Our History: God’s Grace in Carlsbad & Oceanside (North County San Diego)

For years, believers in Oceanside prayed for a Reformed church to be planted along the coast. In the Lord’s providence, those prayers were being answered even before many of them knew it. Eventually, through a church-planting partnership and a call to gospel ministry the answer was clear. Oceanside United Reformed Church began as a home Bible study in 2000 and since 2001 has gathered for worship in the Chapel of the Army & Navy Academy—serving Carlsbad, Oceanside, and North County San Diego.

Key Dates at a Glance

• Prayers for a church plant: ~10 years leading up to 2000

• Home Bible study begins: February 14, 2000 (Oceanside)

• Evening worship begins: June 18, 2000 (Palmquist Elementary School)

• Morning & evening services begin: September 3, 2000

• First adult baptism: August 12, 2001

• First service at the Chapel of the Army & Navy Academy: Thanksgiving, November 22, 2001

• 25th anniversary service: May 18, 2025

• Where we meet: Chapel of the Army & Navy Academy, 2549 Ocean St., Carlsbad, CA 92008

• Serving: Carlsbad, Oceanside, and North County San Diego

• Affiliation: United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA)

How Oceanside URC Began

Ten years of prayer

For ten years, believers in Oceanside prayed for a Reformed church to be started.

A providential connection

Unbeknownst to them, in the Fall of 1999, a seminary student at Westminster Seminary California was discerning his calling from the Lord. Being from the coastal South Bay of Los Angeles and not having grown up in a Reformed church, Danny Hyde desired to plant a Reformed church in a coastal Southern California city to spread the joy of Jesus’ saving grace.

At the same time that Fall, the Escondido United Reformed Church hosted one of its missionaries for a weekend. He challenged that church not just to send its money far and wide for the kingdom, but to plant a church in its own backyard. When he said this, several members began yelling out, “Plant a church in Oceanside!” Afterward, Danny met these people and they began a conversation that resulted in a church planting proposal for the Council (pastor, elders, deacons) of the EURC.

From Bible study to public worship

In February 2000, our first home Bible study began in Oceanside. Danny graduated from Westminster in May and sustained his ministerial examinations in June. We held our first evening worship service on June 18 as Oceanside United Reformed Church at Palmquist Elementary School. In July, Danny was ordained to the gospel ministry and in September, morning and evening services began.

A new home in Carlsbad

On Thanksgiving morning 2001, we held our first service at the Chapel of the Army & Navy Academy, where we’ve gathered ever since.

Our Purpose: Why We Exist

Our story began with prayer. That means our history is not simply a record of dates; it explains what we believe God calls a church to be. Our prayerful desire has always been for a faithful coastal church that is convicted that God builds his people through the ordinary means he has appointed—Word, sacraments, and prayer. We continue to be a local congregation committed to welcoming sinners and exalting Christ. In 2025, Oceanside URC celebrated its 25th anniversary with a community-wide service entitled: “Come and See What God Has Done.”

Our history continues to shape us as our mission remains the same:

Christ-centered, Word-saturated worship

From the beginning, we have gathered around the Word of God—read, preached, prayed, and sung. Our aim is not novelty, but reverent, Scripture-shaped worship that directs our hearts to Christ. We want Jesus Christ to be the center of our theology, worship (liturgy), church leadership, and community life together.

Historic Protestant, Reformed faith

In a region like Southern California, including North County San Diego, there are so many church options. We offer something that intentionally historic and enduring—worship and teaching that is shaped by Scripture and rooted in the Protestant Reformation—it’s “back to the future!”

Oceanside URC is a member of the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA), which traces its roots to the Dutch Reformed tradition (see Pastor Danny’s article, “The Dutch Reformed in North America”). This tradition is rooted in the sixteenth century movement of revival we know as “The Protestant Reformation.” For more on these roots, see Pastor Danny’s article, “What Is Reformed Theology? Its Roots, Core Beliefs & Key Leaders.” We are also connected to the International Conference of Reformed Churches (ICRC).

A church planted for North County

The missionary’s challenge to plant “in our own backyard” continues to shape our posture: we are here to serve Carlsbad, Oceanside, and the North County San Diego region with the gospel and a steady, intergenerational church life. This methodology forms people over time. Church planting is seldom glamorous. It is ordinary faithfulness—week by week, learning to worship, repent, believe, love, and persevere together.

Where We’re Going

Only the Lord knows the future, but we will continue to pray, “Thy kingdom come.” Our Catechism teaches us that when we pray this, we’re asking him to:

Rule us by your Word and Spirit in such a way that more and more we submit to you.
Preserve and increase your church.
Destroy the devil’s work; destroy every force which revolts against you and every conspiracy against your holy Word.
Do all this until your kingdom fully comes, when you will be all in all. (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 123)

Our Invitation to You

Whether you are exploring Christianity for the first time, returning to the faith after a long time away, or looking for a church home shaped by historic Reformed teaching and worship, you are welcome here.

Ready to take the next step? Email the pastor below with any questions you might have. Then check out the links below to plan your visit with us: