OCEANSIDE -- The Rev. Michael Wilson has a long history with St. John's Missionary Baptist Church on Lemon Street. You could say he's almost a part of the family. Wilson grew up in San Diego, living around the corner from the late, longtime St. John's pastor, the Rev. Thomas Davis.

"I went to Madison High School with his daughter," Wilson said. "I've known so many good people at St. John's for so many years."

Wilson joined the church as its new pastor at the start of the year, after 14 years as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church in San Diego. He will be formally installed at St. John's Missionary Baptist at a 4 p.m. Sunday service.

"I'm excited to be here," Wilson said. "There is a fantastic membership base at St. John's. The people are caring and friendly."

Wilson replaces several temporary pastors who have led the congregation since the Rev. Anthony Frazier died three years ago. Frazier replaced Davis when Davis died in 2004.

Wilson is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, and a graduate of the business school at Cal State Long Beach. The 48-year-old Wilson says he hopes to expand the congregation while keeping its core ideals intact.

"This is a good time for the church and the community," Wilson said. "We have several city and school officials who attend, and they have introduced me to all of the wonderful things going on in the city, schools and community."

Education has always been high on his priority list, Wilson saidi, so he hopes to expand education programs at the church.

"I want to continue and make sure our young people have every opportunity to expand their education," Wilson said. "We'll expand and improve our tutoring programs. We'll look into expanding the church itself, and of course continue a big push into evangelical outreach, getting the message of God into the community."

Wilson will also grow the church's health programs, helping people better understand the need for health education on such medical issues as diabetes and blood pressure.

"We'll encourage people to take care of their bodies and understand all of the available options for doing so," he said.

Another priority is continuing the good relationship the church enjoys with the military community. "We have numerous military members in the congregation, and we are honored to have them," Wilson said.

Wilson says he is eager to get started on many programs, and continue to enhance the church's regular services.

"I hope to be here as long as I possibly can," he said. "This is the place for me."