OUR STORY

In 1983, Canyon Hills began with humble beginnings in Bakersfield, California. At a time when the church was small and struggling, Pastors Wendell and Lynda Vinson stepped in with a clear conviction: the church exists to reach people and serve its city. From the earliest days—knocking on doors, welcoming families, and creating space for people far from God—Canyon Hills discovered that to the degree the church was willing to lean into brokenness in their city, the more they sensed God’s blessing.

As the church grew, so did its heart for compassion. Canyon Hills learned that blessing followed obedience—when the church responded to the needs of the community, God multiplied its impact. What began as simple acts of service grew into lasting ministries: caring for the hungry and vulnerable, supporting foster and adoptive families, serving seniors, walking with those facing addiction or hardship, and creating welcoming environments for children and adults with special needs. Each step forward reinforced a belief that compassion isn’t limited—it’s scalable.

Over time, that vision expanded beyond a single campus. Canyon Hills began planting and revitalizing neighborhood churches, believing strong local churches are essential to healthy communities. This same conviction led to the launch of CityServe, a movement designed to empower churches to bring hope and help both locally and globally—from the neighborhood to the nations.

Today, Canyon Hills continues to move forward with faith, courage, and expectation, believing God is still writing the story. What started with a small group of faithful people has become a multi-campus church committed to seeing lives changed by Jesus—and you’re invited to be part of what God is doing next.