A Multigenerational Congregation on Euclid Street
Sunny Hills Church of Christ has gathered on North Euclid Street in Fullerton since the late 1950s, when a generation of believers first planted what has become a multigenerational congregation. The church takes its place in the Restoration movement of the early nineteenth century, a movement that sought the unity of all Christians around the pattern of the New Testament church - a desire Sunny Hills still holds. Many members have walked through decades of life side by side, sharing joys and sorrows, bearing one another's burdens, and encouraging each other toward love and good works. The church calls this rare continuity a gift it does not take for granted, and it is eager to share that gift with anyone who walks through the doors.
That welcome is not a side note. The church names it as a core conviction, declaring belief in "the scandalous, outrageous, extravagant Love + Grace + Goodness of God, as seen in the person of Jesus" and a desire to reflect God's love and delight for all humans. At Sunny Hills, members say, there are no strangers.
One Sunday Service, With Room for Everyone
Sunday mornings at Sunny Hills follow a single, unhurried rhythm rather than multiple competing options. Adult Bible Class gathers in the Fellowship Hall from 9:00 to 9:45 AM, with Lead Minister Phil Towne currently leading a study through 1 and 2 Thessalonians. At 10:00 AM, the whole congregation gathers for one worship service. On the first Sunday of each month, the Adult Bible Class is set aside in favor of an 11:15 AM Sunday Supper fellowship meal, where the church gathers around the table together. Services are livestreamed on YouTube, and giving is available online.
Children's and Youth Ministry
The Children's Ministry, directed by Isabella Alcaraz, runs alongside the 10 AM service each week. After the greeting time near the beginning of the service, children from nursery through fifth grade are dismissed for an age-appropriate lesson and craft time, and parents pick them up after the service concludes. The ministry grounds itself in 1 Timothy 4:12, calling young believers to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Junior high and high school students gather for Youth Discipleship on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 PM in the Youth Room. The youth also come together for additional events on a monthly basis, with details posted on the church's Instagram and Facebook pages.
Sunny Hills Youth Theater
Each summer the church opens its doors for Sunny Hills Youth Theater, a free musical theater program for students ages 8 to 18. Run entirely on donations, the program holds auditions and rehearsals over a few months leading up to a full-scale community production. Past years have included productions such as Alice in Wonderland, with the summer program continuing annually under the direction of Julie Sundman.
The theater program's own statement puts it plainly: "We seek to create a loving, inclusive community through the modality of theater, with the end goal of loving people and loving God. Fostering this kind of environment is a much higher priority than any theatrical performance we put on. We value and prioritize Love over performance." Questions about the program can be directed to sunnyhillsyouththeater@shcoc.org.
Adult Education and Connection
Beyond the Sunday morning Bible class, women gather on Tuesday mornings from 9:45 to 11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall for the Ladies' Bible Class. The class runs from September through May and is open to all women, not just members of the church. Participants rotate as facilitators using published devotional books, and several themed activities punctuate the year. A Ladies' Bunco Group gathers on the second Tuesday of each month for fellowship, and substitutes are always welcome.
Mission in Vicente Guerrero, Mexico
Two ministries anchor the church's relationship with Vicente Guerrero, a town in Baja California about 175 miles south of the San Diego border. Oasis is an educational after-school program that opened in August 2011 and currently serves about 90 children ages 4 to 18 with homework help, a hot meal, English classes, Bible teaching, and free time to play. It is co-sponsored with the local Church of Christ in Vicente Guerrero, partner churches in the U.S., and the nonprofit Action for Community Transformation.
New Beginnings is a refuge center and halfway house for women working to transform their lives. Since opening in 2011, it has provided spiritual care, basic life skills, literacy and work training, and material needs including meals, clothing, glasses, vitamins, and medical care. Both programs rely on prayer and donations from individuals and churches across North America to keep their doors open.
Beliefs and Mission
Sunny Hills centers its life around three commitments: Worship, Community, and Service. Worship is the place where believers hear God's voice and grow in knowledge of His will (John 8:31). Community flows from Jesus' words that his followers will be known by their love for one another (John 13:35), and the church welcomes all into a connected life in Christ. Service demonstrates love for God by showing love to others in deeds as well as words (John 15:8). The church's mission statement reads: "At Sunny Hills, we share the unlimited love of Jesus by making disciples, encouraging believers, and serving others." The lifelong journey of following Him (Matthew 28:20) sits at the heart of everything the congregation undertakes.
Leadership
Phil Towne serves as Lead Minister, Sarah Towne as Executive Minister, and Robbie Phillips as Preaching Minister. Isabella Alcaraz directs the Children's Ministry, and Julie Sundman directs the musicals. Six elders shepherd the congregation: Eric Helland, James Pinheiro, Steve Paden, Andy Smith, Kent Sundman, and Jim Lents. The church office can be reached at office@shcoc.org or 714-525-1221.