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Vibrancy was in the air – the Twentieth
Century had begun. A colporteur placed a Portuguese language book in the home of
Joe S. Dutra. The family read the book, learning the Bible taught the observance
of Saturday, the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath, and that Jesus was
coming back to earth again – soon. As they read they accepted the whole
teachings of the Bible and were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church
in 1918.
Later they moved to Paso Robles and the Dutra home became the place of worship
for the few Adventists of the area. On June 7, 1919, a company of about seventy
Seventh-day Adventists, scattered from Paso Robles to Arroyo Grande, met at the
stadium in Atascadero to organize a church.
In November of the same year, the Dutra family provided a lot and some cash for
the building of a church in Paso Robles. In December a building committee was
chosen and built the little church still standing at 522 Tenth Street. It was
dedicated, free of debt on November 20, 1923.
As years passed, the membership grew, and the little church was too small. The
Atascadero members desired to have a church in Atascadero, to better share their
faith, and relieve the congestion.
After much planning and many hours of labor donated by Adventists of the area,
two former military buildings from Vandenberg Air Base became the Atascadero
Seventh-day Adventist Church on October 10, 1959.
The Atascadero and Paso Robles Churches voted in January of 1969 to merge and
build a church between the two cities. The property was donated by Drs. Stanley
& Janet Kirk, and Dr. & Mrs. Donald Bates. Construction was begun on the
Templeton Hills Church in June of 1974. The building committee consisted of
Stanely Kirk, Don Bates, Orville Eros, Deone Hanson, Richard Walters, Jack
Sloan, Duane Froning, Willard McGee, & Richard Morrow. Pastor Striplin was the
pastor at the time the building began. Pastor Nasvall came shortly thereafter.
The completion of the united efforts of the two former groups to erect a church
building half way between Atascadero and Paso Robles was celebrated June 14,
1975 with an official opening ceremony. Participants on this day included Marcia
Babbitt, Richard Walters, Willard McGee, Stanley Kirk, Carmi Benton, Delmer
Bond, Janet Kirk, Jack Sloan, Paralee Froning, June Beckett, Doris Sloan, Louise
Walters and Wayne Games.
It was dedicated, debt free on September 4, 1982. Local officials who attended
the ceremony included County Supervisor Jerry Diefenderfer, Warren Alderson,
past resident of Templeton Chamber of Commerce, Rolfe Nelson, mayor of
Atascadero, Gary Temper, mayor of Paso Robles. Officials from the Central
California Conference included Pastor Charles Cook, president, and Barry
Crabtree, Public Relations Secretary. Local members taking part in the ceremony
included Stanley Kirk, Jack Sloan, Duane Froning, Panza Farley, Kathi Roadruck
(Chambers), and Melvin Sage. The Pastor at that time was Ansel Bristol.
A recent photo of Pastors who have served at Templeton Hills
Seventh-day Adventist Church
From left to right: Cliff Hoffman, Ivor Myers (current), Steve Wohlberg, Gary
Strunk, Richard Smith, and Ansel Bristol
2005-Current -
Pastor Ivor Myers
2003 – 2005 –
Pastor Steve Wohlberg
1996 – 2002 – Pastor Gary Strunk
1990 – 1995 – Pastor Richard Smith
1980 – 1990 – Pastor Ansel Bristol
1976 – 1979 – Pastor James Edwards
1974 – 1976 – Pastor Raymond H. Nasvall
1969 - 1974 - Pastor Striplin
1965 -1969 - Pastor Gerald Wheeler, C.H. Davis
1962 - 1964 - Pastor Stevens
1960 - 1962- Pastor Reiber
1960 - Pastor O'dell
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