10 Questions with Michael and Taylor Sciarra
Michael
Q: Tell us who you are. Where did you come from, and how did you end up at Grace Rancho?
A: My name is Michael Sciarra. Husband to my wonderful wife Taylor. Father to four amazing kids: Ezra (7), Piper (5), Asher (3), and Eli (1). My wife and I both grew up at Grace Church of Orange where my dad serves as the pastor. Several months after getting married in 2017 and having served on staff as an intern at Grace Orange we heard of the revitalization taking place in Rancho, the Lord stirred in our hearts a desire to participate in the work and provided the opportunity to be sent by Grace Orange to serve as a pastoral assistant at Grace Rancho. We couldn’t be more thankful for the last 8 years here!
Q: How did God save you, and how has he shaped you here?
A: I grew up in church as the son of a pastor. Often hearing the Gospel and loving being at church. But it wasn’t until 8th grade that the Lord opened my eyes to the depth of my sin and the greatness of His mercy in Christ. I don’t remember an exact moment, but I do remember the change – in my thinking, desires, motivations, and living. I praise God for His mercy in Christ each day.
Q: What is La Sierra Baptist Church, and what does it mean for a church to need revitalization?
A: La Sierra Baptist Church is a southern baptist church that began in the 1960s. It’s gone through varying seasons of health throughout its history but has all the while remained a church holding fast to the true Gospel of Christ. In more recent years, the church has needed revitalization help due to a declining membership and need of leadership support. A church needs revitalization when it is unclear whether it will be able to continue on with faithful Gospel ministry on its own.
Q: How did this door open? Walk us through how you went from Grace Rancho staff to sent worker.
This door generally opened when La Sierra Baptist Church’s leadership reached out to the leaders of Grace Orange and asked for help with revitalizing them. My family and I came into the picture when I was asked to help fill preaching, and committed to preaching their once a month at the beginning of this year. The Lord then began to work in our hearts in a variety of ways – encouragement from our elders, interest from the elders of Grace Orange, and through humbling us – to draw us to La Sierra Baptist Church. We began January of 2026 saying “I don’t think moving to Riverside is in the cards for us.” And ended the month saying, “Riverside seems inevitable; this is something the Lord is doing and is drawing us into.”
From a big picture perspective, the Lord has been preparing us for this work for the last decade. Especially the last 8 years at Grace Rancho. We have been poured into, encouraged, built up, trained and equipped for ministry by our leaders and our church family. Our elders were instrumental in encouraging us towards this work and offering their prayers and support, without which we could not have said “yes” to this opportunity.
Q: What is Grace Church of Orange's role in this revitalization?
A: Grace Church of Orange is formally leading this church revitalization. La Sierra Baptist Church reached out to them throughout 2025 for help, and the two churches formalized a revitalization partnership in the Fall of 2025. Two Grace Orange elders are involved as “transitional elders” for La Sierra Baptist Church, and are active in the church on a weekly basis. I’m thankful for their wisdom, support, and practical help.
Q: What is the hardest part of saying yes to this?
A: Leaving our church family that we love dearly, and which has loved us so well. Moving away from some of our dearest friendships – both for us and our children. Taking a big leap of faith and entrusting ourselves and our future to the Lord in ways we haven’t before. It’s all truly bitter-sweet, but we trust it is filled with the Lord’s blessing.
Q: What do you want Grace Rancho to understand about what they are doing by sending you?
A: Grace Rancho – by way of your prayers, financial support, and personal investment in us you are furthering the mission of the church at La Sierra Baptist Church. Your sending brings you into the effort with us, where we see you as “gospel partners” (Phil. 1:5) who are integral to the work the Lord is doing at La Sierra Baptist. We need you: your prayers, your visits, and your encouragement. You are an integral part of the ministry the Lord has for us.
Q: What would you say to someone in the church who wonders if God might be leading them to something similar?
A: Wondering if the Lord is leading them to La Sierra Baptist? I’d say “Yes, of course He is! Come on board!” ;) Generally, the most important thing you can do when assessing ministry opportunities is invite wise counsel into your life (especially your elders!), and devote yourself to God’s Word and prayer. Those things will work most effectively to help you discern where God would lead you in all of life.
Q: How can Grace Rancho be praying for you and Taylor specifically?
A: Pray for our holiness – that God would increase our sight of His glory and sanctify us by his word. Pray for our marriage – that we would prioritize it and the Lord would use it as a conduit of grace in our lives and the lives of others. Pray for our kids – that they would come to know the Lord and learn to love the church in new ways during this season. Pray for the church – that Christ’s Gospel would be central, that we’d be unified in truth and spurred on in love, and that the Lord would provide the growth (both in depth and breadth) that the church needs.
Q: What has Grace Rancho given you that you are taking with you to La Sierra?
A: We’re taking with us an example of how God can raise up dying churches for His glory. We’re bringing a settled conviction that the primary way God builds His church is through His Word. We’re being sent with a biblical model of a healthy church that we desire to see replicated. And we’re leaving with a deep sense of gratitude for all the ways the Lord has blessed us these last 8 years.
Taylor
Q: Introduce yourself to anyone who might not know you well. Who is Taylor Sciarra?
A: Hi! I’m Taylor Sciarra! I’m Married to Michael Sciarra and together we have four kiddos ages 7 to 1. I’m blessed to be home with our kids during the day, so in between homeschooling we love being out and about on any kind of adventure or just spending time outdoors!
Q: When Michael first brought this up, what was your honest reaction?
A: When the idea of revitalizing a church in Riverside came up, my first reaction was “I don’t think that’s where the Lord wants us”. It didn’t make sense logistically, in my finite mind. We owned a house here, why would we move half an hour away? I thought we would end up either local enough not to sell our home or we would move out of state.
Q: How was God working in you as you prayed and considered this opportunity?
A: Praise God for changing my heart and mind, as he made it abundantly clear that this was the direction He was taking us! Proverbs 16:9 “man plans his ways but the LORD establishes his steps” was constantly on my mind. At the end of the day, the prayer was and is always “Lord not my will, but yours”. I’m so thankful that as the Lord unfolded His plan He also worked in me a heart eager to serve and love the people in Riverside and those still attending La Sierra Baptist.
Q: What has it looked like to prepare your heart and your home for this move?
A: A ton of honest prayer, trusting that the Lord doesn’t just dictate His will and move on but cares for us every step of the way. I’ve been reading The Church Planter’s Wife by Colleen Hoover and though we aren’t “planting” it’s been a really helpful resource in speaking to right where we’re at and encouraging me to honor the Lord practically through the lens of church planting/revitalizing. It’s also made me glad and eager for ministry as I read the anecdotes of various women featured in the book and wonder what the Lord might have in store. As for our home, this one has been more challenging. It’s one thing for Michael and I to choose to pluck up our lives and revitalize a church but it’s a whole different feeling to make that decision for the kids. They are leaving behind cherished friendships, friends that are more like family, school related activities they enjoy, a church filled with life and laughter, children their age, and a playground (La Sierra doesn’t YET have a playground and it’s a hot topic in our home)! As their mom I will always want what’s best for them but as a follower of Christ I must also realize that no one could love them more than Jesus Christ, not even myself. And no one knows what they truly need more than their Heavenly Father who gives “every good and perfect gift”. I remind myself of these truths and repeat them to the kids as conversations arise. We pray regularly for new friendships, (or whatever the current concern might be) and trust He has already given us everything we need.
Q: What will be hard to leave behind?
A: I think I already mentioned the hardest things… Friendships for sure. We aren’t moving far, so we hope to stay connected, but nothing is the same when you aren’t doing daily life with people week in and out. We miss our old home. Our neighbors. And definitely our church! Specifically worshipping with everyone on Sunday mornings, nothing is like the singing at Grace Rancho!!!
Q: What do you sense your ministry will look like at La Sierra?
A: I think ministry for me will look a lot like building relationships at first. Building trust with those at La Sierra. Lots of hosting, listening to stories, involving them in our life, and letting them squeeze Eli, haha. I’m hoping to have the ladies over to discuss Women of the Word later on in the summer, and eventually start Bible Study of some sort. I’m sure I’ll be recruited to help with outfitting a mother’s room and kick start a kid’s ministry, but I think my main ministry for a while will be building relationships.
Q: What has Grace Rancho meant to you, and what are you bringing with you from this church?
A: Grace Rancho has been home for the past 8 years. It’s where I became a mom, learned how to be a better wife and mother, how to care for my home… More than anything I’m so grateful for how those in the church have poured into me and my walk with the Lord. I’m bringing with me a zeal for singing loud, meaningful membership, and asking others good questions.
Q: What do you want the women of Grace Rancho to know about what their prayers and friendship have meant to you?
A: Oh man, now I’m gonna cry! I’m just so grateful. It feels like we’ve been in Rancho a lifetime but truthfully it hasn’t even been a decade. But the depth of friendships and genuine love and care that’s been extended to me at various times is truly only something to be found in Christ’s church. I’m a better wife, mom, friend, and follower of Jesus because of you all. Baked in there are small chats, prayers, lessons, and memories I will never forget.
Q: What would you say to another wife whose husband senses the Lord's leading toward something hard and uncertain?
A: I would say “what if?!” What if you supported your husband as he leads?! Sure, it might come with hardship, but everything worthwhile in life comes with hardship! Might it strengthen your marriage? Might it grow your own faith and steadfastness? Might your children see you honoring your husband and thus honoring the Lord? Might you have an awesome adventure?!?! There truly is blessing in trusting our husband’s leadership even if it sounds crazy. Also, it’s literally what the Bible says to do!!
Q: What are you trusting God for at La Sierra?
A: I’m trusting the Lord to provide friendships, for all of us! To guide us to the right school activities and classes. To provide for our family as the church hopes to become self sustaining. I’m trusting that nothing is wasted in God’s kingdom; Every trial I (or my kids) face is for His glory and our good.
