The City Church was born in January of 1999 in the living room of Pastor Rocky and Jean Tannehill's home with twenty-one people. The common bond of those present that day, was the desire to put Jesus Christ first in everything and to represent Him faithfully in the region. In the years since then The City Church has been pursuing Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul and mind, and loving people with God’s amazing love.

Since that Sunday in January 1999, we have had several temporary locations which have provided the church with a home base spanning Grover Beach, Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. In January of 2007 The City Church made a down payment to purchase a five acre parcel located on Highway 101 between Arroyo Grande and Nipomo. After a year of miracle financial breakthrough we will have paid off the land as of January 1, 2008! The new permanent facility is designed to accommodate a growing and cutting-edge church. Plans to build the 29,000 square foot facility with classrooms and a sanctuary that will seat 700 are in progress.

After Pastoring The City Church of the Central Coast for five years, Pastor’s Rocky and Jean felt the Holy Spirit direct them to relocate back to Seattle and once again be a part of The City Church there. They asked Pastor’s Bruce and Cindy Black, who were close relatives, to come and be pastors.  Bruce and Cindy had traveled extensively around the world for many years and successfully pastored a church in Florida for several years. Bruce and Cindy faithfully Pastored The City Church for eighteen months but after much prayer and feeling the leading of God, Pastor Bruce and Cindy left The City Church to continue following after God's plan for them.

In February of 2006 Pastor Wendell Smith, senior pastor of The City Church Seattle asked Pastor’s Fred and Pam Kropp to come and pastor the church.  In June 2006 he appointed them the permanent pastors with the enthusiastic approval of the congregation. Pastors Fred and Pam have been in full time ministry for 27 years.  They pastored Church on the Rock in Missouri for thirteen years after which Pastor Fred traveled doing seminars in churches around the US for five years.  They then served as mission pastors at The City Church in Seattle for seven years ministering in over 30 different countries.  The City Church Central Coast has nearly tripled in size in less than two years since Pastor’s Fred and Pam have come. 

The City Church Central Coast functions in affiliation with The City Church in Seattle, which has a six thousand-plus member congregation. The City Church Central Coast is a part of The City Church Network.  This is a network of churches that look to Pastor Wendell Smith for oversight, covering and accountability.  Pastor’s Fred and Pam are also members of Ministers Fellowship International (MFI) a fellowship of several thousand pastors, itinerant ministers and missionaries which is based out of City Bible Church in Portland, Oregon.