In 1974, after working as an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, California, and planting a church called Jesus Chapel in El Paso, Texas, Kenn and Joanie Gulliksen moved to Los Angeles to begin a ministry that had been on their hearts for several years. The Jesus Movement was sweeping the nation and young people, hippies and surfers included, were coming to Jesus out of nowhere.

Starting as a small Bible study the fellowship quickly grew into a church. God prophetically gave the name "Vineyard" to those who initially gather together. In the next few years literally thousands received Jesus Christ through the ministries of the church.

God graciously worked through the many mistakes and failures as well as the successes, as many people were willing to take risks to become like Jesus and to communicate the Good News. Several couples went out and began other Vineyards in California. These churches grew quickly as they made priorities of worship, relationship, healing, training and giving.

John Wimber

In the spring of 1982, John Wimber (formerly a musician and manager of the Righteous Brothers in Vegas when he met Jesus) and several other pastors led their churches into relationship with the Vineyard, as their vision coincided with and completed that of the original Vineyards. It was obvious that God had called John to pastor the pastors, and to train and encourage men and women to pursue what God had given them. As a result, the people called the Vineyard have reached out to bless and encourage churches all over the world, as well as planting churches which have become known as Vineyard Churches.

The Vineyard has extensive and healthy relationships with many American denominations and pastors, the Church of England, and many other churches in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Latin America and the South Pacific. These relationships include parachurch organizations like YWAM and World Vision, seminaries like Fuller Seminary, and underground churches in Europe, Asia and China. Many of these relationships have resulted through the personal ministry of John Wimber; others have resulted from relationships with local Vineyard churches.

In 1987, the various Vineyard churches formed a formal church association called the Association of Vineyard Churches. The churches are self-governing, but overseen and encouraged on a voluntary basis by the older pastors who serve as regional coordinators, and in each local area by area pastoral coordinators. There are now over 1250 Vineyard churches worldwide, with the number expected to increase. God however, has shown us not to seek to build the Vineyard, but instead to seek his kingdom and to build His Church, to bless what He's blessing, to love what He loves, and to give ourselves away freely. We want to be like Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our plan is to seek God, and to cooperate with Him as He reveals Himself in the process.

Here at the Beaches Vineyard our plan is the same. In 1987 our pastor, Lee Brookins and his wife, Pat, began the first Vineyard in the Jacksonville area still located in the Southside. An extended battle with Lyme disease eventually required him to step down from the leadership of that church for 2 1/2 years. During that time small groups had been pastored and assembled by Steve and Jeet Rogers in anticipation of a chance to have their own Vineyard on their side of the "Ditch". (Townies - that means the Intracoastal Waterway...)

In October, 1999, after his health began to return, the Jacksonville Vineyard sent out the Brookins, the Rogers and a team of 60 "beach" people, adults and children, to begin what is now the Beaches Vineyard. In the process of Lee's continuing recovery, Flint McGlaughlin, with his wife, Arlene, came alongside to help lead as co-pastor.

We have now grown to over 500 people of all ages and walks of life, many who are actively involved with various community endeavors. As a church, we continue to seek and discover Jesus' heart for the beaches community and gladly commit ourselves to serving Him and the people He loves.