A church family in Banning.
Banning Lao Evangelical Church was formally organized on April 24th, 2003 — but our families have been gathering at this church for as long as many of us can remember. We've grown over the years, but the heart of this congregation has not changed: a place where the Gospel is preached, where children are raised by aunties and uncles as much as by parents, and where the door is held open for anyone walking by.
Our mission
Banning Lao Evangelical Church exists to glorify God by sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ with our community and beyond. Rooted in the Word of God and guided by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to worship, prayer, discipleship, fellowship, and service.
We desire to be a place where individuals and families can grow in faith, find healing and encouragement, and use their gifts to serve others.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Gospel, teaching biblical truth, caring for one another, and reaching the next generation with faith, love, and purpose. Through God's grace, we strive to be a light in Banning and the surrounding communities, leading people to know Christ, follow Him, and live transformed lives for His glory.
A short history
In the years following the war in Laos, families resettled across the United States. A small group made their way to the Inland Empire — drawn by the climate, by the work, and by relatives who had come before. They began meeting on Sunday evenings, first in homes, then in borrowed rooms, and eventually in the building we still call home today — long before there was a name on the door. On April 24th, 2003, what had already been a family for years was formally organized as Banning Lao Evangelical Church.
What began as a handful of refugee families has grown into a church that holds together memory and the present — a small congregation determined to be faithful in a small place. We are still small. We like it that way. We know each other's names, each other's recipes, each other's grandchildren. We take communion together on the first Sunday of every month, and we eat together on the fourth.
What we believe
The basics — held in common with Christians around the world, across centuries and across languages.
One God
We worship the one true God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — eternal, holy, and present.
Scripture
We receive the Bible as the inspired Word of God, our authority for faith and for life.
Jesus Christ
We trust in Jesus — fully God and fully man, crucified, risen, and returning — for our salvation.
The Church
We gather as a family, called to worship together, to bear one another's burdens, and to welcome the stranger.
The Spirit
We rely on the Holy Spirit — comforter, teacher, and guide — to make us a people of love and truth.
Hope
We live in the hope of the resurrection and of the world to come, where every tongue and tribe will worship together.
Those who serve
Pastor [Name]
Has shepherded our congregation since [year]. Loves long lunches and longer prayers.
[Name]
One of our founding families. Leads adult Sunday school and quietly fixes everything.
[Name]
Leads our worship team with patience and a guitar. Coordinates Sunday hospitality.
[Name]
Walks alongside our middle and high school students. Friday night fellowship is in good hands.
Come and see.
Sundays at 9:00 AM for worship, 10:00 AM for Sunday school. No need to announce yourself, no dress code, no expectations. If you'd like a familiar face to meet you at the door, send a note ahead and we'll be glad to.