Gilroy’s South Valley Community Church has reached an important
milestone in the South Valley community. On Sunday, members and
friends will celebrate the local institution’s 25th
anniversary.
Gilroy’s South Valley Community Church has reached an important milestone in the South Valley community. On Sunday, members and friends will celebrate the local institution’s 25th anniversary.
The congregation has been a local success story. Twenty-five years ago, pastors Eric and Carol Smith began with five families meeting in a home. The group has experienced steady growth since then.
Increasing numbers forced a move to a commercial building in the Eldorado Plaza, then the Social Science Lecture Hall at Gavilan College. Currently services are held in a large, two-story building at 8095 Kelton Drive where they minister to more than 400 families.
Planning for the future, church leaders purchased a 27-acre parcel on Hecker Pass Highway just west of Santa Teresa Boulevard. This will allow consolidation of worship services, offices and meeting space in one facility for the 1,000-member congregation as well as construction of a proposed new school.
Education is an important ministry of SVCC. In 1995, they opened Pacific West Christian Academy, which now educates 300 elementary students on the Mantelli Street campus. Plans have just been announced to pursue a merger with Anchorpoint Christian High School on Hecker Pass Highway to create an “independent Christian school district designed for the educational and spiritual needs of South County students from preschool through high school on three Gilroy campuses.”
Throughout the month of September, the church is celebrating its past and future with guest speakers, a ministry fair and a special “Call to Action” message by its founding pastor, Eric Smith. On Sunday, the morning services at 8:45 and 10:30 a.m. will focus on the past 25 years with an inspirational message by Pastor Eric and music by the worship choir.
The highlight of the anniversary celebration will be at 6 p.m. that evening as the church welcomes one of America’s most influential church leaders, The Rev. Bill Hybels.
In 1972, Hybels founded Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington with 125 people in attendance. The church has grown spectacularly since then. Nearly 20,000 worshippers attend six weekend services. According to “Time Magazine,” he leads a network of 10,500 churches and trains more than 100,000 pastors each year.
In addition to the stirring message expected from Pastor Hybels, there will be lively music and the recognition of local dignitaries and many of the congregation’s founding members.
The emphasis at SVCC this month is not on the past, though there is much to be proud of. It is on their future plans. In addition to their current efforts to help seniors, local schools and teachers, and single moms while operating a Bread of Life food ministry and a sports program, they plan to expand their ministry to the community in several other ways.
– The church’s successful PEACE project, which has helped develop Christianity in Nigeria, is now going domestic. The well-being of the local community can benefit from these same efforts to promote partnerships, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick and educate the next generation.
– Incarnate Faith is a ministry that will be expanded. This “Gospel-centered missional church will reach out to emerging cultures in South County, creating a culture where people can grow, creating missionaries that can represent Jesus to the ever-changing culture around them and crafting leaders that will become all God intended them to be.”
– Plans include further development of SVCC’s sister Hispanic congregation that meets Sundays at 8:45 a.m. on the Kelton site to spread the gospel among local Latino residents.
SVCC has served as an inspiration for other Christians by showing that service to the community, plus support of members through small groups, relevant messages and lively music can energize people of faith with shared vision to become a major force for good in the South Valley.
For more information, visit www.svccgilroy.com or call (408) 848-2363.
