Heart of the Bay Christian Center gathers at 24800 Hesperian Blvd in Hayward, California, where Pastors Mark and Brenda Thomas have led a non-denominational, multi-ethnic and multi-generational church since 1982. It is known for vibrant and expressive praise, messages tied to daily life, and personal, passionate prayer, with a vision of reaching the lost, healing the hurting and maturing believers. Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m., and the church also gathers Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; both services are live and available online.
A Hayward Home That Began in 1977
Heart of the Bay was born from a group of people who had met together since the fall of 1977. By 1982, the group needed a pastor. Mark and Brenda Thomas, a couple living in Minnesota, had a strong leading in their hearts to move to the San Francisco Bay Area and plant a church. In answer to the congregation's prayers, they became its pastors on July 4, 1982. The small congregation began to grow and eventually moved into the old Marina High School in San Leandro. When land development required another move, the church settled at Sunset Elementary School and built its own sanctuary.
After many years there, Mark, Brenda, the staff and the congregation knew it was time for a permanent home. One day Pastor Mark learned that a movie theater on a main thoroughfare in Hayward would soon be for sale. Pastors, staff and congregation stepped out in faith, purchased the property in 2003 and renovated it. Their first service in that building came in August 2007. From the former theater, Heart of the Bay has continued touching lives through services, classes and outreaches, with many people attending weekly.
Sunday at 10:00 and Wednesday at 7:30
The Sunday gathering begins at 10:00 a.m., while the Wednesday service begins at 7:30 p.m. Both take place at 24800 Hesperian Blvd in Hayward. Sunday worship includes preschool, children and youth ministries, and the Wednesday gathering provides childcare for children ages 2 through 8. The church office is reached at 510-786-3232, and a dedicated greeting line at 510-800-8310 accepts the text word Welcome.
Both gatherings are available through the church's live stream and on YouTube. A service remains viewable until the next livestream, and previous messages can be watched or listened to on demand in the message archive. During live services, Glossa AI Translation is available for viewers who want translation.
Visitors can expect:
- Vibrant and expressive praise and worship.
- Messages that are relevant to daily life.
- People from every stage and walk of life.
- Personal and passionate prayer.
- Warm and friendly people who love God and care about others.
- Many ways to connect and serve.
A Connect Card gives first-time guests a way to identify themselves and receive follow-up from the church. The church also maintains an app, social accounts, a podcast and a message collection for people who want to keep hearing its teaching.
Children from Three Months to Fifth Grade
Children are a central part of Sunday worship, with age-specific preschool classes operating during the 10:00 a.m. gathering. Discoverers welcomes children from three months through two years old. Noah's Listeners serves children ages two to three, while Kingdom Seekers is for children from age four through kindergarten. The preschool team describes its classrooms as a safe and fun environment where children can learn about God's love and Jesus.
Children In Action, or C.I.A., serves grades one through five in the Multipurpose Room. Ruben, Sabrina and the C.I.A. team teach children about Jesus and the love of God through Bible lessons. At-home resources for families include The Bible App for Kids and the Parent Cue channel, which offers preschool, children and preteen material.
Oneighty and the Teenage 180
Oneighty Youth Ministry serves students in grades six through twelve and meets Sunday mornings during the 10:00 a.m. service. Its defining invitation is to make a 180, turning toward God in a world that can feel repetitive. Activities include games, music and time with friends, but the ministry also addresses real-life pressures, difficult questions, daily decisions and the need to follow Christ rather than the crowd.
Oneighty seeks to show teenagers how to apply God's Word in their own lives and demonstrate His love to others. Building relationships within the youth group is central, along with activities and community-minded outreach that allow teenagers to share the love of Christ and make a difference beyond the church.
Adult Ministries Across the Generations
Heart of the Bay describes its adult ministries as reaching from young adults through people aged 100 and better. Each gathering combines fellowship, Bible teaching and service in a setting designed for a particular season of life.
Young Adults, Ages 18 to 39
The Young Adult Ministry is led by Pastor Caleb Pape. It builds a community of faith through fellowship and ministry for people ages 18 through 39, with the aim of experiencing God together and carrying that experience into everyday life.
Coupled 2gether for Married Couples
Coupled 2gether is dedicated to helping married couples build a Godly marriage. The ministry strengthens the marriage through fellowship and teaching from God's Word, gives couples opportunities to build relationships through social activities, and provides a time to pray for married couples and families.
Second Wind for Ages 60 and Better
Led by Pastors Brian and Linda Mills, Second Wind meets at 9:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month in Classroom 10. The monthly gatherings include Bible teaching, fellowship and social occasions such as potluck movies and picnics. Its vision draws from Psalm 92:12-15 and emphasizes finding purpose as born-again, spirit-filled believers, recognizing the wisdom and experience gained through aging, building lasting relationships and ministering beyond the church to a hurting world.
Women's and Men's Ministries
The Women's Ministry uses special meetings, prayer groups, activities and fellowship to encourage women to develop a loving relationship with Jesus, understand their identity and purpose, and build friendships in a welcoming setting that can introduce non-believers to church life. Annual gatherings include spring and fall gatherings and Bunko Game Night.
The Men's Ministry focuses on reaching men with the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, teaching them to trust God, sharing the gospel with men who do not know God and providing accountability during difficult times. Annual men's gatherings include breakfast, fellowship, worship, testimony, video and live teaching, group discussion, prayer and accountability.
Seasonal Small Groups
Seasonal small groups meet on Wednesday evenings once or twice a year. Topics include finances, relationships and spiritual maturity. After large-group teaching in the Sanctuary, participants gather in smaller groups to discuss the lesson and consider how it applies to their lives, with the aim of forming connections and a clearer understanding of God's purpose.
Prayer Encounter on Thursdays
Prayer Encounter takes place at noon on Thursdays in the Sanctuary and is also available on Facebook and YouTube. It belongs to a wider prayer ministry that includes weekly prayer groups and special times of corporate prayer. Prayer is taught from the pulpit, in special classes and through books and materials available in the church bookstore.
The ministry's goals include teaching believers how to develop an individual prayer life, strengthening the importance of corporate prayer, teaching biblical truths about answered prayer, helping people become sensitive to the Holy Spirit and developing strong prayer leaders. Regular prayer groups also meet around specific issues and needs.
Praying for the Nation
Among the church's distinctive prayer themes are spiritual awakening in the nation, national leaders, the economy and people who are unemployed. Heart of the Bay also prays for military personnel and their families, first responders, educators, school leaders, parents and students. Its prayers for schools ask for protection from violence and bullying, including cyberbullying, while prayers based on Ephesians 1 and 3 emphasize God's wisdom, love and power in the church.
What Heart of the Bay Believes
The Bible is the church's standard and the foundation of its worship, teaching and mission. Heart of the Bay's beliefs cover God, Christ, salvation, baptism, the Holy Spirit, healing and Christ's return:
- The Bible: The Bible is God's Word, inspired and accurate, and the church treats it as the perfect guide for daily life.
- The Trinity: There is one God who is loving, holy and just, existing as Father, Son and Holy Spirit with equal power and authority.
- The deity of Christ: Jesus Christ is completely human and completely God. The church believes in his virgin birth and bodily resurrection and describes him as the only plan for restoring people to a right relationship with God.
- Salvation: Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is available to anyone who confesses Jesus with their mouth and believes that God raised him from death.
- Water baptism: Water baptism symbolizes the cleansing power of God and publicly testifies to faith in Jesus. The church teaches that it does not save; believing and confessing Jesus does.
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Comforter and guide, blessing believers with spiritual gifts and empowering them to live in the fruit of the Spirit.
- Baptism of the Holy Spirit: This is a subsequent gift to salvation, with speaking in other tongues as its evidence.
- Communion: Holy Communion celebrates Jesus' death and the congregation's remembrance of him.
- Bodily healing: The provision of bodily healing is part of Christ's atoning work, with the goal of transformation, healing and lives that help others.
- The return of Christ: The church believes the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as he promised.
Its mission is to encourage, equip and empower people to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ so they can fulfill their ministry in the church and the world. The core values are the Bible, people, God's presence, prayer, unity, excellence, the gifts of the Spirit, generosity and serving because of belonging. The church emphasizes that every person matters, that the church should function as a unified community using spiritual gifts, and that excellence honors God and inspires others.
Membership, Connect Teams and a Place to Serve
Heart of the Bay's membership pathway is designed to help people follow Jesus, connect with the church, discover their purpose and serve others. An introductory one-hour video explains the church's spiritual journey, story, mission and values. Members then complete an information card online or on paper, with paper forms returned to the Volunteer and Connect station in the lobby.
Connect Teams provide practical ways to participate. Their work includes greeting guests and helping in the children's ministries, allowing people to use their gifts, talents and abilities as part of the church's life. The church presents service not as an optional addition but as part of Christian belonging: it encourages everyone to contribute their best and work for the greater good.
Pastoral Care for Seasons of Need
Pastoral care extends the ministry of the senior pastors to the church family. Trained staff and lay ministers offer spiritual guidance to members and people who consider Heart of the Bay their church home. Qualified ministers meet with people by appointment during the day, with some evening appointments also available. Trained volunteers bring encouragement and prayer to people who are hospitalized, and a pastor is available on call for spiritual guidance during emergencies.
The church's premarital program uses Prepare and the DISC Personality Profile. It is a six-week course required before a wedding at Heart of the Bay, and weddings typically require six months of advance planning. Members may use the Sanctuary and Multipurpose Room for weddings.
Pastoral care also ministers to families at the time of death, helping with arrangements and the officiating of funeral or memorial services. Personal grief support is available to people adjusting to the loss of a family member, friend or loved one. Baptism services and baby dedications are scheduled periodically throughout the year.
Giving for the Ministry's Work
Financial support makes it possible for Heart of the Bay to teach God's Word to people. Online giving accepts Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Text giving uses 28950 and includes funds for the general, building and reserves accounts. Contributions can also be mailed to 24800 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545, and stock donations are accepted.
The giving information identifies East Bay Faith Center Inc. dba Heart of the Bay Christian Center as the recipient of charitable gifts. Online, text, mail and stock gifts give supporters several ways to participate in the church's teaching and ministry.
Ways to Follow Heart of the Bay
Heart of the Bay offers several ways to follow its worship and teaching. The SubSplash app provides church content on a phone or tablet. Messages can be watched through the church's video collection or YouTube channel, and the church also offers messages as a podcast through iTunes.
Its public accounts include Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Vimeo, with the church using those channels for services, updates, children's material and other ministry communication. At the center of Heart of the Bay is a simple pattern: gather in Hayward for expressive worship and biblical teaching, make room for children and every generation, practice prayer that reaches into the nation, and send people out to love and serve others. That is the ongoing life of Heart of the Bay Christian Center.