How it all started...
SBC was launched by nine families committed to establishing a Bible-teaching, Christ-centered church in the Sonora area in July 1973. These founding families desired a church that would not only flourish but have a long-lasting Kingdom impact on the community. Mark Levering, a then-recent graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, was invited to serve as Pastor and remained Senior Pastor until he retired on the 40th anniversary of the church and his ministry in June 2013. Pastor Steve Osborn assumed the role of Senior Pastor in August of 2013. His gifts in leadership and teaching consistently enrich the lives of those who call SBC home. The Church is financially healthy, has no debt, and has long-tenured pastoral staff.
SBC met in a local Grange Hall from 1973-1981 until we constructed our own facility in 1982. When it was apparent that we were outgrowing that building, we were able to acquire and build on our present property in 1999. We have completed several projects since that time to accommodate our growing church family. The Worship Center is a multi-purpose building where Sunday morning church services are held along with many other events including concerts, plays, seminars, banquets, weddings, funerals, and even basketball!
In 2004, we broke ground on our Kids’ Ministry Center, a state-of-the-art facility that is the hub of our many kids’ ministries. We believe the greatest opportunity to reach our community for Jesus is through the children and young families at SBC. Kids’ Ministry welcomes hundreds of children each week, as well as special events like VBS, where they are taught to love and worship Jesus as Lord.
“The Commons” is an exciting newer project completed in early 2014. This multi-purpose fellowship area is an outdoor foyer that is envisioned as a community crossroads center for fellowship and community involvement. It is designed to facilitate ‘hanging out’ between and after Sunday services (coffee and snacks included, of course!), youth activities, VBS, and fellowship events, as well as provide a home for established ministries to make Sunday morning connections.
SBC met in a local Grange Hall from 1973-1981 until we constructed our own facility in 1982. When it was apparent that we were outgrowing that building, we were able to acquire and build on our present property in 1999. We have completed several projects since that time to accommodate our growing church family. The Worship Center is a multi-purpose building where Sunday morning church services are held along with many other events including concerts, plays, seminars, banquets, weddings, funerals, and even basketball!
In 2004, we broke ground on our Kids’ Ministry Center, a state-of-the-art facility that is the hub of our many kids’ ministries. We believe the greatest opportunity to reach our community for Jesus is through the children and young families at SBC. Kids’ Ministry welcomes hundreds of children each week, as well as special events like VBS, where they are taught to love and worship Jesus as Lord.
“The Commons” is an exciting newer project completed in early 2014. This multi-purpose fellowship area is an outdoor foyer that is envisioned as a community crossroads center for fellowship and community involvement. It is designed to facilitate ‘hanging out’ between and after Sunday services (coffee and snacks included, of course!), youth activities, VBS, and fellowship events, as well as provide a home for established ministries to make Sunday morning connections.
More about us...
We look for every opportunity to be a light in our community, and our willingness to offer our facilities has proven to have a positive impact on that mission. Sierra Bible Church has a rich history to build upon and we believe that God has much still to come for His Kingdom through SBC.
SBC is a non-denominational church dedicated to the purpose of “Finding and Following Jesus Together.” This phrase is posted all over our campus, and we are committed to living out this mission. We conduct two identical worship services each Sunday. When you arrive on Sunday morning, you are greeted with a warm heart, a firm handshake, and friendly smiles by members of our Friendship Ministries. Our church services are fueled with upbeat, contemporary music along with relevant biblical teaching and personal application. Faith stories, baptisms, baby dedications, and the use of multi-media are regular facets of our worship services. Our worship services are designed thematically and are intended to be creative, engaging encounters of worship of the Lord in meaningful ways such as dramas, times of personal reflection, confession, and prayer.
SBC is a non-denominational church dedicated to the purpose of “Finding and Following Jesus Together.” This phrase is posted all over our campus, and we are committed to living out this mission. We conduct two identical worship services each Sunday. When you arrive on Sunday morning, you are greeted with a warm heart, a firm handshake, and friendly smiles by members of our Friendship Ministries. Our church services are fueled with upbeat, contemporary music along with relevant biblical teaching and personal application. Faith stories, baptisms, baby dedications, and the use of multi-media are regular facets of our worship services. Our worship services are designed thematically and are intended to be creative, engaging encounters of worship of the Lord in meaningful ways such as dramas, times of personal reflection, confession, and prayer.