Title Banner for the Envision Building Campaign

To The First Church Family,

Tasha and I have had the privilege of leading First Church for these past 24 years. This church has deep spiritual roots and many prophetic promises. It is a church birthed in a prayer meeting in Oklahoma in early 1950’s. Rev. F.V. and Sis Blanche Shoemake along with their four children moved into the Santa Clara Valley in November of 1951. They relocated without any guarantees, without any promised financial support and moved into a city where they were strangers. They obediently followed as they were led of God, believing every promise made in that Oklahoma prayer meeting.

Services started in a rented hall in downtown Willow Glen. They were challenged to believe for bigger and better things for the church. Soon after, a piece of property was purchased at the corner of Saratoga Avenue and Piper Drive in west San Jose. They stretched their faith and built a building. Revival came and the church grew. Soon that property and building were too small for their vision. They located the property on Boynton Ave and began the process of building a new church on a new campus. The new building at Boynton was finished in 1962. The original building is now affectionately referred to as the “Founders Chapel” by our church congregation. And now, here we are today, with a 77,000 square foot building on 5 acres of land, sitting on the 101 freeway. God has always had big plans for His church!

Our challenge is nothing new. Bishop and Sis Bobbie Shoemake embarked on a bold plan to expand the Boynton church facilities in the mid 1980s. With Gods help, Sis Tasha and I along with the faithful saints of First Church completed the sanctuary, prayer chapel and offices in 2005.

First Church has always sought progress and never settled for mediocrity! There have been many struggles and steep mountains to climb. But, God has seen us through all of our difficulties. One constant in this journey has been the great promises that went before and the challenge to be obedient to that divine call to “do and be more for Gods Kingdom.”

Here we are as a church, standing upon the precipice of transition. Yet, God is still with us, leading us, giving us favor and providing as we walk in obedience. Our message to this generation of Apostolic’s is that we are well able to handle what God has placed in our pathway of church growth.

I am inviting you and your family to join with us as we walk into this new dimension. Experience the challenge of stepping out in faith with your finances. Be prepared to possess a testimony of Gods provision and blessing upon your life! If we will do as the generations before us have done, and walk in obedience to what God has placed in front of us, we too will declare that the legacy of faith and provision is being carried on in this generation.

Let each of us, our families, our children, buy into the vision. Will you join with us as we Envision a future where truth reaches into every area of our community in the Silicon Valley? Let us Dream together! Let us Build together! Let us Give together!

The best is yet to come.

Love, Pastor and Sis Tasha Shoemake

Catch the Vision

Take a video tour of the new First Church sanctuary concept drawings. First Church on Rue Ferrari will feature a large sanctuary, conference rooms, classrooms, a state of the art coffee shop and commercial level kitchen.

Why give?

  • Legacy

    By contributing to the Envision Building Fund, you’re helping to establish a place for future generations to worship, learn, and grow in faith.

  • Outreach

    An expanded, well-equipped facility will enable First Church to better serve the community, meeting both spiritual and practical needs.

  • Children

    Our new Sunday School rooms will allow for more dynamic and engaging programs for children and youth, helping the next generation to thrive spiritually.

  • Worship

    Our enhanced facilities, such as better sound and lighting systems will allow for dynamic worship and praise services.

  • Growth

    As church membership increases, so does the need for adequate space. Giving helps provide for the church's growing community and ministry opportunities.

  • Training

    First Church will host a variety of music workshops, Bible study programs and youth events to train our future leaders.

Fostering community

Our new Connect Cafe will provide a welcoming environment where people can gather, find support, and feel a sense of belonging.

Make a donation.

Join an exciting opportunity to expand our impact and deepen our connection with both our congregation and the surrounding community. A new and improved facility will allow us to offer even more vibrant worship experiences, strengthen our outreach initiatives, and create dedicated spaces for our growing children’s and youth ministries. By investing in this program, we are sowing seeds for future generations, building a legacy of faith, and ensuring that our church remains a welcoming place for all to experience God’s love and grace. Together, we can create a home that serves as a beacon of hope and transformation for many years to come.

 FAQs

  • First Church has a vision to impact the Silicon Valley with the message of redemption. We have faced the need for more space and improved facilities in order to facilitate our burden and vision. To remain at Boynton Ave we were facing the daunting task of enlarging our buildings as well as the need for the replacement of aging infrastructure that had passed the point of effectiveness. When looking at the developing needs of our church and the scope of our vision for evangelism, we were challenged by some of the dynamics of our Boynton campus and its limitations. After First Church was approached with an offer to purchase our property, we began to prayerfully entertain the idea of relocating. After much prayer and fasting we launched out, following Gods guidance, and sold our Boynton campus. We used the money from the sale to buy a larger campus and building. The Envision Capital Campaign is intended to raise funds to support construction costs and the mortgage payment on our new church campus at Rue Ferrari.

  • Envision is structured to last for 36 months.

  • 100% of the funds that are committed will be used to pay construction costs and the mortgage on the new campus. If we receive a significant cash commitment at the start of construction we will apply those funds directly to our building costs thus reducing the amount of money to be borrowed. Giving that exceeds the monthly loan payment will be applied to the principal, allowing us to retire the debt sooner and save money on interest.

  • No. Each person will be making a commitment to God. Although the pastor and a few select individuals may assist in the process, what each person has committed is between themselves and God and will remain otherwise respectfully confidential.

  • We ask each individual or family to prayerfully seek Gods direction and guidance on what you will commit by faith. On our commitment Sunday each of us will have the opportunity to respond as we feel the Lord directing us.

  • Yes. Some will increase their faith commitment and others may reduce their commitment as the Lord leads or circumstances make it necessary.

  • Our normal operating expenses as well as our missions commitments will continue to be met by your continued faithful giving. The commitment that you make to Envision is “over and above” your tithes, offerings and missions giving and should not interfere with your current biblical giving.