One of his clergy colleagues refers to the Rev. Don Skow as “Hollister’s Town Pastor” because of the close connection he has had with the community for decades. Skow explains that the success of his ministry has been due to his motto: “Don’t compete, cooperate.”
Skow, a native of Santa Clara, moved to Hollister with his wife and ministry partner, Pat, in 1973. Members of his family have lived in San Benito County since the 1880s, and the Skows wanted to take over operation of the family farm.
In addition to being a working farm, Abrigo Ranch became a homeless shelter for youth from the Bay Area. A ministry in Berkeley that the Skows were associated with rescued teens from the streets and sent them to live on the ranch.
As many as 30 staff and youth lived there at one time, doing farm labor, minor construction and attending Bible study. When the kids got their lives together, the staff helped them move on. By the late 1980s, however, the situation changed: kids from the street became more violent and more addicted to drugs, so the program was discontinued.
The Skows began to attend Hillside Church in Morgan Hill, participating in many leadership roles there while continuing to operate the family farm. Soon they noticed several families were also commuting to Morgan Hill for services, and they discussed starting a church locally.
This small congregation continued to grow, meeting first in a garage, then a storefront, a warehouse and finally moving to its present location – 2350 Technology Parkway – with the name Hollister Christian Fellowship.
In 2006, long before the 2010 disastrous earthquake made Haiti a magnet for relief efforts, HCF received an appeal from a Haitian pastor for help with an orphanage. The congregation had been saving money for an advanced sound system, but their hearts were touched by this appeal; they voted to send these funds to Haiti to help the orphans.
Pastor Skow, his son, and other church members traveled to Haiti to see conditions for themselves, and they were appalled 65 children were sleeping in a small house and spread out into the front yard covered by a tarp, which caused them to get wet and muddy when it rained.
Over the succeeding years the church has contributed some $250,000 to support the orphanage, allowing:
• Construction of a brick wall for security
• Recruiting sponsors who pledge $40 per month per orphan
• Purchase of three more parcels of land
• Planning a school for the children.
Despite some 10 trips to Haiti, Pastor Don continued to be active in serving the San Benito community, including these ministries:
• The Mars Hill Coffeehouse, a gathering place for people of all ages and interests to support local artists, musicians, and also the poor and homeless. The shop’s profits go to local charities, and a free meeting room is available for local groups.
• A free annual Fathers Day Car Show held on the church grounds. Guests can see antique and classic cars, hotrods and motorcycles in a relaxed setting with reasonably-priced refreshments.
After years of “courtship,” HCF merged with Gilroy’s South Valley Community Church in 2011. The congregations shared philosophy and theology, and they believe together they will have more impact for God pooling their resources. SVCC has provided campus and teaching pastors to the Hollister congregation, and Skow is now Pastor Emeritus, freeing him from day to day operations of the church and allows him time to devote more energy to treatment of a serious form of cancer.
For more information about South Valley Community Church-Hollister, call (831) 637-1056.
Chuck Flagg is a retired teacher with a passion for religion. Reach him at [email protected].
