By Sara Beth Williams–
The relaunch date for a local church in Citrus Heights which is changing its name to Edify Church, has been delayed until January, according to the new church’s pastor.
A local church on Mariposa Avenue has officially closed as “Citrus Heights Fellowship” and will relaunch as Edify Church, announcements on Edify Church’s website and Facebook page show.
Pastor John Gomez said in an email update that the church building is undergoing some remodeling and will relaunch on Jan. 11 as Edify church, instead of the previously planned date in September.
An announcement on Edify Church’s Facebook page indicates that the church has “gone dark” as of Aug. 6 while they prepare for upgrades.
“In between now and then, we will be having Sunday potluck dinners at 5 p.m. at the church location for our core group members–those who have committed to helping launch the church–and for anyone interested in learning about the church and might be interested in joining our core group,” Gomez said in an update to The Sentinel regarding the relaunch.
Previously, Citrus Heights Fellowship was scheduled to relaunch as Edify Church on Sept. 14.
In another announcement on Facebook, former pastor Sive Nogada said he officially resigned on Aug. 10 as the pastor of Citrus Heights Fellowship after serving in the position since 2022.
Nogado thanked the Citrus Heights Fellowship family for welcoming him and his family and “allowing me to be part of your story.” Nogada and his family moved to the U.S. in 2018 from Cape Town.
A post from Doxa Church’s website shows that Doxa Church was assisting Citrus Heights Fellowship with the relaunch in what is called a “replant.”
“A replant is an existing church that has been in decline for several years, now reforming and deciding to relaunch as a new church with new leadership, governance, and mission,” according to Doxa. The new church’s pastor of the replant will be John Gomez, one of Doxa’s 6:4 interns.
The relaunched church will be characterized by “Biblical Discernment, Spirit-Filled Living, Kingdom-Mindedness, and Christ-Centered Community,” the church said on its website, adding that more information on the relaunch will be coming soon. For questions or to find out more information, visit the church’s website.
Citrus Heights Fellowship has not been the first church to be replanted and relaunch under a new name. Heights Church, formerly known as Bayside of Citrus Heights, was also a replant. At the time, Bayside took over a small church in the same building called Sylvan Oaks, that was on the brink of foreclosure, according to a video posted by Heights Church pastor Craig Sweeney in 2020. The church relaunched in 2008 under the name Bayside of Citrus Heights. The second name change to Heights Church occurred later in 2020.
Edify Church, formerly known as Citrus Heights Fellowship, is located at 7405 Mariposa Ave. The building was constructed in 1975.
