The Importance of Easter at Shepherd Church, Porter Ranch, CA

The Importance of Easter at Shepherd Church, Porter Ranch, CA

(This blog article is written by Darrell Griffin  for pureaudacity.com. The Shepherd Church of Porter Ranch, CA and its staff have not reviewed or authorized this blog article.) Be sure to checkout the church website(theshepherd.org)

Easter Sunday is upon us. Like many Christian Believers I will be in church this Sunday giving special thanks for Jesus's resurrection. Our Christian faith is based on the fact that Jesus rose from the Grave. My wife and I have called Shepherd our home church for 25 years. A lot of people only go to church on Christmas and Easter. Well if you are looking for a solid church give Shepherd Church a try. If you don't live near one of their campuses they are online. Be sure to call the churches or check their schedules online because growing churches do change their schedules.  

Easter is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which signifies victory over sin and death and offers the promise of eternal life. At Shepherd Church, Easter is a time of profound reflection, worship, and outreach, drawing thousands to its campuses to commemorate this pivotal event. The church emphasizes the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection, inviting both regular attendees and newcomers to experience the hope and renewal that Easter represents.

Shepherd Church’s Easter services are known for their dynamic worship, powerful preaching, and welcoming atmosphere. The services blend contemporary music with Pastor Rutherford’s Bible-based messages, which often focus on the relevance of Christ’s resurrection in daily life. Special elements, such as performances by guest artists and vibrant children’s programs, make Easter a highlight of the church’s calendar. As one visitor noted, “Their Easter service is one of the best services in the SFV!”

Easter Services 2025 Across Shepherd Church Campuses

This Easter weekend, April 17–20, 2025, Shepherd Church will host a series of Easter services across its campuses, including its online platform, offering multiple opportunities for worship and celebration. These services will feature contemporary worship, messages from Pastor Dudley Rutherford, and special elements such as guest musical performances. Children’s programs for birth through fifth grade and student ministries for middle and high schoolers will be available at most services, with Spanish translation and Deaf interpretation offered at select times, particularly at the Porter Ranch campus. Below is the schedule for Easter services across all campuses:

• Online Campus (Worldwide):
  Services will be streamed live at all Porter Ranch campus service times (Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.; Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 20 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.). This allows worshipers worldwide to join virtually, experiencing the same dynamic worship and teaching as in-person attendees. Access services at theshepherd.org. The below times are for Easter services only.

• Porter Ranch Campus (19700 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch, CA 91326):

  • Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m.

  • Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.

  • Saturday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

  • Sunday, April 20 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
    The Porter Ranch campus, with its 3,500-seat auditorium, is the main hub for Easter celebrations. Services will include vibrant worship, a message from Pastor Rutherford, and potentially guest artists, as seen in previous years with performers like Steve Amerson. Spanish translation and Deaf interpretation will be available at the Sunday 11:00 a.m. service.

• Agua Dulce Campus:

  • Sunday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m.
    This campus will offer a single Easter service tailored to the Santa Clarita Valley community, featuring contemporary worship and a message focused on the resurrection.

• East Valley Campus:

  • Sunday, April 20 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
    The East Valley campus will host two morning services, providing a welcoming environment for San Fernando Valley residents with live or recorded sermons and family-oriented programming.

• Simi Valley Campus:

  • Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.

  • Saturday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

  • Sunday, April 20 at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m.
    The Simi Valley campus will offer multiple services over the weekend, combining dynamic worship and practical teaching to engage the local community.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, as Easter services are among the most attended of the year, particularly at the Porter Ranch campus, where parking can be limited. For the most accurate details and to register for services, especially for the online campus, visit theshepherd.org.

Nestled in the heart of Porter Ranch, California, Shepherd Church stands as a vibrant testament to faith, community, and the transformative power of God’s love. With a congregation that has grown to over 15,000 members across multiple campuses, Shepherd Church is one of the most dynamic and diverse megachurches in the United States. Led by Senior Pastor Dudley Rutherford, the church has become a spiritual home for thousands, including my wife, Kim, and me, who began attending 25 years ago. This blog explores the rich history of Shepherd Church, its growth, its commitment to ethnic diversity, its campuses, its mission work, the significance of Easter, the upcoming Easter services across its campuses, and the personal journey that brought us to this remarkable community.

A Brief History of Shepherd Church

Shepherd Church’s story begins in 1977, when approximately 300 congregants from the First Baptist Church of Van Nuys left to form Faith Evangelical Church in Chatsworth, California, later known as the Church at Rocky Peak. Around the same time, Pastor Jess Moody, a well-known Southern Baptist pastor, led the First Baptist Church of Van Nuys through a transition, moving the congregation to temporary venues under the name "Shepherd of the Hills." In 1988, the Van Nuys building was sold to The Church on the Way, and by 1990, Shepherd of the Hills acquired a large property in Porter Ranch. Construction on its iconic ranch-style building was completed in 1991, establishing a permanent home for the congregation.

The church’s trajectory changed significantly in 1995 when Hillcrest Christian Church in Granada Hills, led by Pastor Dudley Rutherford, merged with Shepherd of the Hills. At the time, Hillcrest was outgrowing its facility, and Shepherd of the Hills was facing financial challenges due to delays in the development of Porter Ranch’s commercial and residential areas. The merger brought together Hillcrest’s growing congregation of about 1,000 members with Shepherd’s vision, and Pastor Moody retired, passing the leadership to Rutherford. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Shepherd Church’s rapid growth and transformation into the megachurch it is today.

The Growth to Over 12,000 Members

Shepherd Church’s growth from a modest congregation to a megachurch with over 12,000 members is a story of faith, strategic leadership, and community engagement. By 1999, the church had grown to over 3,000 members, and by 2008, it was attracting 7,000 to 8,000 attendees weekly across multiple services. In 2016, Outreach Magazine ranked Shepherd Church as the third fastest-growing church in America, with a weekly attendance of 10,555 and a growth of 2,243 members in a single year. Today, the church’s membership exceeds 12,000, with worshipers attending across multiple campuses and multiple services each weekend.

Several factors have contributed to this remarkable growth. First, Pastor Dudley Rutherford’s uncompromising commitment to preaching the Bible has resonated with a diverse audience. As Rutherford notes, “We do not sugarcoat anything, nor do we shy away from talking about issues most people avoid for fear of being politically incorrect. We lift up Jesus, and he draws all people.” Second, the church’s emphasis on ethnic diversity has made it a welcoming place for people from all backgrounds, reflecting the multicultural fabric of Los Angeles. Third, Shepherd’s innovative approach to ministry, including contemporary worship, relevant teaching, and a wide array of programs, has attracted families, young adults, and professionals seeking a vibrant spiritual community.

The church’s infrastructure has also evolved to accommodate its growth. In 2017, Shepherd Church broke ground on a 3,500-seat auditorium in Porter Ranch, a $35 million project that included a new parking structure and renovations to the existing auditorium for children’s classes. This expansion, dubbed the “Miracle in the Making,” was necessary to accommodate the growing congregation, which was running over 9,000 attendees weekly at the time.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford: A Visionary Leader

Dudley Rutherford’s leadership has been instrumental in Shepherd Church’s success. Born into a family of preachers—his grandfather, father, uncles, brothers, and in-laws all served as ministers—Rutherford felt called to ministry at a young age. He decided to become a pastor in ninth grade and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Church Growth from Ozark Christian College and a Master’s degree from Hope International University. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from St. Charles University.

Rutherford’s journey to Shepherd Church began in 1987 when he moved from the Midwest to California to pastor Hillcrest Christian Church in Granada Hills. Under his leadership, the church grew from 350 to 1,000 members. After the 1995 merger with Shepherd of the Hills, Rutherford became the senior pastor and has since guided the church to unprecedented growth. His passion for preaching, commitment to diversity, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life have made him a beloved figure in the community.

Rutherford is also a prolific author, with books such as Walls Fall Down, Unleashed: The Church Turning the World Upside Down, and Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith. He founded Dream of Destiny, a ministry dedicated to fostering ethnic diversity in Christian churches, and his sermons are broadcast nationwide through the Lift Up Jesus television and radio program. Despite his busy schedule, Rutherford remains approachable, often citing sports, ice cream, and Mexican food as his outlets for relaxation. He lives in Porter Ranch with his wife, Renee, and their three children.

Ethnic Diversity: A Cornerstone of Shepherd Church

One of Shepherd Church’s most celebrated attributes is its ethnic diversity. The church has been called “the most racially diverse church in Los Angeles” by the city’s mayor, a distinction that reflects its commitment to breaking down racial barriers. The congregation is approximately 25% Latino, 25% Asian, 25% Caucasian, 20% African-American, and 5% other ethnicities. This diversity is not accidental but the result of intentional efforts led by Pastor Rutherford, who has prioritized inclusivity since his youth.

Rutherford’s commitment to diversity began in high school when he invited an African-American teammate to his predominantly white church and noticed the congregation’s uncomfortable reaction. “In that moment, I decided that when I had my church, I was going to make sure that it was a racially diverse church,” he recalls. Through Dream of Destiny, Rutherford encourages churches to diversify their leadership, worship teams, promotional materials, and scholarship programs. At Shepherd, these efforts have created a welcoming environment where people of all backgrounds feel valued and included.

The church’s diversity is evident in its worship services, which feature contemporary music, Spanish translation, and Deaf interpretation. Promotional materials and leadership roles reflect the congregation’s multicultural makeup, and the church’s Life Groups—small community groups—bring together people from different ethnicities to build meaningful connections.

Shepherd Church is an independent, nondenominational Christian church rooted in the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Its core tenets include the virgin birth of Jesus, His sinless life, His atoning death, resurrection, and future return. The church emphasizes a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and encourages members to grow in faith through worship, discipleship, and service.

Pastor Rutherford is known for addressing challenging topics, such as the sanctity of life and biblical marriage, without shying away from cultural issues. However, the church’s message is always grounded in love, reflecting Jesus’ command to love God and love others (Matthew 22:36-40). Shepherd’s slogan, “It’s all about Jesus,” underscores its Christ-centered focus, and its services are designed to be accessible, with casual attire and a welcoming atmosphere for all nationalities.

Foreign and Local Missions

Shepherd Church is deeply committed to missions, both locally and globally. Internationally, the church supports missionaries through the California Southern Baptist Convention and independent organizations, funding projects that spread the gospel and address humanitarian needs. Locally, Shepherd Church actively combats societal issues such as homelessness, hunger, human trafficking, and the foster care crisis. In 2019, the church’s Annual Report highlighted thousands of dollars raised and numerous service projects that put “Christ’s love into action” in Los Angeles.

The church’s Life Groups and large-scale events, which can draw 20,000 to 50,000 people, provide opportunities for community outreach. Shepherd also partners with local organizations to serve the San Fernando Valley, offering resources and support to those in need.

Our Journey with Shepherd Church

Twenty-five years ago, Kim and I began attending Shepherd Church, drawn by its dynamic worship and Pastor Rutherford’s relatable preaching. At the time, the church was still growing, with a few thousand members, but it already felt like a family. We were welcomed warmly, and the diversity of the congregation made us feel at home. Over the years, we’ve participated in Life Groups, served in children’s ministry, and attended revival events that deepened our faith.

Similarly important holidays in the Muslim and Jewish faiths

Kim particularly loves the worship services, which blend contemporary music with heartfelt praise, while I’ve been inspired by Pastor Rutherford’s bold yet compassionate teaching. The church’s commitment to missions has also shaped our perspective, encouraging us to volunteer locally and support global outreach. Easter services have been a highlight of our time at Shepherd, with their powerful messages and vibrant celebrations reinforcing our faith in Christ’s resurrection. Shepherd Church has been a constant in our lives, providing spiritual guidance through life’s joys and challenges.

Conclusion

Shepherd Church is more than a megachurch; it’s a community where faith, diversity, and service converge to make a lasting impact. From its humble beginnings in 1977 to its current status as a beacon of hope for over 12,000 members, the church’s growth reflects God’s faithfulness and Pastor Dudley Rutherford’s visionary leadership. Its campuses in Porter Ranch, Agua Dulce, East Valley, Simi Valley, and online offer accessible worship, while its commitment to ethnic diversity sets a standard for churches worldwide. Through foreign and local missions, Shepherd Church continues to live out its mission to lift up Jesus.

This Easter weekend, Shepherd Church invites everyone to join in celebrating the resurrection of Christ, with services across its campuses and online platform designed to inspire and uplift. For Kim and me, Shepherd Church has been a spiritual home for 25 years, and we’re grateful for the ways it has shaped our lives, especially during seasons like Easter. Whether you’re seeking a place to worship, grow, or serve, Shepherd Church welcomes you with open arms, ready to help you discover the transformative power of faith.