A Small Church on Telegraph Road with a Big, Ordinary Mission
Community Bible Church sits at 5040 Telegraph Road in Ventura, California, right where Day Road meets the main drag. From the outside, it looks like an unassuming neighborhood church. Inside, the congregation numbers somewhere between 150 and 200 people, which is just the way the pastors like it. The church's mission statement is short enough to memorize: "Inviting people to follow Jesus as we impact our community and world." That sentence drives everything from Sunday sermons to Saturday food giveaways.
Community Bible Church began as a small home group Bible study in November 2000 and launched as a formal church ministry with 501(c)(3) status the following September. Today, more than two decades later, it remains non-denominational, Bible-believing, and inter-generational, with a strong emphasis on supporting one another through the everyday stuff of life.
Sunday Mornings: Two Services, One Family
Sunday services at CBC meet at 9:00 AM and 10:45 AM. The first service is livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person. Both services share the same casual, welcoming atmosphere; jeans and t-shirts are the norm, and the people at the door are looking for first-time guests as much as regulars.
The worship style is contemporary, led by a band and vocal team that practices on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM. Visitors looking for the children's area should head to the building behind the main sanctuary. Children's Church for nursery through fifth grade meets at the second service (10:45 AM) on the second floor of that back building, with check-in opening at 10:35 AM. Middle and high school students join the main service for worship at the second service, then head up to the third floor of the back building for their own teaching and connection time.
First-time visitors are invited to stop by the Info Table in the foyer for a free gift and a Connect Card. The card is the easiest way to get plugged in; the church uses it to follow up with newcomers, share information about upcoming events, and answer questions.
What to Expect When You Arrive
Parking is available behind the church, with overflow parking in the grass lot. Senior and handicap-accessible spaces are located in the front lot and near the walkway by the back building. Guests are encouraged to arrive around 9:45 AM to settle in, grab a coffee or tea, and find a seat before the service begins.
Cell phones are asked to be silenced to keep the room free of distractions. Middle and high school students are dismissed after the first set of worship songs for their youth service upstairs. Prayer is available after every service; anyone who wants prayer can simply talk to a greeter, a pastor, or another leader, and someone will be glad to pray with them.
CBC Kids: Roots Planted by Living Water
CBC Kids exists to lead each child into a deeper connection with Jesus through relationship and story. The ministry borrows its vision from Jeremiah 17:7-8: "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord... They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream." The goal is to see young believers grow into people whose roots reach deep into the Living Water, who do not fear when heat comes, and who bear fruit even in drought.
Weekly Sunday School runs from 10:45 to 11:45 AM every Sunday for nursery through fifth grade. Drop-off begins at 10:35 AM. Children learn the story of the Gospel in ways the ministry hopes will seep deep into their souls and bring life, equipping them to share a message of hope and beauty with everyone they meet.
Kelsey Phelps directs CBC Kids. A graduate of Eternity Bible College with a bachelor's in Biblical Studies, Kelsey and her husband Sam have been part of the Ventura community since 2010. Shannon Smith serves alongside her as CBC Kids Administration, bringing a background in non-profit program coordination and a passion for building organizational infrastructure that lets ministry happen smoothly.
Volunteers can serve as classroom teachers or assistants for infants through fifth grade, or in non-classroom support roles such as filing crafts, making play dough, and cleaning the playground. A family resource library is also available on the Children's Floor.
Student Ministries: Ablaze and Stoked
Middle and high school students at CBC have a clear vision for their lives: "Making Discipleship a Lifestyle for a Lifetime." That phrase captures the heart of Youth Pastor Jim Licata, a Ventura native who, along with his wife Sierra, also serves in the worship ministry.
Jim's strategy follows Matthew 28:18-20. He aims to edify, equip, and evangelize, with a heavy emphasis on expository preaching and careful, verse-by-verse examination of Scripture. With a passion for theology and apologetics, Jim encourages students to embrace their identity as students of God's Word. He is currently pursuing certification in Biblical Counseling, believing that God's Word is sufficient for instructing us in godliness.
Two weekly gatherings serve students in grades 6-12:
- Ablaze meets on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM and is the deeper teaching, discussion, games, and fellowship night.
- Stoked is the mid-week group for fourth and fifth graders, meeting Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM as a bridge between CBC Kids and Ablaze.
Sunday mornings after worship, the youth gather in the back building for devotions, fellowship, and prayer. Student Release Forms are required for emergency use and can be downloaded and brought in or completed online.
Men's, Women's, and Young Adult Ministries
Men's Ministry at CBC is built around helping men grow in their relationship with Christ, build lasting friendships, and live out their faith in everyday life. Casual, Scripture-grounded Bible studies meet regularly for men at every stage of the journey. Anyone interested is invited to stop by the Info Table on Sunday for details about current studies.
Women's Ministry is a place to pause, connect, and grow in relationship with Jesus. Many of the women at CBC pour into others before themselves, so the ministry exists to encourage, support, and equip women to walk with purpose. Information is available through Nancy Dilbeck.
Emerge serves young adults ages 18-29 with deep discussions, fellowship, and community. Mentors and volunteers are welcome to walk alongside this group of adults navigating the transition out of high school and into careers, relationships, and adult faith.
Worship as a Wholehearted Response
The worship ministry at CBC is more than music. The church believes God invites people to come as they are, offering praise in every season of life. The team gathers in unity to lift voices, pray together, and encounter the presence of a faithful God.
Volunteers can serve through music, tech, or behind-the-scenes support. Worship team practice happens on Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM, and the Tech Team arrives an hour before each service to run sound checks. Training is provided for new tech volunteers.
Restore: A First-Sunday Healing Service
On the first Sunday of every month at 6:00 PM, the sanctuary opens for Restore, a monthly healing service. The church actively encourages members to spread the word to friends, family, and even strangers who may need this kind of ministry. Restore is a quieter, more reflective gathering than the regular Sunday services, set aside for prayer, healing, and hope.
Small Groups, Service Groups, and Ministry Groups
CBC believes life is better together. Groups fall into three categories:
- Small Groups gather regularly for Bible study, prayer, and authentic community.
- Service Groups use their gifts to bless others through hands-on service and outreach.
- Ministry Groups gather around specific ministry areas to encourage, equip, and serve together.
Anyone looking for a place to belong can browse the available groups and request to join one that fits.
Community Food Pantry
Twice a month, CBC opens its doors to the wider Ventura community through its Community Food Pantry. The pantry operates on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, offering free, high-quality groceries to anyone in need, no questions asked.
Volunteers are needed to pick up food on Fridays, set up, pack bags, distribute groceries, and pray with guests. The church considers this one of its most important ministries to the community. For general questions, callers can dial 805.339.0019, press 5, and leave their name and the best way to contact them.
Missionaries Around the Globe
Supporting missionaries around the world is a defining mark of CBC. The church currently walks alongside the following workers and ministries:
- Daren and Jodi Beck serve with ACTION in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where Daren previously served as Missions Pastor at West Hill Community Church before arriving in Cambodia in 2003.
- Paul and Sandra Bradley serve with Cadence International, where Paul oversees all field ministries and Sandra assists the Cadence President and his wife. They spent most of their childhood in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
- Nate and Louise Johnson direct the Travis Hospitality House in Fairfield, California, serving singles and families at Travis Air Force Base. They previously served in Germany, Japan, and Spain.
- Chayah Children's Home in Uganda provides a family for orphans rescued from abuse, neglect, trafficking, and extreme poverty.
- Ajith and Sarah Sunker run an orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa for street children, alongside a soup kitchen, worship services, and HIV/AIDS ministry.
- Matt Clinton serves as Director of Operations for North Europe with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, guiding indigenous leaders in sixteen countries.
- Luke and Daisy Holland serve at The Oakes, a Christian camping facility near Sheffield, England, where Luke manages media and Daisy mentors girls on staff.
- Phil and Cheryl Kingsley serve with Greater Europe Mission in Ireland, where they have lived for more than two decades helping to develop local communities of disciples.
- Glen and Patti Miller lead Hands of Hope, partnering with local Zimbabwean churches to care for orphans and children at risk.
- Lois Dodds serves with Heartstream Resources, an inter-denominational Christian organization caring for cross-cultural workers worldwide.
Each summer the church highlights these workers during Mission Sunday, when several of the missionaries visit in person to share what God is doing.
What the Church Believes
Community Bible Church teaches that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, the foundation for everything the church believes and does. The church confesses belief in one God who exists eternally in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It teaches that God loved the world so much that He came in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, who was born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, rose again, and is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
The church describes its faith as one that is meant to be lived out daily, not just on Sundays. Members are encouraged to grow in their relationship with God, love others well, and share the hope of Jesus with their community and the world. A full Statement of Faith is available as part of the church's constitution and bylaws.
The Pastoral Team
Lead Pastor Trevor Dasnoit joined CBC in March 2025. Trevor was born and raised in Ventura and married Anne, also a Ventura native, in 2006. The Dasnoits have three children: Micah, Noah, and Peyton. Trevor has been in ministry across Ventura County for over twenty years, including a decade building a youth ministry at Gold Coast Christian Church and a stint as youth pastor at Catalyst Church Santa Paula. He holds a History degree and a Master in Theology with Biblical Emphasis from Fuller Seminary. Trevor is an avid surfer and water polo coach.
Executive Pastor Ron Cole came to CBC with his wife Karrie in 2011 after years in youth, sound, and missions ministry. They have two children and four grandchildren. Ron stepped into full-time ministry at CBC in 2022 and oversees much of the church's operations alongside his wife.
Youth Pastor Jim Licata is a Ventura native who joined CBC's staff to shepherd middle and high school students into lifelong disciples of Christ.
Children's Ministry Director Kelsey Phelps leads CBC Kids, joined by Shannon Smith in administration. Together they shepherd nursery through fifth grade children and the families who love them.
How to Get Involved and Where to Find Them
Volunteers are welcome in almost every corner of CBC's life. Open teams include Hospitality (baking, decorating, event planning), the Welcome Team (greeting, bulletins, coffee), Tech Team (sound, slides, lights), the Food Pantry, CBC Kids, Stoked, Ablaze, Women's Ministry, and Emerge. The church trains tech volunteers and welcomes newcomers to its volunteer teams on an ongoing basis.
Giving can be done online through the Church Center, by eCheck through online banking bill pay, or by mail to the church's address at 5040 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003. Checks should be made payable to Community Bible Church Ventura.
The office phone is (805) 339-0019 and the email is office@cbcventura.org. Office hours vary; callers are encouraged to leave a message and the team will return the call. The church also sends a weekly email with Sunday resources and periodic updates on events.
Community Bible Church is a small, friendly church committed to teaching the Bible and living out its faith together, inviting anyone who walks through the door at 5040 Telegraph Road to follow Jesus alongside them as they seek to impact their community and their world.