'Outlaw church' thrives at local winery

Finally, local churches are re-opening for congregants to meet in person on Sundays. On April 13, the state lifted its mandatory COVID 19 restrictions. It suggests 25% capacity, but it is no longer required. This followed a court decision that also said churches could reopen.

During the past year, while area churches met online for their weekly worship events, Fallbrook Vineyard Church has thrived.

The meetings were started by Dave and Stephani Baxter, who said the church is based on the book of Acts.

"Dave and a few of his music friends have a great time doing the music," Stephani said. "We all have a 'good time in the sunshine.'"

The church meets outdoors on Sundays at 10 a.m. at The Vineyard 1924, a winery at 1924 E. Mission Road.

"We are normal people who love to fellowship," Dave said. "The Holy Spirit never said, 'Go and find a senior pastor.' We have different speakers and pastors come to teach."

Dave is an engineer and Stephani grows flowers. They are also the church worship leaders.

"We began meeting on Mother's Day 2020 because there were no live Sunday services in town," explained Stephani. "So, we decided to do our own gathering. We thought it would be for only a couple weeks, but it has continued to grow, and we don't see it stopping."

Attendance averages 150 to 250 people now, with a high of 450 on Easter Sunday.

"We are not pastors. We are just ordinary folks who love Jesus and our community," Stephani added. "Dave and I schedule the speakers, pull the music and band together, and organize the gathering. It's definitely a collective work from many volunteers."

Some people call the meetings an "outlaw church" – for not following COVID 19 rules – but the Baxters said it's apparent people attending are loving the freedom; very few people wear masks and there is joy as they celebrate Jesus, and the pray for one other with a strong faith. They believe in healing and lay hands on the sick, they added.

The church is different from traditional churches not only in meeting outdoors, but also in that it is not incorporated, and they don't take an offering.

"We've had people wanting to give us an offering, but we have a list of nonprofits that we recommend, including the Fallbrook Food Pantry," Stephani explained.

The church gathers in the outside meeting area of the winery. People bring their own chair, hat, umbrella or pop-up canopy – and sunscreen. Yes, it gets hot sometimes, but there are tentative plans to move the services to an area where people can have shade from olive trees on the private property.

Stephanie said the best way to find more information is through Instagram or to just show up, Sunday mornings at 10.

She said the group is very patriotic, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before each gathering. Members pray for local, state and national leaders, and speakers share biblical truths about social and political issues.

"Our main focus is God," Stephani said.

With other churches returning to indoor services, the Vineyard could see a drop in attendance if people return to their previous fellowship.

"We don't know what will happen," Stephani said, "but they found freedom here and seem to love it."

"What I like to say," Dave said, "is that the church has left the building."