SD. Church appears in March edition of 'Sheep and Goats'

SD. Church, a Christian congregation at Black Mountain Road, is part of San Diego Reader’s March edition of Sheep and Goats. (Photo by Megan Ellis from Unsplash)

SD. Church is featured in the March edition of San Diego Reader’s Sheep and Goats. The publication interviewed the church’s pastor, Joseph Silipo.

SD. Church

SD. Church is a Christian congregation located at 13223-1 Black Mountain Rd., Suite 433 in San Diego.

With a membership of 1100, the church is led by Silipo, who has been ordained for 39 years. 

Silipo was born in Pittsburgh and received his formation at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. 

At 62 years of age, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the church. 

Silipo stated that he initially intended to become a Catholic priest, but his life experiences and personal journey led him on a different path. 

Despite having a "wild side," he obtained a degree in information systems and achieved success in the field. 

However, Silipo stated that was when he realized that he wanted to pursue a career that would have a lasting impact on people's lives, rather than one that has a short-term effect.

Although there wasn't a specific moment that marked his calling to ministry, he felt drawn to it during his college years and desired to make a significant difference in the lives of others and their families.

According to Silipo, the church has five campuses.

These are located in North San Marcos, Pomerado, Coastal San Diego, Mission-San Diego, and South Point National City.

He also stated that the church strives to maintain group sizes of 100-300 people on Sundays. 

However, there are also smaller groups within those larger groups consisting of 5-15 people. 

The smaller groups are designed to cater to the life stages of those involved, and the church aims to provide the best possible support for them. 

According to Silipo, the church values both dynamic worship experiences and a sense of community, which is why they maintain smaller groups within their five campuses. 

It allows them to connect more intimately with their members and to identify where each person can best serve and contribute.

Love for God, People

Silipo stated that the mission of their church can be summed up as "loving God and loving people." 

In relation, to love God and love people, which is the simplicity of Christianity, is Silipo’s favorite message to preach.

He stated that the essence of Christianity is its simplicity, as demonstrated by John 13:34-35, which emphasizes the importance of loving God and loving people. This simple message provides a way to connect with both God and the community. 

The central focus was on building personal relationships with God and with people, which was the most significant component of their faith. 

Silipo stated that he admires how Jesus was able to help the early disciples understand this message without getting caught up in religious formalities. 

That said, despite the many ways of looking at things, Silipo stated that he prefers the simplicity of this message, which he believes is key to understanding Christianity.

Eternity with God

Another aspect of Christianity that was tackled in the San Diego Reader’s interview with Silipo is the belief in eternity with God, a heaven, and a hell.

Silipo admits that he does not know what the places look like nor what the future holds. 

However, he believes that Ecclesiastes teaches that God has prepared a place of eternity in the hearts of people. 

He believes that there is something unique about humans that sets them apart from animals such as bears, tigers, and coyotes. 

With this, Silipo acknowledges that there is something beyond this world, but he cannot comprehend what it is, as the Bible states that no man can understand what God has in store for those who love Him. 

And so, he trusts in the scripture and believes that the Word of God will ultimately judge everyone. 

Silipo stated that he is at peace with the unknowns and recognizes that it is ultimately God's business. 

However, he also stated that those who follow the Word of God would be with Him for eternity.

 

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