A Growing Church in the Heart of Fairfield
Bethel Community Church of Fairfield sits on East Tabor Avenue in Fairfield, California, in a building it has called home since 2010. Known locally as the Five Star Church, Bethel Community has built a reputation for fast growth, energetic worship, and unusually close ties with the City of Fairfield. Under the leadership of Pastor Anthony L. Gilmore, the congregation has grown from 33 charter members on its first Easter Sunday to a regular weekly attendance of more than 300, with over 500 names on the parish rolls.
The First Easter at 1000 Kentucky Street
Bethel Community Church traces its origin to February 17, 2009, when a small group met for Bible study at 1000 Kentucky Street. Within weeks the group had outgrown living rooms, and a founding meeting brought together Brother Fred Ford Jr., Sister Charlesetta Ford, Brother Tiny Ford, Brother Theo Blakey, Deacon Jesse Branch, Sister Sabrina Stephens, Deacon Cyrus Charles, and Sister Rita Dangerfield to cast a vision for what would soon be born.
The first public service was held on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, in the Fairfield Senior Citizen Center. Pastor Gilmore preached on "Good News from the Graveyard" from St. Luke 24:1-8, and 33 committed Christians became the church's charter members that morning. By May 2009 the infant congregation had already moved to Grace Episcopal Church at 1405 Kentucky Street, which seated about 300. When that space became too small, Deacon Jesse Branch introduced Pastor Gilmore to the building at 600 East Tabor Avenue, and in 2010 a caravan of more than 128 cars rolled through Fairfield to the building Bethel Community still occupies today.
Pastor Anthony L. Gilmore
Powerfully positioned in prayer, humble in character and established in integrity, Pastor Anthony L. Gilmore is the visionary and pastor of Bethel Community Church. He gave his life to the Lord at age 12 and committed himself to prayer, fasting, consecration and service. He has studied extensively in ministry and at Bay Cities Bible College.
Pastor Gilmore also serves as a chaplain for the Oakland Police Department and sits on the Chief of Police's Commission as part of the African American Advisory Committee on Crime. He is a member of FaithPac and partners regularly with the City of Fairfield, the fire department, and the police department on community give-a-ways. He and his wife, Lady Icelene Gilmore, are the parents of five daughters and six grandchildren, and they live in Vallejo.
What Bethel Community Believes
The congregation's statement of belief is built on seven commitments. Bethel Community holds that the church must present the biblical message in a culturally relevant way, that the church's smallest unit is the small group, and that everything should be done with excellence or not at all. Leadership belongs to those with leadership gifts, the church should engage the whole person - heart, mind, body and soul - and the lost matter to God, so reaching them is a priority. The church, Bethel Community teaches, should be the hub of community life in its context.
Four words shape its purpose: Exalt Jesus Christ through worship, Equip believers for service through discipleship, Encourage one another through fellowship, and Evangelize the world through witness. The mission is summarized in a single sentence: "to make the 'unchurched' the Church."
Sunday Worship and Tuesday Bible Study
Sunday morning worship begins at 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at 600 East Tabor Avenue. The service is led by Pastor Gilmore and is the main weekly gathering, with congregational singing, prayer, and expository preaching. A children's church and nursery run alongside the service for younger members.
Bible study meets on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., continuing the small-group roots the church was founded on. Services are livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. The church office is open weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Ministries Behind the Five Star Experience
Pastor Gilmore teaches the Five Star Church concept, the goal being that everyone who walks through the doors has a five-star experience. To make that real, the church fields more than a dozen active ministries. The Music Ministry and the Dance Ministry, including praise dance, lead worship; the Media Production Ministry handles sound, video and livestream; the Usher Ministry and Deacon Ministry serve the sanctuary each week; and the Pastor's Support Ministry cares for the pastoral family.
The Children's Church and Nursery Ministry welcomes the youngest members, while the Men's Ministry builds community among the men of the church. The Culinary Ministry prepares meals for services and special events. The Executive Council Ministry provides governance, and the WeCare Ministry offers practical support to members in need. A Health and Wellness Ministry rounds out the list, looking after the whole person, one of the church's core commitments.
The Chandelier Room and The CookSpace
Bethel Community Church also operates two community-facing facilities. The Chandelier Room is an elegant event space available for weddings, receptions, bridal showers, baby showers, family reunions, graduation parties, retirement celebrations, business meetings, and funeral repasts. Free and ample parking is provided, and the venue is conveniently located off Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento.
Adjacent to it, The CookSpace is an incubator commercial kitchen that rents affordable space to caterers, bakers, and small food businesses. Equipped with professional cooking equipment, dry and cold storage, and a clean, private layout, it is part of the church's wider vision of healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. Both spaces can be booked through the church office.
The Healing Center on the Horizon
From its earliest days Bethel Community has worked hand in hand with the City of Fairfield. The church partners with city officials, the fire department, and the police department on community give-a-ways throughout the year. The same impulse drives the planned Bethel Community Healing Center, a non-profit Pastor Gilmore envisions to provide educational, cultural, and economic opportunities for productive citizens in the inner city, alongside spiritual balance and inspiration.
At 600 East Tabor Avenue
Bethel Community Church sits at 600 East Tabor Avenue in Fairfield, between San Francisco and Sacramento just off Interstate 80. Sunday worship begins at 11:00 a.m., and Tuesday Bible study meets at 7:00 p.m. The office is open weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and parking is free and ample. A mobile app, the BCCIF app, keeps members connected, and giving is available online through Givelify, through mobile payment apps, or in person during services.