A Pentecostal Family Rooted in Bellflower
International Pentecostal Church sits along Alondra Boulevard in Bellflower, California, a multicultural and multi-generational congregation affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). The church describes itself as others-focused, with a stated purpose of helping families grow closer to their God-given purpose while reaching every country and community through its IPC Global partnerships. Its mission is to see lives changed by the power of God's Spirit and to witness a city transformed by the gospel.
Though its mailing address is in Bellflower, the main Sunday worship service actually meets at 18800 Norwalk Boulevard in nearby Artesia at 1:30 PM, while the Wednesday evening service and most other ministry gatherings take place at the Bellflower campus. The congregation also maintains a second campus in Compton, an outreach and community ministry arm, and an El Tabernaculo Spanish ministry that meets in Bellflower.
What the Church Believes
The core doctrines of International Pentecostal Church are rooted in Scripture and the historical context of the first church. Members believe in one eternal God who has revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with Jesus Christ as God expressed in flesh. The church teaches that Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross for human transgression, was raised from the dead, and now offers eternal life by grace to all who follow Him.
Water baptism is practiced as an act of obedience that identifies the believer with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection, and is taught as being for the remission of sins. The church also believes the Holy Spirit is active in the world today, that being filled with the Spirit and developing His fruit are the privilege of every New Testament believer. They describe themselves as a Spirit-filled, Bible-based church that proclaims the gospel and looks for the return of Christ to usher in God's kingdom on earth.
Sunday and Midweek Worship
The Sunday service is the centerpiece of the week, gathering at 1:30 PM at 18800 Norwalk Boulevard in Artesia. On Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM, the Bellflower campus hosts a midweek service that the church refers to as split sessions when the men, ladies, youth, and children's ministries separate into their own groups for devotion, fellowship, and Bible study.
The Compton campus, located at 336 East Rosecrans Avenue, holds its own Sunday worship at 10 AM, along with Monday night prayer at 5 PM and Friday Bible study at 7 PM. Services are livestreamed through Christian World Media for those who cannot attend in person, and the church maintains an active YouTube channel with recordings of recent services.
El Tabernaculo: Spanish Ministry in Bellflower
International Pentecostal Church's Spanish ministry, known as El Tabernaculo, meets every Tuesday night at 7:30 PM at the Bellflower campus for Bible study. The ministry is led by Spanish Pastor Luis de la Cruz and provides a place for Spanish-speaking believers to study Scripture, build community, and grow in their faith together. The church's bilingual Post-Abortion Bible Study Support Group, which meets Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, and the Coping with Grief support group are offered in both English and Spanish.
Kingdom Kidz and the Next Generation
Children's ministry at IPC is known as Kingdom Kidz, a Spirit-filled environment where children learn about Jesus through engaging lessons, worship, games, and hands-on activities. The church places a strong emphasis on making the gospel accessible and joyful for kids, with a dedicated Sunday School Director overseeing the program. The children's ministry also participates in community events, including the City of Bellflower's annual Trick-or-Treat on the Boo!-levard outreach, where families engage with the surrounding community.
Rooted Youth Ministry serves teenagers ages 12 to 17 and is focused on helping young people develop a personal relationship with Jesus. The youth ministry teaches teens that Jesus is a father to the fatherless, a friend to the friendless, and a brother to the brotherless, and it aims to help this generation use their talents for the kingdom of God. Young Adults ministry, for ages 18 to 30, builds on that foundation by helping young adults connect with peers in their season of life and grow deeper in faith.
Men, Ladies, and Families
The men's ministry at IPC exists to build godly men who lead with integrity, faith, and purpose, connecting brothers in Christ through prayer, fellowship, and Bible study. The ladies ministry creates space for women to grow in faith through uplifting events, devotions, and prayer, encouraging spiritual growth both within the church and out in the community. Both ministries participate in the monthly split sessions that take place during midweek services.
The church also runs Mom to Mom, a ministry for mothers that meets regularly and participates in community outreach events. Family ministry is central to IPC's identity, with a teaching emphasis on breaking generational patterns of brokenness and bringing families together spiritually.
Recovery and Care Ministries
Beyond Sunday worship, International Pentecostal Church operates several recovery and care ministries that serve the wider Bellflower and Los Angeles County community. The ACTS Program is a faith-based substance abuse support program that serves as a court-mandated alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. It operates in both Bellflower and Compton and offers additional resources for domestic violence, anger management, and parenting skills.
Free Indeed is an Apostolic-based support ministry for men, women, and young adults dealing with sexual purity and integrity issues, including pornography, lust, fornication, and same-sex struggles. The group emphasizes mutual support, confession, accountability, and confidentiality. The Post-Abortion Bible Study Support Group meets Monday evenings to provide spiritual healing for women and men wounded by abortion. Coping with Grief, a 13-week support group using GriefShare materials, is offered in both English and Spanish for those processing loss.
Holy Roast Cafe and the Church Culture
The church operates Holy Roast Cafe, a coffee bar on campus where volunteers serve as baristas alongside other ministry teams. Ushers, greeters, and praise singers all play an equal role in the life of the church, which intentionally treats every ministry as essential. The cafe reflects the church's commitment to creating a welcoming atmosphere where newcomers and long-time members can connect over a cup of coffee before and after services.
IPC Global: Reaching Beyond Bellflower
In 2023, Pastor Dane Butler challenged the Bellflower congregation to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19, prompting the launch of IPC Global. The network now includes partnership churches in Compton (United States), Bohol in the Philippines, and Ambanimaso in Madagascar, with the vision of making disciples of all nations and supporting church-planting efforts internationally. Each year, the church celebrates All Nations Day to highlight this global vision and the multicultural identity of the congregation.
Leadership
The church is pastored by Dane Butler, who also serves as the IPC Global Pastor, with May Butler serving as Worship Leader. John Aoki leads the youth ministry as Youth Pastor, and Luis de la Cruz oversees the Spanish ministry as Spanish Pastor. Catherine Barry directs the Sunday School program, Josiah Rodriguez serves as Director of Promotions, and Michael Ares leads the media team. Jennifer Morataya oversees administration and Trina Roemheld serves as Director of Finance.
Giving and Getting Connected
Three giving options are available through the church's online platform: general offering, building fund, and tithing. Newcomers are encouraged to follow the church on the Church Center app, where they can view all weekly activities, register for events, and connect with the church family. The church also shares ongoing content through its blog, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channels, including Bible study lessons and devotionals available through its online school.