It all started 10 years ago, when several souls set out to organize and plant a church on the outskirts of Bear Valley Springs. Over the years the vision came together as many volunteers rendered their skills to complete the Sanctuary.

Last winter on a cold sunny morning the cross was found, right side up, on top of a snow bank. The fatigue of many years of the transition from hot days and cold nights along with our Tehachapi winds showed itself in the design that should normally have lasted many decades. It took nearly eight months and a lot of Elder meetings, not to mention everyone scratching their heads, reckoning how to fix it.

So, several of our skilled volunteers pitched in with the help of two competing fabrication shops in Bakersfield: Mark Abler and Ed Garza of Advanced Fabrication built the stainless steel coupling and Kevin Russell and Arnold Castro Sr. and Jr. of American Fabrication supplied the powder coating expertise to finish the coupling.

On a recent crisp clear October morning Bill DeSilva, our Building and Grounds director and esteemed Elder, along with Dean Garness, our esteemed Music and Worship director, plied their voluntary skills and rode the special fire lift up to couple the cross back in union with the steeple, some eighty feet in the still mountain air. Our resident photographer, Dennis Baer of Bearimages Photography captured the event.

Photo provided

Worship services resumed inside a couple of weeks ago at Shepherd of the Hills in a sanctuary complete with steeple and cross. Come worship with us, all are welcome. We are located at 24300 Bear Valley Rd. in Tehachapi.