Foothills Church sits on Arroyo Vista in Rancho Santa Margarita, a Southern California city tucked into the saddle of the Santa Ana Mountains. Members describe it as a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching congregation affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the church's own compass - "We exist to glorify God and to make disciples" - is stamped across its homepage, its ministries, and the way newcomers are welcomed each Sunday morning.
A Mission Built on Glorifying God and Making Disciples
The church states its calling in two parts. First, "to glorify God" means displaying His greatness by seeking to know Him accurately, treasuring Him supremely, and obeying Him consistently. Second, "to make disciples" means urging others to be reconciled to God, providing opportunities for spiritual growth, and committing to care for one another. Out of that calling grows a single, driving vision: to present every person mature in Christ, drawn from Colossians 1:28.
Six values shape how that mission is lived out. Worship is the act of loving God above all else and delighting in His greatness. Prayer is a steady dependence on God through regular prayer, both privately and as a congregation. Scripture is pursued through diligent study and application of the Bible. Growth is an aggressive pursuit of a holy life separated from sin, seeking to please God and conform to the image of Christ. Community is shown by meeting together to encourage, build up, and meet one another's needs. Multiplication is the commitment to seeing those who do not know Jesus come to know Him as Lord and Savior and function within a local church family.
Sundays at Foothills: Equipping Class, Worship, and Kids
The Sunday rhythm has three concentric layers. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., adults can join the Equipping Class in the Rec Room (MPR) for a one-hour hour of topical Bible teaching. Recent subjects have included Prayer as Worship, Bulletproof Your Marriage, The Christian and Politics, How to Study Your Bible, and Dealing with Anxiety.
At 10:00 a.m. the main worship service gathers in the sanctuary. The worship style is a blend of modern hymns and contemporary songs rich in biblical truth, with a stated goal that the congregation sing and reflect on who God is rather than watch a performance. Music is followed by prayer, Scripture reading, and a Bible-centered sermon. Services typically run 75 to 90 minutes.
Children have their own parallel track through Foothills Kids. The nursery provides a secure environment for infants and toddlers, while age-appropriate Gospel-centered classes teach Bible truths to preschoolers and elementary students. Vacation Bible School is offered as a week-long summer event with interactive lessons, songs, crafts, and games.
First-time visitors are greeted at the door by the Welcome Team and pointed to the Welcome Table inside, where coffee and donuts are available and a small visitor gift is offered. Parking is available directly in front of the entrance, in the rear of the building, and across the side street on Valeroso; handicap and first-time visitor spaces sit directly in front. The dress code is "come as you are," with most people dressing casual to business casual.
Preaching That Works Through Books of the Bible
Lead Pastor Roger Horning, who has been preaching at Foothills since 2019, describes the teaching as typically expository - working through passages of Scripture to understand their meaning and apply them to everyday life. The church's sermon archive stretches back several years and shows a deep engagement with individual New Testament epistles. The longest series, This is Matthew, runs 35 sermons, and the current series is a long walk through the book of Romans that has produced more than 29 individual messages, including recent titles such as The Invincible Love of God (Romans 8:31-39), Called According to His Purpose (Romans 8:28-32), The Holy Spirit Prays for Us (Romans 8:26-27), and Already Family, Not Yet Home (Romans 8:18-25). Earlier series include a 35-message walk through Matthew, a 10-message study of Genesis, and shorter series through Philippians, Psalms, 1 John, and Jude.
Visitors who cannot attend in person can watch the livestream at 10 a.m. on the church's website or YouTube channel, and past sermons are archived online with downloadable LifeGroup discussion questions.
What Foothills Believes
Foothills holds to the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America, which affirms one God eternally existing in three equal Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the Bible as the verbally inspired, without-error Word of God, the fallen human condition, the deity and atoning work of Jesus Christ, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the church as expressed in local congregations, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, the call to Spirit-empowered Christian living, the personal and bodily return of Christ, and the bodily resurrection and final judgment of all people. Foothills is also a confessional, expository congregation: membership is composed of believers, and the ordinances visibly and tangibly express the gospel while not being the means of salvation.
Open communion is observed - all who are trusting in Jesus Christ are invited to participate, whether or not they are members of Foothills.
The Team That Leads Foothills
Roger Horning became Lead Pastor in 2019. He holds a bachelor's degree in Bible with an emphasis in youth ministry from The Master's University and a Master of Divinity from The Master's Seminary, and is ordained in the Evangelical Free Church of America. Roger and his wife, Michele, met while serving together as youth ministry leaders and have four children, all of whom have served at Foothills.
Daren Fennell joined Foothills in 2021 and stepped into the Associate Pastor role early in 2024. Daren holds an Associate's degree in Mathematics, a Bachelor's in Bible Exposition, and a Master of Divinity, all from The Master's University. Before coming to Foothills he spent ten years on church staff overseeing Children's Education and Community Groups, taught Math and Bible at a Christian school, and served as a Project Manager and Chief Operations Officer at the software firm Fishermen Labs. He has been on mission trips to Haiti, Canada, and India, and plays drums for the worship team.
Canon Baldridge has led worship at Foothills since 2022. He has been playing music since age six, began playing for church services at fourteen, and came to know the Lord as a child through the witness of his parents. Canon married Julianne, who is Roger Horning's daughter, and together they serve in the worship ministry.
Justin Werth has led the youth ministry since 2022. He and his wife have two daughters, and Justin also works as a high school English and Drama teacher.
Camille Zimmerman has been on staff since 2017 and serves as Children's Director. She holds a BA in Child Development and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Santa Barbara and brings experience in children's ministry, homeschooling, charter schools, and private schools.
The church is also governed by a team of elders. Cameron Burns, an Engineering Manager at Winchester Interconnect, leads the Welcome Team and serves with his wife Brittney in children's ministry. Jim Berg, who has been part of Foothills since 1998, rotated off the elder board in July 2025 but continues to serve on the Giving and Finance committees. Steve Roquemore has attended Foothills since January 1989 and has served as an elder, LifeGroup leader, and in various ministries through the years.
LifeGroups: Where the Week Actually Happens
Foothills describes LifeGroups as the primary way, outside the Sunday gathering, that members pursue deeper friendships, spiritual growth, and care for one another. The small groups meet throughout the week and follow a familiar rhythm: fellowship and refreshments, life updates and prayer, and discussion of the previous Sunday's sermon using the downloadable LifeGroup questions. The church's men's ministry runs a Dad to Dad group through this LifeGroup structure, and every group is open to newcomers.
Summit Youth and Young Adults
Summit Youth is the ministry for students in sixth through twelfth grade. The primary meeting is Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m., with games, sung worship, teaching, and small group discussion. On the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of each month, the youth meet from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. for teaching and prayer; on the 1st and 3rd Sundays they join the rest of the congregation in the main service. Summer camp, local service projects, and a youth-led worship service round out the calendar.
The Young Adults ministry gathers on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at various locations for an evening of fellowship, worship in song, and discussion of a relevant topic from Scripture. Their stated aim is to help young adults navigate life transitions, build meaningful friendships, and find their place in the church.
Men's, Women's, and Prayer Ministries
Foothills Men gathers men around a weekly Bible study, men's breakfasts, an annual men's conference, and a mentorship program that pairs newer believers with experienced leaders.
Foothills Women centers on a women's Bible study in small group format and an annual weekend retreat built around renewal, worship, and teaching.
The Prayer Ministry operates as a prayer team that intercedes for the church, its ministries, and individual needs. Prayer requests can be submitted to prayer@foothillsRSM.com, and the team offers immediate prayer support for crises and emergencies.
Equipping, Care, and Support
The Care Ministry exists to show the love of Christ through spiritual, emotional, and practical support. Trained biblical counselors are available by appointment, visitation teams reach out to those who are homebound or hospitalized, and the church organizes meal trains and a benevolence fund for those experiencing financial difficulty.
For those wanting to grow deeper between Sundays, the Equipping Class meets Sundays at 8:30 a.m. and the church publishes a Bible Reading Plan page linking to free plans through Bible.com, including the church's current One Year Bible plan, the Life Application Study Bible Devotion, Bible in 90 Days, First Steps, and a Chronological plan. Members are also encouraged to take part in the annual Scripture Memorization emphasis, which sets one verse per month and uses the Versify app for accountability.
Outreach and Missions
The Outreach & Missions ministry exists to share the good news of Jesus Christ both locally and globally. It organizes local outreach, supports mission partners around the world, equips believers for gospel conversations, and uses online platforms to extend the church's mission.
Becoming a Member, Getting Baptized, and Knowing Jesus
Visitors who want to learn more are invited to First Step, a casual 30-minute gathering held immediately after the Sunday service in the Rec Room (MPR) with light refreshments. The class introduces the church's mission, vision, and values, introduces key leaders, and walks newcomers through next steps.
Baptism services are held several times a year during the Sunday morning service. Baptism is framed as a public declaration of faith, an act of obedience to Christ, and a community celebration.
Membership is pursued through two sequential classes offered once a quarter, covering the church's mission, vision, values, and doctrinal beliefs.
The church's evangelistic teaching tool, Knowing Jesus, walks seekers through the "Romans Road" - the problem of sin, its consequence, God's solution in Christ, the necessary response of faith, and the resulting freedom from condemnation. Those who pray to receive Christ are invited to email the church so that staff can celebrate with them.
Serving at Foothills
The Serve Foothills ministry helps members find places that fit their gifts, with current openings highlighted in parking, the worship team, and children's ministry. Volunteers are invited to discover their spiritual gifts, find the right fit from a range of ministry areas, and receive training and resources before stepping into service.
Across every ministry, the same conviction recurs: that a local church exists to glorify God by knowing Him, growing in His Word, caring for one another, and making more disciples. Foothills Church in Rancho Santa Margarita is built around that conviction, week after week, on Arroyo Vista.