  The Lord seemed to prosper the work at the new location from the very beginning. At the close of 1942, membership had increased from 60 to 100.  B July 1943, the church was clear of debt.  Pastor Greene had a good relationship with the hundreds of servicemen who attended services in the WWII years. At the Baptist General Conference meeting in 1944, he galvanized the organization into launching their own Foreign Missions program.

Pastor Greene also founded San Diego Youth for Christ in the spring of 1945 and “The Challenger” became the church’s weekly bulletin. It was also during this time that the church hired their first assistant pastor, Clate Risley. When Pastor Greene resigned in October 1948, the membership had grown to 434 people.

Bill Siegel was chairman of the board in 1946 when an aerial photo of the area around El Cajon Blvd and College Ave showed a large section of vacant land behind the row of houses on the east side of College Ave. The developer who owned this property had been told by the city that he couldn’t build a road to connect to Adams Ave or College Ave, ending his hope of building houses on the land.  In frustration, the owner approached Siegel and said he would be willing to sell the full six acres to the church for $20,000. 

Siegel brought the offer to the board, saying it was a fair price and the only direction the church could expand.  The board objected since they didn’t already have the money and thought the purchase would lack congregational support. A vote was taken and denied.  After further discussion, another vote was taken and denied.  After a break for coffee and prayer, Siegel is quoted as saying “If you fellows don’t recommend it, I'm going to buy it myself."  The third vote passed unanimously and it was put to the congregation who also voted unanimously in favor.  Later, the City Planning Commission relented and put it through Arosa Street.

Pastor Milo Nixon arrived with his family on August 1, 1949. The people were eager to respond to his forceful leadership and extraordinary vision. Pastor Milo Nixon had a number of spiritual gifts, not the least of which were his strong expository preaching and administrative ability.  He led the church during a period when it hired its first minister of music and commissioned its first female missionary.

The first major building expansion since the 1940 move to College Avenue took place with the dedication on April 2, 1950 of the new sanctuary facing Adams Avenue. Today it is known as "Fellowship Hall." Members of the church contributed a great deal of voluntary labor, meeting each Saturday with the men working construction and the women making food and coffee.  Former pastors Karl Byleen, Edward Carneh, Victor Johnson, and Edwin Greene all participated in the dedication service.  The total cost of the building including ground improvements and furnishings came to $47,000.  Timotheon Hall was built in 1951 Berean Hall in 1957 (these two buildings now house our preschool). One year later, the property facing College Avenue was sold and Bethel Hall was moved to its present location. 

By the early 1960s, two services were required to accommodate the crowds in Fellowship Hall and Sunday evenings often granted latecomers standing room only.  So, in a bold step of faith, the 400 giving units of the church voted in January of 1963 to build a new sanctuary seating 1,400 as well as administrative facilities. A loan was taken out for $650,000 in order to facilitate immediate construction. The loan was repaid 23 years later.  

In 1962 church membership was 1,225 with a Sunday school enrollment of around the same number.  In 1967, at the celebration of the church’s 75th anniversary, it was announced that membership had reached 1,428 and annual giving had reached a new high of $283,883. It was this same year that Pastor Milo Nixon’s resignation was accepted by the congregation.  He had set a record with 17 years of remarkable service and College Avenue Baptist Church had achieved impressive membership growth under his leadership, especially in the building programs of the 1950s and 1960s when facility expansion was necessary to accommodate the growing congregation.

For the first time in 18 years, the church found itself in need of a new pastor.  The search extended over a period of 15 months and involved 55 separate meetings.  Rev. Robert Luther won the hearts of the congregation with his warmth and geniality from his first visit on June 30, 1968. One week later they responded affirmatively to a unanimous call which began a fruitful ministry extending over a period of 13 years.

Pastor Bob helped to launch a series of new ministries, including College Avenue Preschool (1976), The Student Center (1976), and the Family Center (1981).  Early in 1977, as a result of the vision of Dr. Luther and others in leadership, the church began offering its facilities for theological higher education. Bethel West opened its doors for students in the fall of 1977 and in 1990 the church provided a full time space for the school across Arosa Street.  He also took a strong interest in new members, visiting them in their homes with his wife and hosting a dinner for each “graduating class” in his home.  Church membership reached the 3,000 level and the first million-dollar budget was adopted during Dr. Luther’s tenure.  He closed each Sunday service by "Love someone to Jesus this week."  Mie Lawson took on the interim preaching role at the end of Luther’s tenure in November of 1981.  

John Daniel Baumann was a professor of preaching at the Bethel Seminary campus in St. Paul for eight years before being invited to pastor at College Avenue Baptist Church.  On May 2, 1982, when Pastor Dan and his wife Nancy came to the platform to receive a standing applause from the congregation which had just extended him a unanimous call. 

Throughout Pastor Dan’s tenure and into the 1990s, a custom endured since the days when the church finally stored its old Swedish hymnals.  On the first Sunday of December, around 75 people would meet in the Fireside Room to sing songs such as "Han skall opna perla porten" (He the pearly gates will open) followed by a fellowship time in the smorgasbord style. Julotta, the traditional early morning Swedish Christmas service, was part of the centennial in 1992. 

In 1989, Pastor Dan ended his time at the church.  In May of that year, Dr. Gerald Sheveland gave the commencement speech for Bethel Seminary West.  In what was likely the swiftest search the church had experienced, a recommendation was made and the congregation extended a unanimous call to Pastor Jerry, then 39 years old.  Early in his ministry he set a vision for the church "To win, equip and deploy committed followers of Jesus Christ who will share His love and truth from San Diego to the ends of the earth."

Under Pastor Jerry’s leadership, the church reached its largest size numerically and physically.  The Centennial Education Center was built in 1993, almost exactly 100 years after the church was started.  In the late 1900s weekly attendance surpassed 4,000 and there were seven different services offered.  The college group also reached its peak during this time and a special evening service called Flood was held and taught by Matt Hammit.  

In 1997 Pastor Jerry left College Avenue Baptist Church to run Converge (formerly the Baptist General Conference), the denomination which the church is still a part of.  As the search for a new senior pastor dragged on, others in the church stepped up to take over teaching.  Matt Hammit (then the college pastor), Jim Smith (history professor at Bethel Seminary), and Mark Straus (vice chairman of the NIV translation) were some of the many who served the church in this capacity during that period.

Unfortunately, the lack of a single individual who could lead the church day in and day out eventually led to ministries becoming siloed.  And over time these siloes became factions.  While from the outside the church appeared stable and actually experienced slight growth, internally fractures were beginning to form.

After three years of searching, a new pastor was called and Steve Harling became the church’s 16th senior pastor.  Pastor Steve had a herculean task ahead of him when he began in 2001.  The splintered church, with its tribes and factions that had formed in the power vacuum of the prior years, refused to be unified.  After two years of fighting and repeated, baseless accusations made by key board members, Pastor Steve left the church.

It would take another three years of searching before a new senior pastor would accept the position.  By this point, College Avenue had earned a reputation and there weren’t many who were willing to accept the church that had been leaderless for eight years (with the exception of the brief two years in the middle it took to abuse a pastor out of his role).  But in 2006 Pastor Carlton Harris accepted the position.  With much prayerful consideration and guidance from former pastor Jerry Sheveland (still the head of Converge at this point), Pastor Carlton moved his family to San Diego.

This was the beginning of a difficult period for everyone.  Though God had still been using the church for His purpose, there were numerous toxic aspects of the church which ran to its core.  Pastor Carlton began his work of removing the silos and reunifying the church.  This meant making unpopular changes and removing power from the factions which were dividing the church.  Many people disagreed with this direction and were content with the way things had been, but in May 2010 a special Unification Sunday was held which joined the various services together as one.  Attendance tumbled during the following years as the sickness that had grown up in the decade prior was addressed.  In this same period, the Great Recession struck and giving dropped precipitously as members lost their jobs.  All of these things, paired with the COVID-19 pandemic, meant that when Pastor Carlton left the church in 2021 the weekly attendance was about 400 people.

With the pruning done, it was apparent that it was necessary for the church to grow again if it was to continue to survive.  The members who remained through this tumultuous period were spiritually strong and committed to the work God was doing at College Avenue.  And so, with the pump primed, Pastor Chris Hilken was called in February 2023.

In the 130 year history of College Avenue Church, never had such remarkable growth been seen in such a short period as that first year of Pastor Chris’ ministry.  One year after that calling, the church had more than quadrupled in size.  The church is again on the move to spread the kingdom of God and the gates of Hell will not stand against it.

Isaac Newton said “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  That is a sentiment we can more than relate to.  We are the beneficiaries of the dedicated hard work, fervent prayers, and personal witnessing of a host of pioneers and builders.  Over two millennia of believers have carried the torch of our faith; for over 130 years this local body has struggled after God.  It is their vision and faith, which under God have become flesh and blood, the vital church of the living Christ — not an organization, but an organism. This is our heritage.

Written by Brandon Preddy 

*Special thanks to Cliff Strom for his work on church history for the 1992 centennial celebration.