The Anchor Gaslamp is a Christian community in downtown San Diego, California. It is missional in intent and incarnational in practice. Since the first gathering on Easter Sunday in 2008 the group has sought to attract a diverse congregation.

Gatherings

Anchor Gaslamp meets on the first and third Sundays of the month in a nightclub in the heart of downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. The nightclub is called Minus-1 (part of The Keating Hotel located on the corner of 5th & F St.). On the other Sundays, the Community joins together for Anchor in Action which are mission-driven events all over the city, with the sole purpose of "not just going to church, but being the church." These Sundays have ranged in activities from homeless barbecues to delivering truckloads of donated goods to orphanages and women's recovery homes in Baja California.

The larger community is made up of other smaller communities that meet throughout the week. All other meetings, services, or mission-events are derived out of these communities. Their Little Italy Community meets at Princess Pub (on the corner of India & Date Streets) on Tuesday nights. The Gaslamp Community comes together on Wednesdays at the Starbucks (on 5th & F).

History

The Church began as a church planting project of The Anchor Church, formerly Revival Tabernacle, located in the Oak Park area of San Diego. It was initially established as a Bible study group under the direction of Pastors Karlton Edison and Vince Larson in 2007. During this time the group met in the Downtown San Diego area, in locations which varied from restaurants to hotels to coffee houses until its first Sunday Gathering in a nightclub on Easter Sunday, 2008.

Anchor Gaslamp is a nondenominational church, whose doctrinal view is in alignment with the Nicene Creed.

Leadership

For the sake of accountability and authenticity, Anchor Gaslamp adapted a Biblically-based eldership model. The two founding pastors are Karlton Edison and Vince Larson, both Pentecostal ministers in their 20s.

Karlton Edison, a native San Diegan, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Christian Life College in 2004. Since then he has attended Bethel Theological Seminary (The San Diego-based campus of Bethel University), working toward a Master’s Degree in Theology. After receiving his ministerial license in January, 2007, Edison joined the United States Air Force as a lieutenant, and plans to become a licensed chaplain as soon as his Master’s Program is completed.

Vince and Nancy Larson have been married for seven years and have served as Administrative Pastor and assistant for three years at a large church in town. After founding Anchor Gaslamp, Vince Larson began teaching high school at a local private school as a day job. Vince received his ministerial license in January 2007, and is enrolled at a local college where he is working towards a double major in Psychology and Communications. Larson was described by the San Diego Reader as "looking every inch the hipster".

References

External links

• Anchor Gaslamp Website
• Anchor Gaslamp Podcast
• Anchor Gaslamp Blog
• Yelp User Reviews