About Us

Church of the Canyons History


1969: Five families began meeting together in Canyon Country at Mitchell elementary school
1972: Affiliated with Evangelical Free Churches of America
1973: Donald G. Botsford was installed as pastor
1977: Bought land originally owned by Roy Crocker of Crocker National Bank. Roy gave 16 acres adjacent to the railroad to the University of Southern California. The church bought the land from USC for $56,000
1980: Construction began for a cost of just under $500,000
1981: The new building was occupied with about 75 families
1988 to 1991: Jim Harris was called to pastor COC
1989: Roger Horning began as Jr. High director and became the full time Youth Pastor in 1992
1992: Dr. C.W. Smith, a professor at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, served as interim Pastor
1995: Bob Childress left Phoenix Arizona to become the current Senior Pastor
2008: Brad Brock was commissioned as full time Worship Pastor, having been the worship leader since 2001