A Story of Faith, Prayer, and God’s Faithfulness
In January of 2022, God began working on Pastor Diaz’s heart about starting a church.
Starting a church was never something he had planned to do. Throughout his years in Bible college and early ministry, several pastors had encouraged him to consider planting a church. His response was always the same: Why would I start a new church when there are churches with pews and people, but no pastor? His heart had always been toward revitalizing an existing church.
But in January of 2022, God began changing his heart.
Pastor Diaz shared what God was doing with his wife, Vy, and she was immediately on board. Together, they began praying about where God would have them go. For the next year and a half, they prayed, searched, and sought godly counsel. They considered places around the world, including the Philippines and Ghana, as well as different states and cities throughout the United States.
They did not know where God would lead them. They simply knew they needed to follow.
Stepping Out by Faith
On June 2, 2023, Pastor Diaz and his family—with two young children and another baby on the way—packed their belongings into a POD, sold their home in Arizona, and stepped out by faith on a journey to find the place where God wanted them to start a church.
Along the way, Pastor Diaz had been talking with one of his best friends, Prince Weah-Weah, whom he had asked to join him in planting the church. By faith, Prince left his job in Florida, where he had been working with young people and teaching in a Christian school, and joined the Diaz family on their journey.
Their first stop was Philadelphia.
They spent approximately two weeks surveying the area, praying, and asking God whether Philadelphia was where He wanted them to plant a church.
From there, they traveled to New York City, visiting areas such as Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Again, they prayed and searched for God’s direction.
Next came Miami, Florida, where they spent approximately another two weeks surveying the area.
But still, there was no peace that they had found the place.
They had prayed. They had searched. They had discussed it together. Yet God had not made His direction clear.
So they headed west—to California.
Two Men and a Beginning
After nearly a week of traveling across the country with two children under three and a pregnant wife, the Diaz family arrived in Southern California.
For the next several days, Pastor Diaz and Brother Prince drove throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties, praying and searching for the place where God wanted them.
Then, one Saturday afternoon, they decided to stop searching for a moment and simply go soulwinning.
While knocking doors, Pastor Diaz met a young man named Omar. He began talking with Omar about whether he knew for certain that he was on his way to Heaven. That afternoon, Omar trusted Christ as his Saviour.
Before Pastor Diaz left, Omar asked him a question:
“Can you come back and talk to my brother?”
Pastor Diaz agreed.
The following Thursday, Pastor Diaz and Brother Prince returned to Omar’s home and met his brother, Ever. That evening, Ever also trusted Christ as his Saviour.
As Pastor Diaz and Brother Prince walked away from the house that night, Brother Prince looked at him and said:
“Well, we now have a church.”
Pastor Diaz replied:
“You’re right.”
But they still wanted to be certain this was where God wanted them.
That Friday night, Pastor Diaz and Brother Prince drove through parts of Los Angeles. Their hearts were broken by what they saw and by the tremendous spiritual need represented by the millions of people around them.
They continued praying throughout the weekend.
Then, the following Tuesday, the decision was made:
They were staying in California.
And they have been here ever since.
God Provides a Home
Now they knew where they were supposed to be—but there was another problem.
They needed somewhere to live, and they needed somewhere for the future church to meet.
They believed that since Omar and Ever were the first two people they had seen saved and were now studying the Bible with, they should establish themselves in that area. For approximately two weeks, they drove throughout the surrounding communities searching for a home.
Eventually, they found one they wanted to purchase.
There was just one problem: they could not get a bank to finance it.
But God was already working.
The family selling the house was Christian and wanted their home to go to a Christian family. When their realtor explained that the Diaz family had moved to California to start a church, the sellers wanted to help make it possible.
When traditional financing would not work, the sellers agreed to finance the home themselves at 0% interest.
For the Diaz family, it was another unmistakable reminder that the God who had led them to California was also able to provide for them once they arrived.
They had stepped out by faith, and God continued to open doors.
God Provides a Meeting Place
At the same time, they were searching for somewhere the future church could meet.
They contacted many different properties looking for a place they could rent. Eventually, Pastor Diaz walked into a property in Fullerton and spoke with the secretary about the possibility of renting space for a new church.
A door opened.
That became Cornerstone’s meeting place—and it remains the church’s home today.
During those early days, Pastor Diaz and his family, Brother Prince, and Prince’s brother Talbalh were all living together in that three-bedroom house.
It was crowded. The future was uncertain. The church was small.
But God was faithful.
From a Bible Study to a Church
They began knocking doors, sharing the Gospel, meeting people, and holding Bible studies.
In October of 2023, Cornerstone held its first Thursday night Bible study with 12 adults.
Then, in November of 2023, they began holding preview services on Sunday mornings.
Week after week, they continued reaching people, preaching the Bible, and preparing for the official beginning of the church.
Then came March 31, 2024.
Cornerstone Baptist Church held its Grand Opening, and 143 people from the area attended.
What had begun with prayer in January of 2022 had become a congregation in Southern California.
But God was not finished.
Reaching Our Spanish-Speaking Community
From the beginning, the burden was not simply to build a church, but to reach people with the Gospel.
As God continued to grow Cornerstone, He opened another door to reach the Spanish-speaking community surrounding the church.
On March 29, 2025, Cornerstone began its Spanish ministry.
Now, through both English and Spanish ministries, the Gospel could continue going forward to even more families throughout the community.
Becoming Cornerstone Baptist Church
Then came another historic day.
On September 21, 2025, Cornerstone held its Charter Service.
On that day, Cornerstone Baptist Church officially became an established church.
Looking back, the story of Cornerstone is not simply the story of a pastor, a family, or a group of people who decided to start a church.
It is a story of God’s faithfulness.
From a burden placed on a pastor’s heart…
To selling a home and leaving Arizona without knowing exactly where God would lead…
From Philadelphia to New York City, Miami, and finally Southern California…
From Omar and Ever trusting Christ…
To a home miraculously financed at 0% interest…
From 12 adults gathering for Bible study…
To 143 people attending Grand Opening Sunday…
From the beginning of the Spanish ministry…
To officially becoming Cornerstone Baptist Church…
God has been faithful every step of the way.
And the most exciting part of our story is this:
The story is still being written.
We believe the greatest days of Cornerstone Baptist Church are still ahead. There are still people who need to hear the Gospel, families who need a church home, Christians who need to grow in their faith, and a community that needs the hope found in Jesus Christ.
God has done more than we could have imagined.
And we would love for you to be a part of what He is doing next.
