About us
Mission:
Vision:
A church dedicated to the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
A church charged to GO be the light of the world.
A church devoted to GROW spiritually and numerically.
A church eager to GIVE of it’s time, talent and treasure to further the Kingdom of God.
Belief:
As representatives of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we seek to conduct ourselves, both professionally and personally, in a manner worthy of the gospel, acting with integrity, humility, innovation, excellence and accountability. As a ministry, we hold certain things to be true from Scripture:
Scripture: We believe that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. (2 Timothy 3:16) We understand this to mean that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) to write the very words of Scripture. We believe that this divine inspiration extends equally and fully to all parts of Scripture as it appeared in the original manuscripts. We believe that the whole Bible in those original manuscripts is, therefore, without error. We believe that all Scripture centers around the Lord Jesus Christ in His person, work, and in His first and second coming. Therefore, no portion of the Old Testament is properly read or understood until it leads to Christ. We also believe that all Scripture was designed for our practical instruction.
(Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16)
The Triune Godhead: We believe in the one true and living God, the Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, and Ruler of all things. He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and is revealed to us as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God the Father: God, as Father, reigns over all of His universe with providential care. He is all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing, and all-wise. He is fatherly in attitude toward all men but is Father, indeed, to those who have become children of God through Jesus Christ, who will deliver them into the Father's hands.
(Genesis 1:1; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 6:9; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 4:6)
God the Son: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. He accomplished this redemption by voluntarily giving Himself as a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice on the cross, thereby satisfying God's righteous judgment against sin. After substantiating the accomplishment of that redemption and justification by His bodily resurrection from the grave, He ascended to the right hand of His Father, where He intercedes on behalf of those who trust Him.
(Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1,2,14,18; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 8:3)
God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Person who convicts the world of sin (righteousness and judgment). He alone brings new life to those who are spiritually dead. He baptizes (or places) all believers into the one true Church, which is the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit indwells believers permanently, seals them unto the day of final redemption, bestows spiritual gifts upon them, and fills (controls) those who are yielding to Him. Every believer is called to live in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit so that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God.
(John 3:3-8; 14:16-17; 16:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 13; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18)
Creation: We believe that man was created directly by and in the image of God. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, by direct act.
(Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17)
Man: Although man was created in the image of God, he fell into sin and is lost. This is true of all men; and except a man be born again by the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
(Genesis 1:26-27; John 3:3; Romans 3:10, 23)
The Devil/Satan: We believe that Satan is real, inspires sin as evil incarnate, initiated the fall of man, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal punishment in the lake of fire.
(Matthew 4:1-3; Acts 5:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10)
Atonement For Sin: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe on Him are redeemed by His shed blood. We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His ascension into heaven. He is our High Priest and Advocate.
(John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 John 2:2)
Salvation: We believe that salvation is the gift of God's grace. It cannot be gained or made more secure by meritorious works, but is freely bestowed upon all who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. We believe that Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and the Life—the one and only way to eternal life. (John 14:6) All who so trust the Savior are forgiven of their sins and born into the family of God by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
(John 1:12; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9)
Body of Christ: We believe that the church consists of all those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-29)
The Christian Walk: We believe that we have a holy calling to walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit in order that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh is never eradicated in this life. Individuals must choose to keep the flesh in subjection to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, or it will surely manifest its presence in life and dishonor our Lord.
(Romans 6:11-13; 8:2, 4, 12-13; Galatians 5:16-23; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 1:4-7; 3:5-9)
Walk of Faith: We believe that acceptance of Jesus Christ is a total life-changing, spiritually-growing experience. We are expected to believe, advocate, and defend Biblically-based scripture and principles at all times (2 Timothy 4:2). Regular church attendance, active participation in the work of the ministry, and positive, Christ-like role modeling is important and necessary as Christ's representatives at all times. (Philippians 4:8)
The Great Commission: Until the return of Christ, it is the Christian's duty and privilege to seek the fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission and to minister in His name to a needy world. We are to be instruments of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit ministers redemption and reconciliation in the world.
(Matthew 25:31-46; 28:18-20)
Church Ordinances: We believe in water baptism and the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Communion).
(Romans 6:3-4; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)
History:
In early August of 1975, the following families met to organize and start the process of incorporating a new church: Pastor KD Friend & Sister Nancy Friend and family, Deacon Board Chairman Earnest C. Buck & Sister Roxie Buck and family, members of the Barnes, Campbell, Davis, Dunn, Easley, Gallagher, McGrigg, Morgan, Morris, Millender, Puckett, Quarker, Rattler, Raymond, Smith, Spaulding, Troupe, Tucker and Walls families. The meeting took place on a stormy night at the Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church, in Los Angeles. Mother Oatis Barnes suggested the name Friendly Temple because she felt the name of the church should be welcoming to all. All in attendance were in agreement and the church was given the name Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church.
For the first few Sundays the new church worshiped in a small church on Compton Avenue and 110th Street near the railroad tracks. Soon afterwards, Rev. K.D. Friend found a small building with plenty of growth potential located at 10423 South Wilmington Avenue. The church membership grew and prospered under the leadership of Pastor KD Friend. In 1977, the church began the process of purchasing the property and a short time later the Church purchased property across the street on 105th St. for parking. In approximately 1987, Friendly Temple was able to pay the church building off in full. On August 1989, after years of faithful service, God the Father saw fit to call Pastor KD Friend from labor to reward.
It was the late Pastor KD Friend’s vision to build a new church facility. But, as in the case of David and Solomon, the work of constructing the church building was passed on to his son. On Valentine’s Day of 1990, Rodney L. Friend was elected by the Church, but appointed by God Himself to succeed his father as Pastor. By faith, in 2001, the church began construction on the current church building. In August of 2005, the City of Los Angeles performed its last building inspection of this facility and the rest is history. On August 14, 2005 and with Godly favor the Friendly Temple Congregation marched into the new sanctuary singing, “We've Come This Far By Faith Leaning on the Lord”. To God be the glory for the things that He has done!
We are excited, excited, excited! We are excited about where we have been over these 43 years, we are excited about where we are in 2019 and we are even more excited about where God is taking us in the future. And so we say, hold on and enjoy the ride.
Mission:
To GLORIFY God the Father in worship, fellowship and ministry.
To EXALT Jesus Christ in all matters.
To EQUIP the saints to serve mankind in love.
To EVANGELIZE the unsaved with the good news of salvation, aided by the Holy Spirit.