Since 1997
Our Story
A small church in Tujunga, still learning what it means to go and do likewise.
Five people, one Sunday in May
On the first Sunday of May 1997, five people gathered for worship. That was the beginning of Hana. Over the years the church moved three times, and today we meet in Tujunga.
Opening the Bible together
From the start, Hana has given far more time to Bible study than most churches do. There have been weekday Bible studies and lay theology classes, and small groups led by members. Everyone is encouraged to read Scripture for themselves and to let it shape everyday life. Today, Bible study follows worship every Sunday at 1 PM.
Sharing what we have
When Hana had only seven or eight members, the church began serving an early-morning meal on Saturdays for neighbors without homes: soup and donuts. That meal went on for many years.
People also gave clothes and household goods, which we sorted and shared. So many came in that the church built three storage sheds to hold them.
The same spirit continues today in our weekly Food Bank, every Friday, 12–2 PM.
Building with our own hands
More than twenty years ago, Hana began going on construction missions in poor neighborhoods of Baja California, Mexico. We built bunk beds for families who were sleeping on dirt floors, a rehabilitation center, shelters for people leaving prison, and school buildings that also serve as churches: more than fifty buildings in all.
We bring recycled building materials from the United States, teach construction skills to local workers, and work together with other small churches. Two sayings grew out of those trips:
Children brought the coins they had saved for the mission. Some of the children who grew up on those trips now join them as young adults. Read more about our missions.
Today
The same spirit carries on into the next generation: worship and Bible study every Sunday, the Food Bank every Friday, and One Table Art Studio, an art program for children and young people with developmental disabilities. Every generation has a place here.