About Us
Our Pastors
What started as a few people sitting around a table has transformed into a group of people passionate to reach people for Jesus!
David and Randall Araujo are the co-lead pastors of The Heart LA Church. After serving together in various different roles in ministry, they felt the call of God to plant a church in Los Angeles. They stepped out in faith in 2020 and moved their family to the big city from Modesto, CA. David and Randall have been married for over 10 years. They have three kids: Ryan , Rose, and Raegan. Along with an incredible team, The Heart LA Church started in September of 2021 where the mission is to build up people who love God and love their neighbor. It is incredible to see the miracles that take place when we say YES to God!
Our purpose
We exist to make disciples who make disciples.
Matthew 28:19-20
19“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Our purpose is to make disciples. We want to introduce people to the Savior and walk with them in the way of Jesus. The goal is that people would move toward what they were created to be, image bearers, living in right relationships with God, self, and others. Jesus called us to ‘go and make disciples.’ Our purpose is to become a disciple of Jesus and encourage others to walk alongside us.
Our Vision
We envision a city where God’s heart is everywhere.
Luke 19:41—And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,
Our desire is to see the heart of God in every part of society: Business, government, education, arts/entertainment/media, medicine and the social sector, the church, and the family. We see a church that plants other churches. We see a church that plants Christian community in every corner of our city, especially where churches cannot go. (Bible clubs on campus, coffee shops, businesses, etc.) We dream of a follower of Jesus living in every apartment in Los Angeles. We see a church that is populating heaven and de-populating hell!
We envision a city where God’s heart is everywhere.
We dream of a church that transforms the cities. True transformation comes through Jesus Christ. We envision a church that equips people to know Christ personally and be transformed by the power of His Spirit and His Word. We dream of a church committed to authentic, biblical, Christ-centered community with other followers of Christ. We envision a church that awakens people to their God-given purpose and unleashes them to grow to their full capacity. We see a church that mentors and mobilizes emerging generations to create the future. We see a group of people who have a lifestyle of generosity and care about the lost in the city.
Our desire is to see the heart of God in every part of society: Business, government, education, arts/entertainment/media, medicine and the social sector, the church, and the family. We see a church that plants other churches. We see a church that plants Christian community in every corner of our city, especially where churches cannot go. (Bible clubs on campus, coffee shops, businesses, etc.) We dream of a follower of Jesus living in every apartment in Los Angeles. We see a church that is populating heaven and de-populating hell!
Where Jesus wept over the city, we will weep over the city. We will pray, invest, and pour into this city so that lives and generations will be forever changed by the love of Jesus Christ.
OUR MISSION
Building people to love God and their neighbor one day at a time.
Matthew 22:37-40—37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
We do this by Building up people to love God and love their neighbor in order to plant churches, start businesses, and equip people to fulfill the great commission. We’re going to live the purpose in making disciples and reaching the vision to see God’s heart everywhere by intentionally building people to love God and their neighbors through the hearing of the word, small groups, serving, giving, engaging with our community, and living out our faith.
In order to accomplish this, our goal is to Plant four churches in and around Los Angeles and LA county in the next ten years. We also desire to see students employable and college ready by tutoring them.
Our Beliefs
We are a church that wants to build disciples of Jesus who not only love God, but love their neighbor. We want to see Los Angeles transformed by God’s love. Here are certain things that we believe as a church. These are our essential beliefs.
The Bible
The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
- 2 Timothy 3:15-17 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV/NIV]
- 2 Peter 1:21 [KJV/NIV]
One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Deuteronomy 6:4 [KJV/NIV]
- Isaiah 43:10,11 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 28:19 [KJV/NIV]
- Luke 3:22 [KJV/NIV]
The Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His virgin birth,
- Matthew 1:23 [KJV/NIV]
- Luke 1:31 [KJV/NIV]
- Luke 1:35 [KJV/NIV]
His sinless life,
- Hebrews 7:26 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Peter 2:22 [KJV/NIV]
His miracles,
- Acts 2:22 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 10:38 [KJV/NIV]
His substitutionary work on the cross,
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 [KJV/NIV]
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 [KJV/NIV]
His bodily resurrection from the dead,
- Matthew 28:6 [KJV/NIV]
- Luke 24:39 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 15:4 [KJV/NIV]
His exaltation to the right hand of God.
- Acts 1:9 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 1:11 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 2:33 [KJV/NIV]
- Philippians 2:9-11 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 1:3 [KJV/NIV]
The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
- Genesis 1:26,27 [KJV/NIV]
- Genesis 2:17 [KJV/NIV]
- Genesis 3:6 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 5:12-19 [KJV/NIV]
The Salvation of Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Conditions to Salvation
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
- Luke 24:47 [KJV/NIV]
- John 3:3 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 10:13-15 [KJV/NIV]
- Ephesians 2:8 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 2:11 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 3:5-7 [KJV/NIV]
The Evidence of Salvation
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
- Romans 8:16 [KJV/NIV]
The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness.
- Ephesians 4:24 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 2:12 [KJV/NIV]
Ordinances of the Church
BAPTISM IN WATER
The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements --bread and the fruit of the vine-- is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4 [KJV/NIV]), a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26 [KJV/NIV]), and is enjoined on all believers "till He come!"
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
- Luke 24:49 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 1:4 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 1:8 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 [KJV/NIV]
This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
- Acts 8:12-17 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 10:44-46 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 11:14-16 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 15:7-9 [KJV/NIV]
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
- an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, John 7:37-39 [KJV/NIV], Acts 4:8 [KJV/NIV]
- a deepened reverence for God, Acts 2:43 [KJV/NIV], Hebrews 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
- an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]
- and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost, Mark 16:20 [KJV/NIV]
Speaking in Tongues
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
- Acts 2:4 [KJV/NIV]
The speaking in tongues in this instance is the same in essence as the gift of tongues, but is different in purpose and use.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
- Romans 12:1,2 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 13:12 [KJV/NIV]
The Scriptures teach a life of "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."
- Hebrews 12:14 [KJV/NIV]
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
- 1 Peter 1:15,16 [KJV/NIV]
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 6:1-11 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 6:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:1,2 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Galatians 2:20 [KJV/NIV]
- Philippians 2:12,13 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Peter 1:5 [KJV/NIV]
Mission to Make Disciples
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven.
- Ephesians 1:22,23 [KJV/NIV]
- Ephesians 2:22 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 12:23 [KJV/NIV]
Since God’s purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to be worshipped by man, to build a body of believers in the image of His Son, and to demonstrate His love and compassion for all the world, the priority reason for being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
- To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.
- Acts 1:8 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 28:19,20 [KJV/NIV]
- Mark 16:15,16 [KJV/NIV]
- To be a corporate body in which man may worship God.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 [KJV/NIV]
- To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
- Ephesians 4:11-16 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 [KJV/NIV]
- To be a people who demonstrate God’s love and compassion for all the world.
- Psalms 112:9 [KJV/NIV]
- Galatians 2:10; 6:10 [KJV/NIV]
- James 1:27 [KJV/NIV]
The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this reason for being in the New Testament apostolic pattern by teaching and encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This experience:
- Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with accompanying supernatural signs.
- Mark 16:15-20 [KJV/NIV]
- Acts 4:29-31 [KJV/NIV]
- Hebrews 2:3,4 [KJV/NIV]
- Adds a necessary dimension to worshipful relationship with God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 12 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 13 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 14 [KJV/NIV]
- Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in expression of fruit and gifts and ministries as in New Testament times for the edifying of the body of Christ and care for the poor and needy of the world.
- Galatians 5:22-26 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 25:37-40 [KJV/NIV]
- Galatians 6:10 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 [KJV/NIV]
- Ephesians 4:11,12 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 12:28 [KJV/NIV]
- Colossians 1:29 [KJV/NIV]
Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in:
Evangelization of the world
- Mark 16:15-20 [KJV/NIV]
Worship of God
- John 4:23,24 [KJV/NIV]
Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son
- Ephesians 4:11-16 [KJV/NIV]
Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.
- Psalms 112:9 [KJV/NIV]
- Galatians 2:10; 6:10 [KJV/NIV]
- James 1:27 [KJV/NIV]
Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
- Isaiah 53:4,5 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 8:16,17 [KJV/NIV]
- James 5:14-16 [KJV/NIV]
Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 8:23 [KJV/NIV]
- Titus 2:13 [KJV/NIV]
- 1 Corinthians 15:51,52 [KJV/NIV]
Millennial Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
- Zechariah 14:5 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 24:27 [KJV/NIV]
- Matthew 24:30 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 1:7 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 19:11-14 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 20:1-6 [KJV/NIV]
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel,
- Ezekiel 37:21,22 [KJV/NIV]
- Zephaniah 3:19,20 [KJV/NIV]
- Romans 11:26,27 [KJV/NIV]
and the establishment of universal peace.
- Isaiah 11:6-9 [KJV/NIV]
- Psalms 72:3-8 [KJV/NIV]
- Micah 4:3,4 [KJV/NIV]
Final Judgement
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
- Matthew 25:46 [KJV/NIV]
- Mark 9:43-48 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 19:20 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 20:11-15 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 21:8 [KJV/NIV]
New Heavens and Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."
- 2 Peter 3:13 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 21 [KJV/NIV]
- Revelation 22 [KJV/NIV]
Assemblies of God
The Heart LA is part of an amazing fellowship called the Assemblies of God. This cooperative fellowship was founded in 1914 in Hot Springs, Arkansas with 300 people at the founding convention. Today there are 13,017 churches in the U.S. with over 3 million members and adherents. What an amazing family we get to be part of.
To learn more about the AG, check out their website at https://ag.org/.