I had the chance to talk with Frank about his church, check it out!
TCC: Tell us about your church!
Frank: Cottonwood started back in 1983 in a small office in Los Alamitos, Ca with about 50 or so people. From 1983 to 1989 our church grew from 50 to 650 people in attendance each Sunday morning. In 1989 Cottonwood made its home on Sausalito Street in the City of Los Alamitos, near a residential neighborhood. As the years passed the church grew from 650 to over 5000 people in attendance each Sunday morning and seeing the need Cottonwood purchased 18 acres of land in the city of Cypress (neighbor city to Los Alamitos) to build a bigger facility. The land was later taken away by the city of Cypress citing “Eminent Domain” (meaning they could take away the land because they could). There was a long and lengthy legal battle for years when then it reached the District Court of California and God gave us the victory by siding with the church. Cottonwood then sold the land and purchased even more acreage in Los Alamitos, about 30 acres, which is now home to our Main Campus along with a Children and Youth building.
TCC: What is your role at the church, how did you get involved?
Frank: I am one of the guitarists and worship leaders for our church. I also lead worship at times for our Spanish campus “Iglesia Cottonwood” (I have some videos of some of the worship times at Iglesia Cottonwood on my Facebook page). I came to know Cottonwood several years ago through my friends in the brass band but didn’t attend there because I had other commitments to my home church at the time. I got involved after I got married and had kids because I wanted my kids to get church as well. I auditioned and was welcomed aboard with open arms even before they knew I could play an instrument and sing. I love the heart of our church.
TCC: What is one way God has worked through your church recently?
Frank: We just had our H4 season “home 4 the harvest” where we took God to our communities and showing them the love of God. Wesigned a big board outside the church to commit to one thing we could do to impact our communities. We packed lunches for the homeless, gave out clothing, walked around our neighborhoods and just talked to people about Jesus. We normally have outreach programs but during this time we focused more on our backyards than our world ministries.
TCC: Tell us more about Iglesia Cottonwood
Frank: Iglesia Cottonwood is the same church, our senior pastor Bayless Conley preaches there with a live interpreter. It came to be after the new campus was built; the church thought about selling the campus but realized that there was a need for the Latino community and thus Iglesia Cottonwood was born. They hold services there every Sunday at 12pm.
TCC: How can we pray for you?
Frank: Pray that our church can be more impacting to our surrounding communities, that God and the Holy Spirit be at the center so we can hear the direction in which to go. That Jesus be at the center of everything we do and never forgetting who we’re doing this for.
TCC: How can people connect with you?
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/frank_j
E-mail: frank.lazo1208@gmail.com
Check out more from Cottonwood here!
Worship Review and Giveaway // Jeremy Horn // No Other Love