Pastor — Chris & Angela Madsen
Chris Madsen became a Christian in 1980 at a Home Bible Study in Thousand Oaks Ca. Immediately he became very active in evangelism, joining a church which had just started called “Golden Gate Ministries.” Chris pioneered the “Young Adults ministry” at that church, primarily by bringing his friends to Christ and the church. In 1981, while in the Air National Guard, stationed at Keesler AFB in Mississippi, Chris founded the “Fishbowl Fellowship,” a weekly Bible study and Christian activities club for Air Force personnel.
After returning home from active duty Chris settled in with the Solid Rock Christian Center in Sylmar California, led by Pastor Joe Wells. While in his second year at college, Chris pioneered a youth group for the church and a daytime adult Bible study for night shift workers.
In 1983, Chris graduated from Los Angeles Mission College and married Angela Hernandez. They moved to Santa Clarita and became Youth Pastors at Calvary Crew Ministries in Newhall Ca., eventually becoming Assistant Pastors.
In 1985, Chris and Angela pioneered a new church, Lighthouse Christian Center in Saugus Ca., eventually moving to Canyon Country and becoming part of the Praise Chapel family of churches.
In 1987, Chris and Angela moved to Sun Valley to assist the growing Praise Chapel church in that city led by Pastor David Riggs. During this time Pastor Chris did the work of an Evangelist, preaching revivals in many of the baby churches planted by Pastor Riggs.
In 1988 Chris and Angela heard the call to come to Yuba City Ca., starting the church in a one room building located above a Café on Bridge Street. Praise Chapel grew and spread into other rooms until they just couldn’t fit any longer. The church then moved to the corner of Live Oak and Northgate in the old farm labor building. Outgrowing this facility 2 years later, the church again moved, this time to a run down Lutheran Church on Haynes Avenue. Disappointed in not being able to strike a deal with the pastor or congregation on buying the property, especially after all the effort and expense at restoring the facility, they heard of a church for sale on Orange Street. They church kept growing so we had to have double services, 9am and 11 am and on Sunday evenings we would rent House of Prayer Church on Garden Hwy.
In 1996 we just had too many people to continue on Orange Street, plus the Spanish church we had launched (Templo de Alabanza) was growing rapidly and needed more space. By the grace of God, we were able to purchase our current building at 398 Aylor Avenue in Yuba City along with the house next door and across the street. The two houses (“Hope House” and “Vision Home”) became a drug and rehabilitation center and a transitional home for the graduates of the rehab center. We also started a “Lord’s Gym” after school program during this time.
In 2007 we merged our church with Victory Christian Fellowship. I felt that God had given me a word that “together we could accomplish more.” In May, with much anticipation, excitement and unity, “Fusion Christian Fellowship was launched.” We moved to the building they were renting on Garden Hwy. (The same one we had rented years before.) closed the Hope House and the Vision House, and leased the Aylor property to another church.
In July of 2009, we “revived” Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship of Yuba City. We continued meeting at Garden Hwy, until September of that year when we hosted a tent revival on the empty lot next to our church to let the community know Praise Chapel was back! During this time, the church we were leasing to, informed us they wanted out of the lease. We were now clear to return back to the building we used to meet in!
Since then, we have seen our church growing and reaching out, but more importantly, reaching in and reaching over to our fellow members. Praise Chapel is a very loving and caring congregation, a place to make lifelong friendships.
As we continue to grow, we invite you to be a part of the plan that God has for Praise Chapel.