The idea of the establishment of a new congregation was conceived in the hearts of the Westside Church of Christ, 25631 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California in 1959. The Westside congregation, until about 1950, had been of predominantly Japanese ancestry. Christians of other races were welcomed there and worshipped in harmony during the 1950s. Around 1959 and early 1960, some of the non-Japanese members began to envision a multi-racial congregation for the Crenshaw community.

Daniel Davis and his wife, Judy, along with Philip and Lois Wall, Ervin and Kay Bishop and Martha Lewis and others from the Vermont Avenue congregation met with interested members of the Westside congregation and made plans for the new work. The Crenshaw Community Center building, 3820 Santa Rosalia Drive, was selected as a meeting place. Worship services began there on Sunday, November 5, 1961.