Set on a mature, tree-lined campus at 5025 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael, just south of Madison Avenue, Christ Community Church has been gathering people around Jesus Christ for more than six decades. Today the church is known across the Sacramento area for its twin Sunday worship services, an unusually deep children's and youth ministry program, and a steady stream of community partnerships that put faith into practice. The congregation's own motto - "We exist to make fully committed followers of Jesus Christ" - shows up in everything from the morning sermon to Wednesday night small groups to its annual Gleanings mission trip.
One Church, Two Worship Styles
On any given Sunday morning, Christ Community offers three services that share one identical message but differ in musical feel. The two "Worship" services meet at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. in the MP Room and lean into an ancient-future style, blending modern worship songs with classic hymns and led by a full band of musicians and vocalists. Congregational prayer, Gospel-centered preaching, and a welcoming atmosphere set the tone.
At 10:00 a.m. the Classic Worship service fills the Sanctuary, drawing on hymns accompanied by piano, organ, and choir. Once a month, "Celebration Sundays" feature the choir, bells choir, and full orchestra. Mark Kroeker serves as Pastor of Worship and Creative Ministry, and Gabe Becker leads the Classic Worship team; both services are open to anyone who wants to drop in.
From a 1961 Garage to a Carmichael Landmark
Christ Community began in 1961 as a small garage prayer meeting of men and women in Carmichael hungry to know Jesus Christ. In 1962 the gathering formally organized as a congregation in the Reformed Church in America, united around a mission that has never changed: making fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
Through the decades, the church family grew as people came to faith, raised children, and stepped into leadership and service. In 2022, the congregation joined the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), placing it in partnership with five other local EPC churches and rooting its identity firmly in Reformed theology. The move reflected an ongoing desire to remain a people shaped by Scripture, grounded in the gospel, and committed to disciple-making.
Today the campus includes a Sanctuary, the MP Building, the Kid Check Room in Building B, the Youth Tent, and several other classrooms and meeting spaces. A 25,200-square-foot building dedicated to youth and children's ministry is on the way through the Called Forward Campaign, with a 3D tour and pledge form available online.
What Christ Community Believes
The church describes its core doctrine with the acronym DOCTRINE: the Deity of Christ, Original Sin, the Canon of Scripture, the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Incarnation, New Life through Christ, and End Times. Leaders often say, "If it is in the Bible, we believe it," while still holding that some matters are non-essential and allow for valid differences of interpretation.
As an EPC church, Christ Community holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms and affirms the historic Reformed solas: grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, and the glory of God alone. The congregation also respects the historic creeds and confessions of the wider Christian church.
Children's Ministry from Nursery Through 5th Grade
Children's Ministry meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 and 10:45 a.m., Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., and at special events throughout the year. Kayden Regan, who studied Christian Leadership and Youth Ministry at William Jessup University, leads the team.
The Nursery serves infants through non-potty-trained 3-year-olds in a safe, nurturing space with indoor and outdoor play. Preschool and Kindergarten classes (potty-trained 3s through age 5) blend free-choice activities, small-group time, worship, and creative Bible teaching. The 1st-3rd Grade and 4th-5th Grade ministries add dynamic teaching, worship, games, and small groups designed to help preteens connect with peers and caring leaders.
A Special Needs ministry provides adapted Bible lessons and support so every child can participate. Parents fill out an intake form before attending so leaders can plan for each child's needs. A Kids Choir for grades 1-6 rehearses each Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 6:20 p.m. and performs throughout the year, including the annual Youth and Children's Christmas Service. Lydia Jones directs the choir.
Middle School and High School
Middle School Ministry gathers on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. for worship and a youth-focused message, then again on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for games, worship, small groups, and teaching. Riley Boehmer leads MSM and oversees a Student Leadership Program and a Youth Worship Team where adult mentors walk alongside students. The annual YTH Citywide mission trip takes middle schoolers into Sacramento each spring to serve with local organizations.
High School Ministry meets in the Youth Tent on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. for worship and Bible teaching, and on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for fellowship, games, worship, and teaching. Justin Harcharik leads HSM and oversees annual retreats, a fall nighter, October rec games, and summer camp at Hume Lake. Students who want to go deeper can join the Student Leadership track.
Young Adults
Christ Community's Young Adults Ministry welcomes men and women in their twenties. The group meets weekly on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Youth Tent, with discussion centered on emotional health and authentic community. Special events include a monthly Night of Prayer, and a biennial short-term trip to Veszprém, Hungary, where the team helps lead a high-school summer camp alongside Vekker Church. Justin Harcharik also serves as the Young Adults Pastor.
Men's and Women's Ministry
Men's Ministry, led by Ken Miller, anchors itself in 2 Timothy 2:2 - passing on faith to reliable people who will teach others. A Thursday morning group called Living Authentically meets at 6:00 a.m. in Room 5, while a Tuesday night Bible study in the South Sanctuary works through Phillip Keller's "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23." A quarterly Men's Breakfast draws men ages 12 and up to the Youth Tent for food, fellowship, and an optional $10 donation (first-timers eat free), and an annual Men's Conference is followed up with a summer BBQ.
Women's Ministry, led by Karen De Young, follows the theme "Every woman. Every season. One purpose: Know Jesus. Make Him known." Core values of Faith, Community, and Purpose shape a full calendar: weekly Bible studies, a Women's Journey Group, a Walking and Hiking Group, a Stitching Sisters craft circle, a MomCo Meetup, and an annual retreat at Richardson Springs. A short-term missions trip to Costa Rica and periodic Greenhouse gatherings round out the year.
Marriage and the Annual Conference
The Marriage Ministry exists to strengthen couples and champion God's design for marriage. Three couples - the Johnsons, the Sterlings, and the Kroekers - lead the team, offering ongoing classes, regular events, and an annual conference. "We Still Do," the 2026 conference, focused on being "Called Together" and drew couples from across the region for two days of teaching, breakout sessions, and intentional conversation.
Groups and Studies for Every Season
Christ Community describes its small-group life with the phrase "Life is Better in a Group." The Groups ministry, led by Jana Michaelsen, includes campus groups, home groups, men's groups, women's groups, care groups, study groups, sports and activity groups, and serving ministries. New groups and short-term studies begin throughout the year, with options for everyone from new believers to seasoned disciples. A yearly Greenhouse gathering and a Marriage Ministry retreat give people a chance to step away from the ordinary.
Celebrate Recovery and Congregational Care
Celebrate Recovery meets every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary, offering a Christ-centered path through life's hurts, hang-ups, and habits. The evening begins with worship and teaching, then breaks into gender- and issue-specific open share groups, followed by a Connection Cafe. Free childcare is available for infants through 5th grade through Celebration Place, and an 11-month Step Study meets on another weeknight for those ready to go deeper.
Congregational Care comes alongside church members and neighbors through a Prayer Team, monthly Healing Prayer gatherings, a GriefShare support group, a meal ministry for those in difficult seasons, a Love and Wisdom legal aid clinic, benevolence assistance, and a balance class for adults. The Center for Financial Education also offers confidential budget coaching and Financial Peace University classes at no cost.
Missions and Local Outreach
The Missions Team supports Ministry Partners locally, regionally, and globally. The annual Gleanings for the Hungry trip sends a team to Dinuba, California, for a week of service, and the Feed My Starving Children packing shift at William Jessup University in Rocklin returns each fall. Other partners include Compassion Planet, Hope Unlimited, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, Christ's Hope, and Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center, plus a partnership with Families Set Free that has helped free families trapped in debt slavery in Pakistan and support their reintegration.
The Missions Team meets on the first Monday of every month at 6:45 p.m., and Mike and Sallie Kay serve as team leads.
Leadership and the LAF Track
Ryan Balbi serves as Senior Pastor, with Dustin DeVriend as Executive Pastor. Mark Kroeker and Gabe Becker lead the two worship teams. Jana Michaelsen oversees Connections, Ken Miller leads Men's Ministry, and Karen De Young leads Women's Ministry. Kayden Regan leads Children's Ministry; Riley Boehmer serves as Interim Pastor of Middle School Ministry; and Justin Harcharik leads both High School and Young Adults.
Members and prospective members grow through the LAF Track (Love, Acceptance, Forgiveness) - three courses offered three times a year. LAF 101 introduces newcomers to the church and is the doorway to membership. LAF 201 dives into five core spiritual habits, and LAF 301 helps people identify their gifts for ministry.
Worship, Media, and Online Life
Sermons are posted to YouTube and Spotify each week, and the Christ Community Podcast includes a "Worship Wednesday" show and a "Deeper Dive" interview series. The livestream runs at 10:00 a.m. for the Classic service and 10:45 a.m. for the Worship service, with on-demand access through the YouTube channel. Alex Miller directs Audio and Media, and Chet Sterling directs the livestream team, which uses a Waves EMotion LV1 console at front of house and ProTools for the broadcast mix.
The MP Cafe reopens on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. each fall and spring, giving parents, small-group leaders, and visitors a place to grab coffee and connect before the children's and student ministries begin.
The Forward Campaign
The Called Forward Campaign is the largest building project in the church's recent history, a 25,200-square-foot facility dedicated to youth and children's ministry. Vision meetings, finance briefings, and a Pledge Day in early October anchor the campaign. A 3D tour of the proposed building and the Forward Pledge Form are available online, and Forward Vision Meetings continue throughout the fall.
Plan a Visit
First-time guests find a friendly Welcome Center and a hospitality team ready to help them find their way. Children from nursery through 5th grade check in at the Kid Check Room in Building B, where leaders walk guests through registration. Middle School students meet during the 10:45 a.m. service in the Youth Tent, and High School students meet during the 9:00 a.m. service in the Tent. Office hours run Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Giving is available online, and a Church Center app handles event registration, groups, and connection.