Over 60 Years of Faith, Fellowship, and Community

For more than six decades, Faith United Methodist Church has been a place of belonging, hope, and transformation. From our humble beginnings in Gardena to our present home in Torrance, our story is one of faith, resilience, cultural heritage, and a shared commitment to serving God and our neighbors.

Our Beginnings: A Place to Belong (1959–1969)

Our story began in 1959, when the Japanese Provisional Conference of the Methodist Church appointed Rev. Peter Chen to establish a congregation in Gardena to serve the spiritual needs of Japanese American families. Many had returned or resettled in Southern California after being forcibly incarcerated during World War II and continued to face discrimination and barriers to acceptance in existing Christian congregations.

On January 10, 1960, Gardena Community Methodist Church held its first worship service at Hollypark Methodist Church with 20 adults and 20 children. Just four months later, 44 founding members formally organized the congregation. By the end of that year, the church had grown to 99 charter members, with 165 children enrolled in Sunday School.

As the congregation flourished, a permanent home became necessary. In 1962, the church broke ground on Rosecrans Avenue near Normandie Avenue, becoming North Gardena Methodist Church. The education and multipurpose building was completed that year, followed by the sanctuary, which was consecrated on February 2, 1969.

What began as a small gathering of faithful believers had become a thriving church family.

Growing in Faith and Finding a New Home
(1978–2005)

In 1978, Rev. Bob Hoshibata, who later became a bishop, established a Japanese-language ministry known as Nichigo, later called Nihongobu. In 1989, a full-time pastor was appointed to strengthen its ministry and outreach. Today, our Japanese-language and English-language congregations continue to worship in their respective services while coming together for special celebrations and fellowship.

As families moved throughout the South Bay, the congregation began exploring a new location. In 1994, members of North Gardena United Methodist Church took a remarkable leap of faith by selling their church property without knowing where their next home would be.

From 1995 to 1997, the congregation found a temporary home at First United Methodist Church of Torrance, whose generosity and hospitality provided comfort during this time of transition.

After a prayerful search, the former Machinists Union building on 182nd Street in North Torrance was purchased and renovated through the generosity and dedication of church members and friends.

With a new home came a new name: Faith United Methodist Church.

On June 29, 1997, the congregation celebrated its first worship service in Torrance, with Bishop Roy I. Sano officiating. New ministries flourished, a second English-language worship service was added, and the neighboring duplex was purchased and named The Peter Chen Annex in honor of our founding pastor.

In May 2005, Faith UMC merged with First United Methodist Church of Gardena, bringing together two rich histories of faith and service. The merger strengthened our congregation, enriched our diversity, and opened new opportunities for ministry.

Year Timeline Events
1959 Rev. Peter Chen was appointed to organize and establish a church in the Gardena area under the direction of the Japanese Provisional Conference of the Methodist Church. This new church was to serve the spiritual needs of a growing Japanese American population in the area.
1960 Gardena Community Methodist Church is founded by Rev. Chen and 44 members on May 15, ending the year with 99 charter members. Worship services were relocated from Hollypark Methodist Church to the Spanish American Institute.
1962 Groundbreaking was held for the future North Gardena Methodist Church on February 22 at the site on Rosecrans Avenue near Normandie Avenue on February 22. The new education and multipurpose building was consecrated on August 5.
1968 On February 2, the new Sanctuary of North Gardena United Methodist Church was consecrated by Bishop Gerald Kennedy and District Superintendent Melvin Talbert.
1978 The Japanese language ministry was started by Rev. Bob Hoshibata (now Bishop Hoshibata).
1994 North Gardena UMC sold the church building to search for a location more central to the Japanese American demographic.
1997 The first worship service of Faith United Methodist Church was officiated by Bishop Roy I. Sano on June 29. The new location on 182nd Street in Torrance was extensively renovated from its former configuration as a Machinists Union office building.
2000 The duplex next to the main building was purchased and named the Peter Chen Annex. Over the years this annex has served various uses including the Sunday service nursery, music ministry practice areas and music director's office, youth worship and activities, scouting equipment storage, committee meeting space, crafting ministry storage, church fundraisers, and more.
2005 Faith UMC welcomed members of Gardena First UMC, which brought its own history of more than 100 years, in a merger that has been blessing that continues to this day.
2020 Worship services expand beyond our church building, as services begin to be regularly streamed on YouTube and Facebook. Now that we are back in person, streaming continues to be an option for anyone who wants to join us online!