When I was 10 years old, I remember playing Atari (the game of “tanks” to be exact) and my mom called me to her desk in the living room. I can still picture this moment, because I was worried that I was in trouble for something I did earlier.
As it turns out, my mom wanted to show me something else—a page from the Los Angeles Times announcing that the historic Church of the Open Door was moving from downtown Los Angeles to Glendora. My mom and dad had done some research and decided earlier that we as a family would be attending Church of the Open Door on the first Sunday. It was on the hillside in Glendora.
For 40+ years this has been my church and family. This is the church where I received my call as a pastor and was trained and ordained. This is the church where I met and courted my beautiful wife, Nancy. This is the church where all five of my children were dedicated and raised.
The men and women of Church of the Open Door have literally changed my life, and if I had time I would name every one of you who has lovingly and intentionally poured into me and my family.
This church has taught me who Jesus is and the overwhelming grace and love He has for me and all the nations. I’ve learned the power of discipleship and God’s Word and the absolute necessity of trusting community. I’ve been taught about what it means to be a servant leader and to endure suffering and what it looks like to boldly pray for things that require supernatural faith and humility.
I would not—and my family would not—be where we are today except for the great love and investment this community has had in our lives.
Our precious church began in 1915 with 86 men and women from all over the greater Los Angeles area. According to R.A. Torrey (our first pastor), the name of the church came directly from these two passages:
In John 10:9 Jesus declares, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
In Revelation 3:8, Jesus says to the church in Philadelphia, “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
On Monday, September 15, we get to celebrate 110 years of God’s faithfulness to this wonderful church. In the 110 years of our church’s existence, it has only known two locations: 70 years on 550 Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles and 40 years at 701 W. Sierra Madre Ave. in Glendora.
For 110 years we have had the privilege of proclaiming this message: Jesus is the only door, and if anyone enters by Him he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. For 110 years, Jesus has set before this church family an open door that no one is able to shut. Our desire has always been to keep Jesus’ Word and not deny His name!
Without a doubt, Church of the Open Door is one of the most renowned and historic churches in 
America. Biola University and Church of the Open Door were synonymous for 45 years until Biola moved to La Mirada in 1959.
We boast of some of the greatest preachers known in American history: R.A. Torrey, Louis Talbot and J. Vernon McGee as well as world famous organizations such as The Navigators, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Thru the Bible. We have sent out nearly 400 missionaries and we have seen thousands of people come to Christ and lives changed forever.
Yet our history is mostly an incredible story of many ordinary and average Christians being used by an extraordinary God to proclaim the life-giving name of Jesus to Southern California and around the world.
As we walk through the Book of Acts this year and ponder our 110th anniversary, I am taken aback again by what Peter proclaims in Acts 3:12, “Do not be in awe of us as if we are doing this through our own power and piety.” And in Acts 4:13 when the Jewish leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John, they were astonished because “they were uneducated, common men.”
The history of Church of the Open Door is not a history of our power and piety, but a beautiful story of how God uses common but faithful men and women to fulfill His unique purposes.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 that the message of the cross—Christ crucified and resurrected on the 3rd day—is a stumbling block and foolishness to this world. In this same passage, Paul says one of God’s greatest delights and victories is using foolish, weak, lowly and despised people to show the world what true wisdom, power and strength looks like.
This is the story of Church of the Open Door.
The simplicity and humility of this church family rebuke the so-called complexity of the world’s wisdom and power structures. When Christ’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses, we as a church become living displays of the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ and His life-giving message.
What an amazing joy to be a part of this great legacy for 110 years!
At the start of our church, a polished granite cornerstone was put in place and it quoted Revelation 1:5: “Dedicated unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sin in His own blood.”
As we celebrate these 110 years of God’s faithfulness, we dedicate our precious church again to “Him who loved us and washed us from our sin in His own blood.”
As we await Jesus’ return, let it be said of our church as it was to the church of Philadelphia, “”I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Rev. 3:8).
With great thankfulness to our faithful God,
David Anderson
Lead Pastor
P.S. Please join us Sunday as we celebrate our 110th together! Be sure to take a look at the refreshed historical display inside our Worship Center (and a bonus artifact in the lobby!) and pick up your own limited-edition anniversary sticker!
P.S.S. And if you have a story of God’s goodness that you’d like to share and add to the chronicles we’re collecting, it’s not too late! Short or long, we’d love to hear how the Lord has been at work in your life as part of this community.
