The Beginning...

First Service: August 1992
Where: Lombardi Middle School
Attendance: 116 people

Founding Pastor...

For over 40 years, Pastor Arni and Jan Jacobson have answered the Lord's call to ministry. Pastor and Jan attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He received a BA in Bible and Theology. Jan received a BA in Christian Education with a minor in music.

They embarked on their journey for the Lord as Youth Pastors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Columbus, Georgia, and Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1973 they became Senior Pastors in Merrill, Wisconsin. In 1982 the Lord directed Pastor and Jan to Salt Lake City, Utah. God prospered their ministry in the midst of Utah's Mormon stronghold. This church of one hundred became a thriving home for thirteen hundred attendees. In 1987, Pastor and Jan traveled to accept a call to People's Church, a church of one thousand members in Salem, Oregon. For the next five years their faithfulness and fortitude brought growth to People's Church. Ultimately, the church grew to attendance of 2,500 people.

During the time of life when most people are settled and prospering, possibly even looking forward to building up a retirement account, God called the Jacobson's to start a church in Green Bay. For five years they prayed, planned, and obeyed. As Pastor Arni and Jan drove around the Green Bay area, their hearts wept for the people and God confirmed their vision. Leaving a successful ministry and a large church, they obeyed God and came to Green Bay to start Bayside Christian Fellowship.

In August of 1992, Pastor Jacobson, along with three of his staff and their children, birthed Bayside Christian Fellowship at Lombardi Middle School. At that first service, 116 people were in attendance. In the spring of 1994, they moved to the present site on Humboldt Road, now known as Celebration Church - Bayside.

Arni and Jan now reside in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Arni serves as the Co-Founding and Lead Pastor at City Church Live. They have two beautiful children, and two grandchildren. The eldest, Chad along with his wife Amanda, has followed in his father's footsteps and serves as the Co-Founding and Senior Pastor at City Church Live. Brooke, their daughter, is married to Josh Pierce and they serve as the Music Pastor and Youth Pastor at City Church Live.