Tsemach Christian Alliance

The Tsemach Christian Alliance is located in Grand Terrace. This church, also known as Grand Terrace Community Church, was incorporated in 1963. Pastor Gil Villalpando, formerly the associate pastor, was called in 2009 as Senior Pastor, and had a new vision to reach out to the Jewish Community. The church merged with an organization called Hebrew Christian Witness, founded by Mike & Ruth Perl in 1955.  Their daughter, Rachel Perl, has continued the missionary outreach of the organization. Pastor Gil and Rachel met in 2008 and subsequently merged together both ministries to form Tsemach Christian Alliance. Together, Rachel and Pastor Gil have been working to reach out to the Jewish people around their area in order to show them the love of God and Christian love. Many Jewish people have a negative view of Christians, or believe that Christ is only the God of the Gentiles. One of the greatest strengths of Tsemach is their diversity. The church itself consists of about 20 members, including all different ethnicities, from Jewish-Russian, to Jewish-African American and more. They also sponsor a Hispanic Church that meets in their building. Once a month, both groups come together for a celebration service. One of the main ministries of Tsemach is the Hebrew Christian Witness Institute. It is a non-accredited school, taught by Rachel, which meets at the church. The course lasts 2 years, and in that time the students are taught everything they need so that they will be able to go out on their own as a Jewish-Christian missionary and to plant Jewish Christian churches. There are about 6 students attending right now, and the school is on its second course. One Jewish missionary trainee, who heads the food and women's home ministry,  plans to move to Israel to further Tsemach's work there. Pastor Gil also has a heart for families who have lost their jobs and as a result, have lost their homes. The church has a housing ministry, affiliated with HUD, whose outreach to these families includes food, clothing and housing assistance. The church is trying to give these people hope and also share the Gospel with them. They are reaching out to everyone, not only the Jewish people. You can pray for Tsemach Christian Alliance as they are in need of more workers. You can pray that God moves upon Jewish hearts and that there will be unity in worship with no walls that divide. Pray that God continues to use Tsemach to reach out and show His love to the Jewish Community.