Who We Are

Welcome to Elsinore First, where our mission is to “Connect people to God, each other, and our community”.

We are a family-friendly church striving to become like the Christian church described in the Bible in Acts 2.

We are a church with relevant teaching, honest friendships, heart-felt worship that expresses our love for God, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere where God changes lives.

More than a church, we are a church family.

Elsinore First is a church where families have fun while they grow in faith, where we can be casual, comfortable, and real, and where we roll up our sleeves to serve, learn, worship, and eat together – often!

We look forward to meeting you soon.

Please feel free to visit this coming Sunday.

  • SUNDAYS 10AM

    WEDNESDAYS 7PM

    [Main, Children’s, Youth, and Spanish]

  • Come as you are! Whatever makes you feel comfortable, we welcome you. When you join us, you’ll see people in a wide range of attire.

  • Thank you for checking us out! If you’re planning on a visit, we’d like to encourage you to get in touch with us so we can personally welcome you by Planning A Visit

    When you first pull into our parking lot, you’ll be given VIP treatment by one of our team members picking you up from your car and dropping you off right at the front doors.

    When you enter our doors, you’ll immediately see our New Guests counter. We want to encourage you to stop by there first for a free gift as our way of saying “Thank You” just for visiting us.

    From there, our team will be able to direct you wherever you’d like to go and answer any questions you have.

    We hope you enjoy your visit with us!

OUR HISTORY

1939-1956

Elsinore First Assembly was founded June 21, 1939 by Rev. A.W. Schmidt and pastored by Rev. H.A. Pegg the first year before Rev. Walter Larson took over in July of 1940. It was first located in an old American Legion Hall at the corner of Spring and Peck streets.

1957-1979

In 1957, EFA purchased a new plot of land at Riverside and Gunnerson Streets under the ministry of Rev. Ralph Love, who pastored EFA from 1948-1957. The new church building was dedicated on June 6, 1964 under Rev. L.L. Ammons. This beautiful building flooded three times between 1978 and 1980, causing the building to be condemned. The church then met for the next 2 ½ years at Machado Elementary School.

1980-1991

In 1980, ten acres was purchased on Grand Avenue. Rev. Willard Smith oversaw the building program, and what we now know as our Chapel Building was dedicated on October 31, 1981. Rev. Smith pastored until his death in 1991.

1991-Present

In May of 1991, Rev. Fred Rodriguez, the Associate Pastor under Rev. Smith, was elected by the Board of Directors to be the Lead Pastor of Elsinore First Assembly, and he remains in this position today.

Under the leadership of Pastor Fred, the congregation outgrew the beautiful facility the Rev. Smith had built, and a another building program ensued.

Dedication ceremonies for our current facility, the Family Life Worship Center (commonly known as the Main Building), were conducted April 5, 2005.

The Elsinore First Assembly story is not about buildings, it is about people. The heart of Elsinore First has always been to reach “the least of these” in Lake Elsinore and the surrounding communities while pouring into those within the congregation.

Throughout our history, we have faced challenges and embraced opportunities. Through everything, God has been always been faithful, providing resourceful people who have established a loving, compassionate church family.