Get to Know Us
Our Story
We are all about lives being changed. Our dream is to empower you to live your best life now—rooted in faith, walking in purpose, and fully alive in Christ.
Carmel Church began with obedience. In 1998, Pastors Jerry and Tami McKinney followed God’s call to leave the Northwest and plant a church in San Diego. What started as “City Church” became a life-giving place where people feel loved, encouraged, and empowered to fulfill their God-given purpose.
In 2023, God spoke again, calling our pastors to rename the church Carmel, marking a new season of fruitfulness. As we step forward, we believe the years ahead will be filled with faith, momentum, and new territory taken for Jesus. Our mission remains clear: Love God. Love People. Live Generously. The vision is big—but our God is bigger.
Since 1998, thousands have encountered the tangible presence of God at Carmel Church. Over 10,000 people have come through our doors, and testimonies of healing and transformation continue—cancer gone, bodies healed, debts paid, and lives changed. Every week, people give their lives to Jesus, are baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. We believe we are living in a season of revival.
Our heart is to see you equipped and empowered, just as Ephesians 4:11–12 describes. In the days ahead, we will reach more campuses, see families saved, plant powerful churches, and boldly take more territory for Christ. Church, we are just getting started—and you are a vital part of what God is doing. The best days of Carmel Church are still ahead. If you are still looking for a home church, we’d invite you to make Carmel Church home. We all need a church family and we’d love you to be a part of ours.
Pastors Jerry & Tami McKinney
Our Mission is SimpleLove God
Love People
Live Generously
HOW DO WE LOVE GOD?
John 14:15 (NIV) - "If you love me, keep my commands."
The main way we love God is by connecting with Him in His house every week, hearing the messages from His Word and staying humble and teachable to follow His commands.
Love God
HOW DO WE LOVE PEOPLE IN OUR CHURCH?
Philippians 2:1-2 (MSG) - If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.
The main way we love is by making friendships in Groups. We believe deep-spirited friends are built around a lifetime commitment to a church family.The main way we love God is by connecting with Him in His house every week, hearing the messages from His Word and staying humble and teachable to follow His commands.
Love People
HOW DO WE LIVE GENEROUSLY?
Proverbs 11:25 (MSG) - The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
The main way we live generously is by consistently giving our tithes (10%) and offering to God and by meeting the needs of people in our church, community and around the church.
Live Generously
Carmel Church’s Dream
(why we exist)
Our dream is to empower you to live your best life now.
Our High 5 Values
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Passion for the Presence of God
— Every Sunday, our desire is to create an atmosphere of prayer, worship and preaching that makes it easy to experience the tangible presence of God. We believe that one encounter with the Holy Spirit can change you forever
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Making Disciples + Leaders
— Jesus said go make disciples and pray for laborers to help care for them. We are building a multi generational church of believers who are committed to follow Jesus and grow in our gifts and talents to help others become disciples too.
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Encouraging Daily Devotion
— We know that your best life starts by talking to God every morning in prayer and having your faith built by reading the Bible every day.
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Generosity Partnership
— The most exciting thing we can do is partner with God financially to change lives. As we give our tithes and offerings, children are fed, families restored and the good news of Jesus is sent throughout our city, onto school campuses and around the world.
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Friendship Focused
— We are committed to combat loneliness through encouraging and engaging in deep spirited friendships through small groups, serving together and season of life parties!
