In 1980, two small groups of people meeting in homes (one in Redlands, the other in Highland) established contact with each other and learned that they shared a common vision for a new church serving the greater Highland/Redlands area. They were assisted in the process of discovery and consolidation by the district superintendent of the Evangelical Free Church.
The church that they envisioned had the following distinctives:
a) Life-related biblical instruction
b) Invigorating worship
c) Strong family emphasis
d) An effective training ministry and not merely a church ‘filling station
In 1980, the new church began meeting, first in a home and then in Aquinas High School in Highland. In September, 1980, the church called Chuck Miller to come from Annapolis, Maryland, to serve as the first senior pastor. Under Chuck’s leadership, the basic style and distinctives of the young congregation began to take shape.The years following that beginning have been full of challenges, blessings and growth. The church, originally known as Highland Evangelical Free Church, relocated to Redlands and Redlands Junior Academy in 1983, and adopted the name Trinity Church in l987.
In February, 1984, Chuck Miller resigned and moved to another ministry. Steve Krantz served as interim pastor until March, 1985, when the congregation called Larry Poland, who at the time was serving on the Board of Elders, to be full-time senior pastor. Larry brought a tremendous positive spirit to the ministry of the church. Under his leadership, land was acquired and plans and vision for a church facility were developed.In 1991, Larry resigned to devote full-time to the strategic ministry of Master Media. Rick Langer’s leadership during the interim was a great blessing to the church, and in September, 1992, Gary Inrig joined the staff as senior pastor. Gary had pastored for seventeen years in Calgary, Alberta and for three years in Dallas prior to coming to Trinity.
For many years Trinity resembled the children of Israel traveling out of Egypt – moving from place to place with no permanent home. But on December 18, 1995 a long-time dream became reality as we moved into our new facility. We believe the Lord has given us a strategic location as the base of operations for a strategic ministry in the Inland Empire.