Fr. Junipero Serra had a dream. This zealous Franciscan was born in Spain and was very well-educated upon his arrival in Mexico. He taught the native Indians about his Catholic God and eventually journeyed to California where he dreamed of missions dotting the coast. Each mission would serve, as its primary job, as a new home for those who wanted to hear the word of God. They would come and become a self-sufficient community; constructing the buildings of the mission and the church, farming and working together in harmony. San Juan Bautista is the 15th of 21 missions that came to fruition as part of Fr. Serra's dream. He did not live long enough to see this mission built, having died in 1784.

This wooden statue stands under a tree in the garden at the center of the mission complex.