A Pentecostal House on Calle Arnaz
Tucked into a quiet stretch of Calle Arnaz Road in southern Temecula, Imani Temple of Temecula is a Church of God in Christ (COGIC) congregation that has anchored the area since the mid-1980s. The name "Imani" means "faith" in Swahili, and the church has built its identity around that word - gathering a multigenerational flock for Spirit-filled worship, deep Bible teaching, and a packed calendar of fellowship events that spills well beyond Sunday morning.
Members and visitors describe the church with a simple phrase that appears on the church's homepage: "A Place Where You Belong." Under the long pastoral tenure of Superintendent James Mason and his wife, Ewana, the congregation has grown into one of Temecula's steady Pentecostal voices, with roots that reach into the Southern California 2nd Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and the St. Stephen's District.
Superintendent James and Sister Ewana Mason
Superintendent James Mason has served as Senior Pastor of Imani Temple since 1992. Before taking the helm in Temecula, he trained for twenty years under the leadership of Bishop George McKinney of St. Stephen's Cathedral Church of God in Christ in San Diego, where he also served as Assistant Pastor. Professionally, he worked as a community organizer with the San Diego Organizing Project. Academically, he holds an A.A. in Business Management, a B.A. in Business Administration, and an M.A. in Theology.
Pastor and Sister Ewana Mason have been married for more than fifty years. They have two sons, a daughter, daughters-in-law and a son-in-law, two granddaughters, and a grandson. The couple describe their shared passion plainly: they love the Word of God and the people of God, and they hope to see the image of Christ formed in the saints under their care.
Sunday Mornings at the Temple
Sunday is the heartbeat of Imani Temple. The day opens at 8:00 AM with Sunday School, followed by the 9:00 AM Morning Service and an evening 6:00 PM Prayer Service. Worship is energetic and Spirit-led, with music that draws from the Pentecostal and gospel traditions. The prayer service in the evening leans into the intercessory side of the church's life, a weekly pause for the whole congregation to seek God together before the week begins.
For those who cannot make it in person, the 9:00 AM Sunday Morning service and the 6:00 PM Sunday Evening service are streamed live online, and past messages are kept available on demand. Wednesday night Bible study is also streamed at 7:00 PM, so the congregation's teaching rhythm reaches beyond the building.
What Imani Believes
The church's Statement of Faith lays out eight core convictions that shape life at Imani Temple:
- The Bible is the inspired and only Word of God.
- There is one God, eternally existent in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Blessed Hope - the rapture of the Church of God in Christ at His return.
- Salvation comes through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, received according to Romans 10:9-10.
- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
- The redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer.
- The baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
- The sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit enables the Christian to live a holy and separated life in this present world.
Together these beliefs place Imani firmly in the classic Pentecostal tradition - an emphasis on the Bible, on the Trinity, on salvation and holiness, and on the present-day availability of the gifts of the Spirit.
Mission and Vision
The church's Vision is to build people of faith and integrity dedicated to prayer, praise, purpose, and power, "for Godly living, a light and witness to the lost and the hurting."
The companion Mission statement spells out three commitments: to pray and teach the uncompromising Word of God so that God's purpose and power is revealed; to build believers with a God-conscious heart, an emphasis on holiness, and a heart for reaching the lost; and to root every believer firmly in Scripture, prayer, purpose, and power so that their lives bring praise, glory, and honor to God.
Bible Studies for Men and Women
Midweek study is split by gender and by format. The Men's Bible Study meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM via Zoom, gathering men around "living with purpose, integrity, and faith." The Women's Bible Study gathers on Tuesdays at noon, with the option to attend in person at the temple or join from home. Both groups open with a simple welcome - "there is a seat at the table for you" - and are framed around Scripture, fellowship, and accountability.
A Phone-Line Prayer Room
Perhaps the most distinctive rhythm at Imani is the morning Phone Conference Prayer. Each weekday morning, members and friends dial in to pray together for the nation, the community, and the church before the day begins, anchoring their hours in Scripture and worship. The prayer line runs in the early morning hours - roughly 5:15 to 6:15 AM - and is open to anyone who wants to call.
Alongside the phone line, a prayer team takes the church into the wider community on the fourth Saturday of each month. From 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM at the Promenade Temecula Mall, the team meets shoppers at 40820 Winchester Road to pray with anyone who stops by.
Vacation Bible School and the Backpack Giveaway
Each summer Imani Temple pours into the children of Temecula through its Vacation Bible School. Children, youth, and families gather for a week of Bible teaching, worship, games, snacks, and fellowship - the 2026 program runs on the theme "Put on the Whole Armor of God" from Ephesians 6:11. The week closes with a popular "Cool Zone Fun Day."
A few weeks later, on a Saturday in late July, the church hosts a Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway at the Imani Temple Christian Community Center on Calle Arnaz Road. Backpacks filled with school supplies are distributed to eligible students as a way to help local children start the school year prepared.
Youth Explosion and Friday Night Live
Young people have two flagship touchpoints at Imani. The annual Youth Explosion is a Sunday-afternoon service in May that features a guest speaker and an extended time of preaching aimed at the next generation. The 2026 gathering welcomed Elder Harold G. Edmonds, II.
Throughout the year, the Youth and Young Adults FNL (Friday Night Live) meets on Friday evenings for the kind of fellowship and fun the name implies - games, conversation, and spiritual encouragement for teens and young adults alike.
Marriage and the Singles S.A.L.T. Ministry
Couples and singles both have a home at Imani Temple. Marriage Enrichment gatherings run on weeknights, and a more festive Marriage Event - Paint and Refreshments has been hosted at the Paint and Sip Studio in Temecula as an off-site date night.
For those waiting, the S.A.L.T. Singles Ministry hosts its own events, including a gathering called "God's Waiting Room" that runs on a Saturday with a full day of fellowship and teaching. Lydia's Boutique, an annual outreach associated with the women's ministry, rounds out the season with shopping and encouragement for women in the congregation.
The Annual Bible Prophecy Service
One of Imani's most enduring traditions is its Bible Prophecy Service, held each spring around the beginning of Lent. The 2026 service marked the 34th annual gathering, bringing in Evangelist Donald Perkins for a morning of preaching centered on the words "According to Prophecy." The service has been a fixed marker on the church's calendar for more than three decades and signals both the congregation's love of biblical prophecy and its openness to guest ministers.
Other annual rhythms include a Harvest Festival on October 31 - a family-friendly alternative for the holiday - the Church Anniversary in October, the Christmas Musical Event, and the Watch Night Service on New Year's Eve, which moves from 9:00 PM to just before midnight in prayer, worship, and a final word for the year.
Frangelism, Revivals, and District Days
Every November the church observes Frangelism Month, an invitation to members to bring a Friend, Relative, Associate, or Neighbor to one of the Sunday morning services. The seasonal emphasis is paired with the Southern California 2nd Jurisdiction Department of Evangelism meeting that rotates through area churches.
Revivals and district gatherings fill the rest of the calendar. A typical year includes a Saturday-evening Three-Hour Revival, the St. Stephen's District Workers' Meeting in San Diego for ministers and workers across the district, the annual Youth Explosion, and an annual Church Picnic at a local park.
Streaming and Sermons
The church's online presence is built around two streams. The 9:00 AM Sunday Morning service and the 7:00 PM Wednesday Study are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and a full archive of past sermons sits alongside them so anyone can catch up on a message they missed. Online giving is available through the church's "Imani Giving" page, and a sermon archive, the church calendar, and prayer-request sign-ups are all accessible from the same site.
Coming for a Visit
First-time guests are invited to stop by the Imani Temple Christian Community Center at 34590 Calle Arnaz Road, just south of Temecula Parkway. Sunday School begins at 8:00 AM, the Morning Service at 9:00 AM, and the Prayer Service at 6:00 PM. The temple sits inside the Southern California 2nd Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ and the St. Stephen's District, and visitors will find a church that is proud of its Pentecostal roots, its long roster of ministries, and its open doors.
Those who prefer to listen from home can join the livestream at 9:00 AM on Sunday or 7:00 PM on Wednesday, or browse the archive at any hour. The church office can be reached at (951) 302-1225 or info@imanicogic.com.