On December 26, 1965 at 2:30 pm, 85 people joined together to form Temple Baptist Church. They met in a dancehall downtown with bright pink doors until they later found a 7th Day Adventist Church in the downtown area. From 1966 to 1979, the church was blessed as they purchased property at 222 34th Street for $20,000, and during 1967-1968, the first building was built, which was dedicated on May 18, 1969. Second and third buildings were built in 1977. A large, white cross was donated and placed on the 34th Street property by Ed Green in 1969 and was moved in 1982 by Guinn Construction to the Rosedale location where it still stands today.

The church also had softball, bowling, and basketball leagues, which were great outreaches for our Lord Jesus Christ.

A new church organ was donated by Gladys West and John and Helen BlackhawkThe church paper Rosedale Reporter was printed once a week. The church had a 23 member choir and a 9 member handbell choir led by Charles Bethell. Our pianists were Margaret Bounds and Deborah Noble. Organists were Nona Bethel and Pat Aycock. Sound system workers through the years were Ron Dill, Tom Dill, Richard Crabtree, Tim Guinn, Frank Whitson, Kyle Hogg, and David Bethell. Now serving the sound system are Andy Hogg, Blain Grant, and Justin Eccleston. (As of 2024 it is Andy Hogg, Justin Eccleston, and Ben Fast.

The church voted to change its name from Temple Baptist Church to First Baptist Church of Rosedale, Bakersfield California on June 5, 1988. The name was changed to Rosedale Baptist Church in 2001. WMU (Women Missionary Union) were very active in many different outreach areas. They had a fashion show where the ladies wore their wedding dresses, a tea with a cookbook having the favorite recipes of the members, but most of all, a dedication to pray for our missionaries all over the world, which was their number one project. Our church had a special offering twice a year for missions: Annie Armstrong at Easter and Lottie Moon at Christmas. With the generosity of our members, our goals were always met. To God be the glory.

A beautiful grand piano was donated by Gary and Jan Dill and Tony and Stacy Hogg.

Brad Aycock took on the duties of painting the church buildings. The gym continued to serve as the worship center and was remodeled with new paint, new lighting, lowered ceilings, and insulation. Our annual harvest festival began in October 2001. The people in our community were invited for fun and games as an alternative to “trick-or-treating”. Hot dogs, sodas, popcorn, cotton candy, and desserts were served. There were lots of game booths, a petting zoo, and a bounce house for all the children. On November 2005 the church voted to change the church’s name from Rosedale Baptist Church to Crossover Church of Rosedale. The church voted to build a much needed sanctuary in 2007. The members were excited after meeting in the gym for all those years. During construction of the new sanctuary on Easter Sunday, March 2010, the congregation wrote their favorite scriptures on the unfinished walls of the sanctuary. The wallboard was installed over the written scriptures.

• In January 1966, Brother Charles LoCicero was called to serve as interim pastor while the church sought God’s leadership for a permanent pastor.
• WMU (Women Missionary Union) was formed with Margaret Bounds presiding as president. 
• October 9, 1966, Brother William Few was called as the first pastor and served until April 1979 (12 ½ years). Brother Few felt a special calling for the homeless in downtown Bakersfield. He resigned from the church and started a homeless ministry feeding homeless people every night during the worship service. He started a Christian newspaper called the Kern Herald.
• Carolyn Cable was the church secretary.  
• A deaf ministry led by Joyce Gonzales was established with 20 plus members meeting every Sunday during the worship service. Many of the children learned sign language, and one is signing today for the court system in her city. 
• Ira Bownds was our only deacon at that time until Wayne Lowe became a member in 1972.
• Charles Bethel was called as minister of music in 1973, where he served for 29 years until 2001. 
• Doris Dorsey and Jan Dill were the church secretaries during that time.  
• Randy Bennett was the interim pastor while the pulpit search committee, which consisted of Gary Dill, Wayne Lowe, Ira Bounds, and Virginia Guinn, searched for our new pastor.
• Dale Aycock was called as pastor on January 1980, and began his pastoral duties on February 10, 1980. He served 20 years before retiring. 
• In 1982, the church ordained as Deacons Brother Ted Hart, Brother Gary Dill and Brother Bill Wyler with a reception following. 
• Norm Aycock was called as pastor on April 15, 2001. He served 17 years before retiring. During that time many exciting things were happening. People were being saved, which is always a blessing from God and for our church. 
• Brian Alexander and Ron Cook were ordained as deacons on March 29, 2015. Pastor Norm and Gary Dill, along with missionary Randy Bennett, conducted the service. 
• Kyle Hogg was called as the new pastor on September 1, 2018. He got off to a running start. The gym was remodeled, old gymnasium restrooms were completely restored, the fellowship hall remodeled, and refrigeration units were installed in the classrooms. Attendance has increased, and there are many, many new families attending.

‘I was glad when they said unto me; Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Psalm 122:1 KJV



Thanks to the following for their input into this Church history:

Jan Dill
Becki Whitson
Ron Cook
Norm Aycock
Linda Goad
Lou Stoker
Kelly Alexander
Ron Dill
Tom Dill
Terry Tripp
Becky Bownds Ackerson
Virginia Guinn