Park Windsor Baptist Church sits on the corner of West 108th Street and Manhattan Avenue in the southwestern part of Los Angeles, a congregation whose roots reach back more than a century to a pair of house churches in 1910. The motto that runs through the church is "A Church of Inclusion and Not Exclusion," and the current theme is "Striving For Excellence" from II Corinthians 8:7. Two Sunday morning worship services, a packed slate of ministries for every age, and a livestream on Facebook and YouTube make Park Windsor a busy corner of worship and discipleship on the south side of the city.
From Two Living Rooms to a Corner on 108th Street
The story of Park Windsor begins on December 22, 1910, when South Park Baptist Church of Los Angeles was organized in the home of Brother John W. Cusick, with services also held in the home of Brother and Sister Cable. Reverend F. D. Finn of the Baptist City Mission Society served as the first interim pastor, and Bibles for the new congregation were purchased for forty-nine cents each. Worshipers gathered for two Sunday services and a session of Bible school, with a mid-week fellowship meeting on Thursday evenings. The first auxiliary organized for the work was known as "The Ladies Society."
In June 1911, Reverend C. Oscar Johnson accepted the call to pastor, and under his leadership the church's Articles of Incorporation were filed and recorded by the California Secretary of State on March 23, 1912. Reverend Johnson resigned in August 1915 to continue his education. A series of short-term pastors followed, and in July 1919 ground was broken for the first unit of the South Park Baptist Church at the corner of Fifty-First Street and McKinley Avenue in Los Angeles. The land cost roughly $38,000, and the building was dedicated on Sunday, March 22, 1920. In 1931, the American (then Northern) Baptist Convention recognized South Park as the outstanding church in the area for ministering to the needs of an urban community.
In 1944, the membership divided. Two years later, the corporation amended its Articles of Incorporation and took the name Park-Windsor Baptist Church of Los Angeles, officially recorded by the California Secretary of State on December 20, 1945. The congregation moved in 1946 to 52nd Street and Crenshaw Boulevard, and then in 1947 to its present location at 1842 West 108th Street, where it has remained ever since.
The 1960s brought another transformation. As the southwest area of Los Angeles integrated, Reverend Donald C. Bushfield began visiting Black families in 1964 and welcoming them into worship. A small group of "Black Pioneers" joined under his ministry between 1964 and 1968, including Sister Betty Abrams, Mother Edna Jones, Brother Gary and Sister Ida Jean Smith, Mother Dorothy Whaley, Brother Charles and Sister Naomi Fisher, Sister Ozella Adams-Singleton, Sister Jane Ella Spirlin, and Sister Elaine Whaley. In 1969 the church voted to remain an American Baptist congregation, and in October 1970 Reverend Dr. J. Raymond Henderson became the first African American pastor of Park Windsor. Henderson Hall on the campus is dedicated in his honor, while Legbandt Hall is named for Sister Patricia "Pat" Legbandt, who chose to stay and serve faithfully through the era of demographic change.
Long pastorates shaped much of the modern church. Under Dr. Manuel L. Scott Jr., who served from 1977 to 1982, tithing was introduced, the 8:00 a.m. service and 6:00 p.m. Communion service were instituted, the Charles H. Fisher Scholarship program was revived under the "Christian Youth Council," and the first Children's Choir was formed. Under Dr. William Thurmond, who served from 1983 until his retirement on December 31, 2009, the sanctuary was remodeled with a new dome, atrium, and additional classrooms between 1985 and 1986 at a total cost of $554,608.34, weekly Bible Study for youth and adults began, the "High Noon" prayer services were launched, and a radio ministry was put in place. In September 2010, Reverend Terrell Taylor, who grew up in the church as a boy, became the senior pastor.
Sunday Mornings at the Park
Worship at Park Windsor happens twice on Sunday morning. The 8:00 a.m. service is broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube, and the 11:00 a.m. service follows the same weekly rhythm. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month at both services, and baptism, along with the Right Hand of Fellowship, is observed quarterly at the 8:00 a.m. service. Sunday School classes gather at 9:30 a.m. in person; on Zoom, classes meet at 10:00 a.m. until further notice. The order of service is published through the church's Publications page, and a weekly inspirational scripture appears on the home page to carry the message between Sundays.
Wednesdays at the Park: High Noon and Evening Bible Study
Mid-week teaching is central to the week. The "High Noon" Bible Study meets at the church on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. for an in-person hour, and the Evening Bible Study follows at 7:00 p.m., available both in person and online. Under Pastor Taylor, Wednesday night adult and youth Bible Study has grown by more than three hundred percent. The High Noon Bible Study is hosted by Sister Olivia Hilburn on her Facebook page, and the 7:00 p.m. session streams on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel. A new evening lesson is released each week, and the High Noon study is held in person only, with the doors open for an hour of mid-day teaching and prayer.
The Pastor and the First Lady
Reverend Terrell Taylor, the senior pastor, is a native of Los Angeles who answered the call to ministry in 1980 at Park Windsor under Dr. Manuel L. Scott Jr. He graduated from Morningside High School in Inglewood, studied criminology at El Camino College in Torrance, prepared for ministry at California Baptist College in Riverside, and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Religious Education from Bible Believers College and Seminary. Before returning to Park Windsor as pastor in 2010, he served as senior pastor of True Friendship Baptist Church in Inglewood from 1990 to 1994 and Traveler Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles from 2004 to 2010, and he served as a youth minister at Metropolitan Baptist Church under Pastor Frank J. Hardy. Pastor Taylor has taken the gospel internationally to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, and Hawaii for discipleship and evangelism training.
His pastoral scripture is Isaiah 50:4, and his central principle for the church is "to build and develop a kingdom of empowered people for God that are rooted into God's Word." The motto that Pastor Taylor exemplifies for the Park Windsor family is "A Church of Inclusion and Not Exclusion."
First Lady Regina Taylor is a software engineer by profession, a graduate of California State University, Northridge, and the high school sweetheart and wife of Pastor Taylor. She advises the Health Ministry, serves as Combined Choir Chaplain, and co-directs the Women's Ministry. She helped found the church's Health Ministry in 2013 and participates annually in the First Ladies Health Initiative. She was honored at the L.A. Focus 20th Annual First Ladies High Tea in October 2017.
Reaching, Teaching, and Transforming Lives
Park Windsor's mission statement is "To Reach, Teach and Transform Lives by Connecting with One Another." Four priorities fall under that mission: helping people find God, growing in faith, discovering purpose, and making a difference. Eight core values guide daily ministry: loving God through genuine worship, loving God through fervent prayer, loving people through compassionate ministry, loving people through loving fellowship, sharing Jesus through intentional evangelism, sharing Jesus through local, national, and international missions, making disciples through relevant preaching and teaching, and making disciples through biblical discipleship.
The Board of Christian Education coordinates the church's teaching ministries, which include the Children's Ministry, Couples' Ministry, Man-to-Man Ministry, Singles' Ministry, Sunday School, Sisters In Service, Y'ALL, and the Youth Ministry, Young Heirs to the Throne.
What We Believe
Park Windsor holds to standard Baptist beliefs and adopts the Holy Bible as its rule of faith, practice, and operation. The church teaches that all sixty-six books of the Bible are verbally inspired and that Scripture is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. The church confesses one personal, triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - equal in divine perfection. Humanity is described as created in God's image but fallen through voluntary transgression and in need of a Savior. Salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and those who trust Him are kept by God's power and secure in Christ forever.
Two ordinances are observed: baptism by immersion for believers after they profess faith, and Communion, celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, in which bread and the fruit of the vine symbolize the Lord's body and blood. The church looks for the personal return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment of the wicked to endless punishment and the righteous to endless joy. Evangelism and world missions are understood as a Great Commission responsibility, carried out through preaching, the Internet, and other methods.
Those who would like to know more are invited to follow the church's Salvation Plan, which lays out the biblical path of admitting sin, turning from it, believing in Christ's death and resurrection, and inviting Jesus to be Lord and Savior.
Ministries for Every Season of Life
Park Windsor organizes ministries across age, stage, and interest.
The Man-to-Man Ministry, co-chaired by Brother Solomon Washington and Deacon Jamal Beckett, meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The ministry provides opportunities for the discipleship and spiritual growth of men, with like-minded men working to live lives that give honor to God and to one another.
Sisters In Service (SIS), the women's ministry, is advised by First Lady Regina Taylor and exists to meet the spiritual and holistic needs of all women. The Katie Hooks Circle meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. under Chairperson Sister Dessie Petway.
Mature Saints, the seniors' ministry led by Chairperson Sister Media Patterson, meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. and provides a variety of programs for seniors in the church and the community. A weekly exercise class for seniors meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Y'ALL (Young Adults Loving the Lord) gathers the church's faithful young adults, ages 18 to 25, around a Bible-believing examination of the questions, issues, and challenges of college, workplace, and home. Annual events include Community Service Day, Y'ALL Ministry Day, and the Taste of The Park Community Fair, plus retreats and the H.O.P.E. Convocation in Irvine, California.
The youth ministry, Young Heirs to the Throne, is dedicated to enlisting and training children and youth to live Christian lives, study the Bible, engage in missionary work, and share their faith in Christ.
Couples of Destiny reaches out to married and engaged couples, encouraging them to worship, pray, study the Word, and serve the Lord together.
Singles Ministry seeks to encourage, equip, and empower singles through retreats, classes, and conferences that address the complexity of being single and seeking God's will for daily life.
The Health and Wellness Ministry grew out of First Lady Regina Taylor's involvement in the First Ladies Health Initiative and was officially formed in 2013. The ministry has hosted community seminars such as the Heart Awareness Seminar and a Virtual Health and Wellness Webinar.
Children at the Park
The Children's Ministry is for children ages 4 to 12, with the mission of sharing the gospel story so that children may develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at an early age. Children's Church meets at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays in a space called The House, under Co-Directors Sister Andrea Johnson and Sister Carolyn Jackson, with planning meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Children's Choir, directed by Sister Helen Martin, rehearses on the first, second, third, and fifth Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Girls of Joy, for girls led by Chairperson Sister Loreli Zimmerman, meets on the third Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The Children's Usher Board, led by Sister Paulina Boldin, meets on the second Saturday at noon and serves on the fourth Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Children's Praise Dance, led by Coordinators Erika Burkhardt, Amber Pope, and Ashley Taylor, rehearses on the first Saturday at noon, the second Saturday at 11:00 a.m., and the third Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Worship and the Arts
Music is a defining element of Park Windsor worship. The Ensemble and Choirs Ministry, chaired by Sister Bernetta Major-Thomas, oversees five choirs: Adult Choir, Youth Choir, Children's Choir, Women's Chorus, and Male Chorus. The Praise and Worship Team, led by Brother Darryl R. Johnson, rehearses on Tuesdays following the first and third Sundays at 7:00 p.m. and prayerfully leads the congregation in corporate worship, uniting believers in celebration and adoration with one voice.
The Drama Ministry is directed by Sister Olivia Hilburn.
Praise Dance is built around the scripture "And David danced before the LORD with all his might..." (2 Samuel 6:14a), with the mission "Helping Others Experience the Love of God that Transforms Lives." Children's "Little Hands of Praise" rehearses on the first Saturday at noon, the second Saturday at 11:00 a.m., and the third Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Youth "Vessels of Purpose" rehearses on the first, second, and third Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. Young Adult "Sons and Daughters of Zion" rehearses on the second and third Saturdays at noon.
Greeters, led by Sister Priscilla Smith, and the Usher Ministry welcome and serve worshipers each Sunday.
Sunday School and Small Groups
Sunday Bible School, under Superintendent Deacon Paul Turner, gathers on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in person and at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom until further notice. When in-person classes resume, children meet at The House in classes divided by age: Primary (ages 2 to 5), Middler/Junior (grades 1 to 3), and Intermediate, with a New Members Children's Class for ages 6 to 11. Youth classes meet in Rooms 205, 206, and 211, including Middle School (grades 6 to 8), High School (grades 9 to 12), and a New Members Youth Class for ages 12 to 17. The Young Adult Department (ages 18 to 35) meets in Room 207, and the Adult Department is divided into Women's #1 (upstairs conference room), Women's #2 (downstairs conference room), Men's (Room 209), Coed Berean (Room 208), Elective (sanctuary), and New Members Adult (Room 205).
Small Groups, led by Chairperson Deacon Edward Nelson, is organized around a healthy small group concept based on Proverbs 27:23. Eight groups are listed under leaders including Curtis Travis, Dora Walker, Edward Nelson, Lula Jones, Myra Green, Olivia Hilburn, Cameron Henderson, and Rosie Marie Alexander. The Great Commission and the Great Commandment shape the small group purpose: Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, and Make Disciples.
Online and On the Air
The Media Ministry manages audio and video recording, the sound system, the camera systems, and the live streaming of Bible Studies, events, sermons, and Sunday School. The team is built around four roles: Audio Technician (FOH-A1) for live sound in the sanctuary, Audio Technician for the live stream, Visual Technician for on-screen media in the sanctuary and on the live stream, and Live Technician (Choir Tech-A2) for the stage mix. Andre Jones serves as Audio Technician, Dave Cousins as Live Technician, and Shannon Troutman as Visual Technician.
The 8:00 a.m. Sunday service and the 7:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study livestream on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel. A weekly inspirational scripture and a newsletter signup keep the broader congregation connected between Sundays, and the online giving page supports tithes, offerings, benevolence, missions, media, the building fund, the Charles H. Fisher Scholarship, the youth ministry, and special events.
Scholarships and Community Outreach
The Charles Harvey Fisher Memorial Scholarship and the Carolyn L. Adams Career Scholarship are two of the church's longest-running educational ministries. The Fisher scholarship was revived during Dr. Manuel L. Scott Jr.'s pastorate under the "Christian Youth Council," and the Adams scholarship was established on September 25, 2005 in honor of Carolyn L. Adams, a lifelong learner and passionate supporter of academic achievement. Applications are released each year during the first week of July and are normally awarded during Homecoming at the end of September.
The Health Ministry has organized community seminars, including the Heart Awareness Seminar, and the church has hosted the H.O.P.E. (Helping Youth Prepare Eternally) Conference for boys and youth. A Wildfire Relief Project, a Leadership Conference, and partnerships with sister churches in Oakland, California and Phoenix, Arizona extend the ministry beyond the 108th Street campus.
A Place to Park It
Park Windsor welcomes newcomers with the words "Park It At the Park," an open door that has welcomed worshipers for over a century. The church stands today as a community of baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, grounded in the Bible, organized for ministry to every age, and committed to the motto "A Church of Inclusion and Not Exclusion." From the lively children's choirs to the senior exercise class, from the Wednesday night Bible Study to the Sunday morning livestream, the corner of West 108th Street and Manhattan Avenue remains a place where a congregation more than a century old keeps building on the rock.