A mix of Grover Beach residents and congregation members gathered Sunday for service outside the Hillside Church, where they heard a sermon that spoke out against plans to transform the church into a homeless shelter.

The project, which is being designed and advocated for by 5 Cities Homeless Coalition and People’s Self Help Housing, would include housing for the homeless as well as a troubled youth program.

Hillside Church Pastor Willie Heck said in a video posted on Facebook Sunday that he was holding a service for members of the congregation elsewhere. But John Fleming, a member of the Hillside Church congregation, assumed the role of pastor on Sunday and held his own service outside the church on Newport Avenue.

“Our church was locked and we were told that was the last service we’d have in there but God had a different opinion,” Fleming said.