NEW PASTOR: After spending a decade traveling...

NEW PASTOR: After spending a decade traveling the world as a missionary, Pastor Gary Rozar is settling in as senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Palmdale.

Rozar, who began leading the 100-member charismatic church this month, said he is “not so much interested in numbers as I am in teaching the ones who are here to mature and grow.”

“Rather than a large church, I’d rather have a small congregation that was well-taught and knew the Bible,” said Rozar, 36, who has been commuting to the Antelope Valley from his home in Newport Beach. “People will reach out naturally to others and it will grow.”

A native of Marietta, Ga., Rozar graduated from high school in San Bernardino and served as a missionary in Asia, South Africa, Australia and Europe. Rozar, who had some senior pastor experience at a small Calvary Chapel church in Southern California, attended the University of the Nations in Honolulu and served as an assistant pastor at an Assembly of God church and as a Calvary Chapel worship leader. Recently, he had been working as a private teacher of English as a second language.

He and his wife, Misa, met in the mid-1980s while they were performing missionary work in her native South Korea and have two young children.

Rozar takes over for Pastor Bruce Tidwell, who established the Palmdale church four years ago. Tidwell is starting a new Calvary Chapel in Mojave that will hold its first worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday at Mohave Elementary School.

Rozar says he will soon add a service on Wednesday or Thursday evenings at a church member’s home. He also wants to start a Sunday evening service. The church meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at Yucca Elementary School, 38449 2nd St. East in Palmdale. There is a nursery, Sunday school for children and a teen ministry.

OPEN HOUSE: Several San Fernando Valley synagogues will hold open house gatherings this month and next month.

* Congregation Beth Kodesh, a Conservative congregation at 7401 Shoup Ave., West Hills, will hold an open house brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 23, Aug. 30, Sept. 13 and Sept. 20. The synagogue will also offer extended hours from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 15, 17, 22 and 24. Special open house Shabbat services will be held at 8 p.m. Aug. 28 and Sept. 11.

* Makom Ohr Shalom, a Reform congregation for Jewish meditation that meets at 20400 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, will hold an open house at 8 p.m. Friday.

* Temple Beth Ami, a Conservative congregation at 18449 Kittridge St., Reseda, will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday and also on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30.

* Temple Beth Hillel, a Reform congregation at 12326 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood, will hold an open house at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 28 and Sept. 11 and 18.

* Temple Beth Torah, a Reform congregation at 16651 Rinaldi St., Granada Hills, has scheduled an open house from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 and 30 and Sept. 13.

* Temple Ner Maarav, a Conservative congregation at 5180 Yarmouth Ave., Encino, will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday in addition to Aug. 23 and 30 and Sept. 13 and 20. An open house will also be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 and 16.

BILINGUAL CONCERT: The eight-voice Victory Celebration Singers will present a bilingual revival concert at 6 p.m. tonight) at the Burbank Seventh-day Adventist Spanish Church. The co-ed group, which started in April, 1991, will sing a 1 1/2-hour concert in Spanish and English, said group director Paul Schwantes. The church is at 1649 Lake St. in Glendale. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public.

News and announcements for this column can be sent to Religion Desk, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311.