Golden Hills Community Church sits on Shady Willow Lane in Brentwood, in the rolling country of eastern Contra Costa County, where it has become one of the larger congregations serving East County's growing towns. The church is known for its gospel-driven teaching, multi-generational ministry (children through seniors worship and learn alongside each other), and a far-reaching missions heart that has supported workers in North Africa for more than twenty-five years. Sunday worship is offered twice on campus and online, and the building also houses Golden Hills Community School, a K-8 program, while a separate Community Outreach Center in nearby Antioch extends the church's care into a different neighborhood.
From an Antioch Bible Study to a Brentwood Campus
Golden Hills began as a conversation in January 1983, when Sheryl Philpott met with Harold Carlson, pastor of Fair Oaks Baptist Church in Concord, about planting a new church in Antioch. Carlson had been praying about the same opportunity. A Bible study launched in the Philpott home in February, and on September 13, 1983, the first worship service of Golden Hills Community Church was held in an old Lutheran church at 1911 C Street in Antioch. About 130 people attended, with Pastor Jarol Duerksen of Fair Oaks providing leadership and the executive secretary of the Northern California Baptist Conference (now Converge PacWest) scheduled to speak.
In January 1984, Pastor Larry Adams and his wife Karla moved to Antioch from Oregon to become the church's first full-time pastor. The congregation outgrew its space and eventually renovated an old warehouse, then in the early 1990s purchased 5.5 acres of farmland in Brentwood. The first services on the new site were held on September 6, 1992, with the building completed in 1993. A population boom in Antioch and Brentwood in the late 1990s and early 2000s led to the largest ministry expansion in the church's history, called Kingdom Impact: Building to Advance His Kingdom. More than 1,000 people met in small groups in the fall of 2001, and a new facility for worship, youth, and children's ministry opened two years later.
Along with the building expansion came a deeper commitment to global missions. Golden Hills has spent more than twenty-five years focused on the unreached peoples of North Africa, supporting thirty-five-plus ministry partners, and continues to send partners around the world. In 2009, the church added a satellite campus in Antioch with the hope of being a light in a depressed neighborhood; in 2014 it purchased an old Salvation Army building just down the street to house the Community Outreach Center.
In the fall of 2016, Pastor Larry Adams announced his intention to transition. After a two-year process and a congregational vote on April 29, 2019 that affirmed him with a 98% majority, Phil Ward, who had served on staff since 2008 as Pastor of Young Adult Ministry, became the next Senior Pastor on June 1, 2019. A memorial service honoring Pastor Larry's thirty-five years of ministry was held on May 29, 2019.
What Golden Hills Believes
The church's stated purpose is to glorify God by making disciples who will impact every area of the world for Christ. Six values shape the community: gospel-driven, Christ-centered, Word-saturated, mission-focused, hospitality-minded, and community-oriented. The church's motto is "All of Christ for all of life."
Golden Hills' Affirmation of Faith holds that the Bible, composed of sixty-six books, is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, and the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. The church confesses one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms the virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and personal return of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is described as the one who regenerates, sanctifies, and indwells every believer at the moment of faith.
The church teaches that all human beings are created in God's image, that sin has distorted that image, and that salvation comes through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who is the only mediator. Two ordinances are committed to the local church: baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper, both to be observed until Christ returns. The statement of faith also affirms religious liberty, voluntary cooperation with other like-minded churches, the reality and defeat of Satan, and the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust for final judgment.
Golden Hills describes itself as independent and autonomous, subject to no other authority than God in matters of belief and practice, while freely cooperating with other like-minded organizations. Its founding relationship with the Northern California Baptist Conference (now Converge PacWest) is preserved as part of its history.
Sunday at Golden Hills
The church gathers twice on Sundays for worship in the Sanctuary: an 8:30 AM service held in person, and a 10:30 AM service held in person and online with ASL interpreting provided. Both services include singing, prayer, and expository preaching, with the 10:30 service livestreamed on YouTube and a Sermon-Based Fellowship Group offered afterward for those who want to discuss the morning's message in community.
First-time visitors are welcomed at a Welcome Center in the Plaza, where volunteers offer a cup of coffee, directions for dropping off children, and information about getting involved. Bright yellow signs marked "Visitor Parking" or "New Guest Parking" direct newcomers to reserved parking in front of the Plaza. Starting Point, a one-time meeting held on the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room W131, gives newcomers a tour of the church and an introduction to its history, ministries, and how to connect.
Sunday School runs during both services, with classes for walkers through 5th grade staffed by two interviewed and background-checked adults. At 8:30 AM, walk-ers through three-year-olds meet in the W Building and four-year-olds through fifth graders in the E Building. At 10:30 AM, infants through two-year-olds meet in the W Building and three-year-olds through fifth graders in the E Building. First-time visitors are asked to arrive fifteen minutes early to register their family for the secure pick-up system.
The Membership and Baptism Class is offered in two formats each year: a four-week Sunday version at 10:30 AM that culminates in baptism on the fourth week, and a two-day Friday evening and Saturday morning version in September. The class covers the church's purpose, values, theological foundation, history, and the meaning of believer's baptism by immersion.
Kids: Sunday School, Awana, and VBS
The Kids Ministry is committed to delivering the gospel to children, discipling them to treasure Jesus above all else, and teaching them to share that love with others. Three weekly rhythms carry that mission: Sunday School at both morning services, Wednesday-night Awana during the school year, and an annual Vacation Bible School each summer.
Awana, drawn from 2 Timothy 2:15 and standing for "Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed," is a Christ-centered program that combines games, Scripture memorization, and Bible teaching. It meets on Wednesday nights for children ages three through fifth grade, divided into Cubbies (ages 3-5, 6:30-8:00 PM), Sparks (K-2, 6:30-8:15 PM), and T&T (3rd-5th, 6:30-8:20 PM). Registration is required.
For elementary-aged children with special needs, a Buddy Ministry pairs each child with a screened adult volunteer who accompanies them through their Sunday school class. The process begins with an interest form and an in-person meeting with a Special Needs Team Leader.
Vacation Bible School is an annual week-long summer event where children in the community learn the gospel through live skits, singing, crafts, snacks, and recreation.
Child Dedications are offered for parents who wish to dedicate their children to God and declare their intention to raise them for His glory. A brochure explains the process, and applications are available online.
Students: Middle School, High School, and Young Adults
Middle School Ministry (grades 6-8) gathers on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Amphitheater for Small Groups, beginning with a message from God's Word and sung worship before breaking into grade- and gender-specific groups led by vetted leaders. Seasonal Sunday classes at 8:30 AM cover Bible, theology, and spiritual formation over twelve-week sessions. Solid Rock nights on the third Friday of October, November, January, and April give students a chance to invite friends who might not yet feel comfortable at a regular gathering.
High School Ministry (grades 9-12) meets on Thursday nights from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the High School Amphitheater, following the same pattern of teaching, singing, and small groups, with study guides that walk through books of the Bible. The current HSM motto, "all of Christ for all of life," echoes the church's broader vision. Sunday classes at 8:30 AM include a current twelve-week Introduction to Biblical Koine Greek for students in grades 9-12.
Kairos, the young-adults ministry for ages 18 to 25 (high school seniors in their final semester are also welcome), meets on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM in Room W118, the Chapel, with a time of fellowship, prayer, singing, teaching, and discussion. Small groups meet throughout the community during the week.
Adults: Men, Women, Seniors, Marriage, and Art
Men's Ministry welcomes men to a monthly Men's Breakfast on the second Saturday of each month at 7:30 AM in the Multi-Purpose Room, plus ongoing Bible studies, currently a morning study on Wednesday from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in W235 on John Piper's Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die, and an evening study on Wednesday from 6:45 to 8:15 PM in W130 featuring Sinclair Ferguson on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
Women's Ministry holds studies, gatherings, and Moms Growing Together, a community for moms raising kids of all ages that meets the first and third Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in Room W234/235. The current women's Bible study, running in February and September each year, currently focuses on The Psalms of Ascent: Journey to Joy by Lydia Brownback, offered on Tuesday mornings (9:00-11:00 AM) and Tuesday evenings (6:30-9:00 PM). Three yearly gatherings bring women together: Simply Women on a Friday evening, The Gathering workshop, and a Christmas Gathering on the first Saturday of December.
PrimeTimers, the senior-adults ministry, meets every Sunday at 8:30 AM in Room W130 for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Two monthly luncheons round out the calendar: ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) at Dad's Cafe in Brentwood on the fourth Wednesday at noon, and JULIET (Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together) on the first Thursday of most months, alternating between potlucks at the church and outings to local restaurants.
The Marriage and Family Ministry provides events and studies for husbands and wives, while ENGAGED offers premarital counseling that pairs couples with mentors and well-known curricula.
Art Ministry, open to men and women of high-school age and older, explores the intersection of art and the Christian faith. Each year the ministry produces an Art Exhibition around a book of the Bible: 2023 opened the series, the 2024 exhibition responded to Nehemiah and the Revitalize sermon series, the 2025 exhibition engaged 1 Peter, and the 2026 exhibition is exploring Ecclesiastes. Past exhibitions are preserved as digital collections.
Counseling and Care
Pastoral Counseling is offered by the shepherding staff, with appointments arranged by emailing the shepherding team or calling the church office. Premarital ENGAGED counseling uses established curricula and pairs couples with mentors.
GriefShare, a thirteen-week support program for those who have lost a loved one, meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM. Men Seeking Peace is a confidential, Christ-centered Monday-night group (7:00-8:30 PM) where men can talk openly about what is happening in their lives and engage with biblical principles that point them away from destructive patterns.
Thriving Widows Ministry gathers widows of all ages on the first Monday of each month at 10:00 AM in Room W148 (moving to W248 when there is a guest speaker) for studies, sharing and caring classes, and outings together. The 2026 calendar walks through the book of James.
A Diaconate Ministry of volunteers comes alongside widows, widowers, the sick, the homebound, and the fatherless with practical help: home repairs, moving, visits, meal delivery, and other needs.
Small Groups and Classes
Small Groups are described as the essential context for discipleship at Golden Hills. Groups of three to twenty people meet weekly for one to two hours, typically for an eight- to twelve-week session in homes and offices throughout East County and beyond. Most evening groups meet from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, with daytime groups also available. Many groups are sermon-based, working through study guides tied to the previous weekend's message. A new group placement process opens before each Fall and Winter/Spring session.
The Classes ministry offers gospel-driven discipleship for anyone middle-school-aged and older. Current offerings include Understanding God's Word (an eight-week course on Bible study method using Jon Nielson's book, Sundays 10:30 AM-12:00 PM in W130), the Membership and Baptism Class (four Sunday mornings in October or a two-day weekend version in September), MSM Kings for grades 6-8 on the kings of Israel and Judah (Sundays 8:30-10:00 AM in the Student Lounge), and HSM Intro to Biblical Koine Greek for grades 9-12 (Sundays 10:30 AM-12:00 PM in the Student Lounge).
Outreach: Local and Global
Golden Hills aims to cross geographical, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic barriers to make disciples, equipping and sending individuals, families, and teams for short- and long-term service and supporting ministry partners worldwide in prayer and finances. Golden Hills has long focused on the unreached peoples of North Africa.
SENT (Serving and Engaging Neighbors Together) sends church members into the surrounding communities as ambassadors of Christ. Active teams include Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa (serving hot meals in Pittsburg, Martinez, and Antioch); Juvenile Hall in Martinez (mentorship for incarcerated youth); Options Health (supporting women who choose to carry babies to term, including a Walk for Life fundraiser); Team Jesus (distributing food from the church parking lot); and Hope Beyond (pen-pal mentorships with incarcerated women).
The Community Outreach Center in Antioch, housed in a former Salvation Army building, provides free meals every weeknight, weekly groceries for qualified seniors, ongoing discipleship gatherings, job-search training and assistance, and a monthly kids' club.
The Building, the School, and Staying Connected
The Brentwood campus includes a Sanctuary, an Amphitheater used for middle-school ministry, a High School Amphitheater, a Multi-Purpose Room, and a Plaza with a Welcome Center. A downloadable facility map is available. Golden Hills Community School, a K-8 program, operates on the same campus.
Sermons are archived and livestreamed on YouTube, with outlines and bulletins available each week through the Sunday Resources page. A weekly resource email goes out on Thursdays with sermon outlines, the bulletin, and updates. The church app, available for iPhone and Android, connects to the church database so members can manage giving, message their Small Group, manage serving requests, and check in to events. Giving can be made online through Pushpay, with alternate giving options also offered.
The Golden Hills podcast carries audio from sermons and from the Initiate Conference, an equipping conference for church leaders that has been held annually in recent years.