Our Mission

Becoming a community of authentic Christ-followers, compelled to change our world.

Our Vision

Every neighborhood in the Inland Empire reached with the hope of Jesus.

Giving Report

Weekly Giving: $18,234
Year to Date Giving: $18,234
Year to Date Budget: $10,350
Year to Date Net: +$7,888

Updated: July 14, 2026
Please note: Our giving totals are updated weekly, but our budget and expense reporting typically runs about six weeks behind. This allows time for invoices, receipts, payroll, and ministry expenses to be fully processed and reconciled before we report them. Year to date measured by our fiscal year: July-June.

What We Believe

  • We believe there is one living and true God who, in essence, while eternally existing, is three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all having the same nature, attributes, and perfections.

    (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 2:13, 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

  • God the Father is the creator of the universe and is a personal God who desires a relationship with all people. He is a supernatural being who has always existed. He is the ruler of all creation who also hears and answers prayer. He is perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love.
    (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 89:26; Isaiah 9:6; John 6:27, 45-46; I Corinthians 8:6; II Corinthians 1:3; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 5:20; Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 2:13, 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

  • Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. We believe in His conception by the Holy Spirit, virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, teachings, and that He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on the cross. He rose from the dead on the third day to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven and will return again to earth to reign as Lord and King.

    (Ephesians 4:1-8; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; I John 5:20; Isaiah 53:3-12)

  • The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right.

    (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26, 16:7-14; Galatians 5:18, 22-25; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 6:19-20)

  • The Bible is God’s Word to all people, written by human authors through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the foundational source of truth and authority for all Christian beliefs and living. God inspires it without error.

    (John 17:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 30:5)

  • The true Church is composed of all people who trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Believers are united together in the “Body of Christ,” of which Jesus is the head. Friends Church is a group of believers who have organized themselves for doing the work of God’s ministry. Our church is responsible to provide opportunities for fellowship, growth, teaching, and serving by using one’s spiritual gifts as given by the Holy Spirit.

    (Romans 12:5; I Corinthians 12:12-28; Ephesians 3:6, 4:11-16, 5:23)

    (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 12:29; John 1:14; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 2:13, 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)

  • At the moment we become Christians we are baptized into the Body of Christ, and this spiritual baptism is completely sufficient for the believer.

    (Mark 1:8; Ephesians 4:4-6; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12; Luke 3:16; I Peter 3:21)

    The physical act of water baptism by immersion after accepting Christ as personal Lord and Savior is not needed for salvation or spiritual standing, but is a person’s testimony of death to sin, and resurrection to a new life in Christ.

    (Acts 2:28, 8:12, 16, 36-39, 10:47; Matthew 28:16-20)

  • Our relationship to God as believers provides us with the privilege of moment-by-moment communion with God. It is this silent communion of our spirit with the Spirit of God that is essential to our continued walk with Him.

    (John 6:33, 48, 51, 14:16; Romans 8:11; Ephesians 3:14-17a; II Corinthians 13:5; Revelations 3:20)

    The “Lord’s Supper” is a time of remembering the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and for examining one’s life. The taking of the elements does not result in spiritual benefit, but provides the believer with a physical method of remembrance in a scripturally approved manner.

    (I Corinthians 11:23-28, 10:16-17; Luke 22:17-20)

Now Hiring our next Kid’s Director. Apply Today!

Staff Leadership

Aaron Ophaug | Lead Pastor of Friends Church Inland

  • Aaron has been serving as a full time pastor for 17 years in a variety of roles. As the founding pastor of the church, Aaron is passionate about helping people take their next steps with Jesus, creating space for life changing conversations, and teaching the Bible in relevant ways.  In his free time, Aaron enjoys a good cup of coffee with friends, running in the hills, Minnesota and Boston sports, and his aussie-doodle.  He is married and has two kids. 

Patty Santos | Community Pastor of Friends Church Inland

  • Patty is passionate about helping people discover her identity in Jesus and live out her faith daily. With 20 years in pastoral ministry, she has led kids ministries, spoken at women’s conferences, directed youth camps, written curriculum, led worship, and even played a recurring character in a kids ministry series. Married for 25 years with two energetic teenage daughters, Patty also enjoys coaching girls volleyball, helping young athletes grow in purpose, resiliency, and confidence in who they are designed to be.

Kim Harp | Student Director & Campus Coordinator of Friends Church Inland

  • Kim is passionate about helping the next generation build a faith that is real, rooted in Scripture, and lived out in everyday life. She loves walking with students and young adults as they ask honest questions, open God’s Word, and learn what it looks like to truly follow Jesus. Kim has been married for 22 years, is the mom of two teenagers, and loves a good cup of coffee after a long hike or pickleball game. 

  • Help us build the church as our Kid’s Director. Apply Today!

  • Chase leads our worship ministry with a deep love for the local church and a passion for helping people connect with God through authentic, Spirit-led worship. He brings both musical gifting and a shepherd's heart to everything he does, and believes music is one of the most powerful ways a community can encounter Jesus together.

Shepherding Elders

Shepherding Elders serve the church by providing spiritual oversight, teaching God’s Word faithfully, and leading by example in godly character and service (1 Tim. 3). As Scripture says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be” (1 Peter 5:2, NIV).

  • Brad serves as one of our shepherding elders. He and his wife Krista lead a families small group. Krista also leads a moms with littles group and they serve in our kids ministry.

  • Matt serves on the teaching team as well as a shepherding elder. He and his wife Anita have four children and love Disneyland!