ABOUT OUR CHURCH


El Estero Presbyterian Church is a very warm and friendly congregation made up of, but not limited to, mostly Americans of Asian descent who gather to worship God and provide service to the community.

History


The roots of El Estero Presbyterian Church reach back to 1908 when the Home and Foreign Missionary associated with the San Jose Presbytery began to minister to the spiritual needs of approximately thirty Japanese farmers and fisherman in the Carmel area. Mrs. M.E. White and her daughter, Miss Margaret White, headed the group. One of the first Japanese ministers to speak to this group was Reverend Suzuki from the Salinas Mission. This occurred on August 12, 1908. Reverend Kyohei Kobayashi began to minister to this group in Sepember 1909. The first Sunday School was held in 1910 with eight students present. A new chapel was completed in Carmel at 8th and Dolores Streets in March 1911, and was dedicated in July 1911. There were seventy Japanese members to celebrate this occasion.

Relocation of the Church


A movement to establish a Japanese ministry in Monterey was proposed to the Foreign Missionary by Reverend Kobayashi and to the Monterey Society by Miss Margaret White in 1912. The proposal was enthusiastically received by all. On May 2, 1912, the San Jose Presbytery officially established the ministry at 315 Washington Street in Monterey and named it the "Japanese Church of Christ", with Reverend Kobayashi as its initial pastor.


The mission was located in the heart of the Chinese and Japanese residential area. It was a wooden structure with the pastor's living quarters in the rear. Four to five wooden chairs were placed on each side of the center aisle with a platform situated at the front from which the pastor conducted worship service. A foot pedal organ and piano were available for music.

New Home at El Estero


The Issei (first generation) parents saw the need for a larger church as the congregation grew. Under the leadership of Reverend Eiji Kawamorita, plans for a new building were developed with the aid of the Board of National Missions. For the ground breaking ceremony, the Salvation Army Band was hired, and the congregation marched from the mission on Washington Street to the corner of Pearl and El Estero. The church building was dedicated on October 24, 1926.

Reverend Shosaku Asano became the Japanese language pastor of this church in October 1934, and served the congregation with the exception of the war years, until 1954. Preceding Reverend Asano were the Reverends Kadoike, Kawamorita and Kobayashi. There were fifty-eight members in the church in 1936.

Around this period, the Session saw the need for greater harmony and rapport among the Issei and Nisei (second generation) members of the church. It was decided that the church will conduct joint services once a month. The first of such services was conducted in August 1935.

World War II

After the outbreak of World War II, people of Japanese ancestry were ordered to move from the Pacific coast in early 1942. Members of the church relocated inland voluntarily or were evacuated to an Assembly Center in Salinas and then to various internment camps.

At the conclusion of the war and the ensuing closure of the internment camps former church members began to return to Monterey. The church was used as a hostel for the returning internees under the leadership of Reverend Asano. The first post-war service was held on June 22, 1946.

Art Kamitsuka was sent to Monterey by the Presbytery to help the church re-establish itself and for this purpose he remained in Monterey for several months. On October 6, 1946, Reverend Howard Toriumi and Reverend Shinpachi Kanow were place in charge of the three central coast region churches.

Pastors

During the pastorship of Rev. Asano, a series of student pastors served the English speaking congregation begining with Rev. Paul Kato in 1949. With assistance from Rev. John McAuley, the church received financial aid for the pastor's salary from the National Board of Missions. Rev. George Inadomi became the first full time English speaking pastor in 1955. He served until 1959. A training seminar was conducted for church officers in 1957 by Reverend Inadomi, which led to a complete restructuring and reorganization of the governing bodies in the church.

Rev. Shimozono was called as the second English speaking pastor in 1960. He remained until 1966. During his ministry, the church became self-supporting, eliminating the need for financial aid from the National Board of Missions in 1965. Rev. William Nishimura became the first full time English-Japanese speaking pastor in 1968. Rev. Nicholas Iyoya followed in 1971. Dr. Heihachiro Takarabe began his ministry at El Estero in 1982 and retired in December of 2003. In February 2004, Rev. Lyle Schmidt has assumed the position of Interim Pastor to assist the congregation in its search for a permanent minister. Pastor James O. Nelson was called to be our new pastor and began his ministry in November 2005. Since December 2008 the Pastor's position has been vacant.

(excerpts from El Estero Presbyterian Church JPC brochure - 1995)