Peninsula Christian Center began as a small prayer gathering in the home of Mary and Peter Crown in March of 1930. Redwood City had seen earlier Pentecostal meetings in a downtown hall sponsored by the Glad Tidings Bible Institute in San Francisco. Mrs. Charlotte Heetebre often recounted the blessing of those early meetings which began in 1923. She and her husband later served more than 30 years as missionaries to Fiji.

It was a young couple from San Jose, "fired" by a great revival at First Baptist Church, who led the infant PCC. Mr. William Crouch took in laundry and Mrs. Crouch gave piano lessons to support themselves during these humble beginnings.

Early church names included Ebenezer Church, Full Gospel Church, Full Gospel Assembly, and Assembly of God. Under whatever name, the church always had one specific direction: God's special plan for this body of believers.

That plan was made clear in an early vision given to Mrs. Mae Stephenson and four other women as they gathered for a prayer meeting on a cold and rainy night in the spring of 1930. They were in a little store front church on Redwood City’s Main Street, praying and praising God around a potbellied stove, when two of the women received an identical vision. Here is the vision as recalled by Mae Stephenson who continued with PCC until her death several years ago:

It was in that year, 1930, that Flora Colby, a medical doctor, was the first missionary to be sent out by this original group of PCC’ers. She went to minister in Lebanon, in the Middle East. Another couple, active members of our church, sold their landscaping business and went first as missionaries to World War II servicemen in the San Diego area and ultimately to Italy. There they used their own funds to purchase a campground and help establish the Italian Assemblies of God, now the largest non-Catholic church in that nation.

Subsequently, former pastor, Wesley Steelberg, traveled the world as a director for World Literature Crusade. Hometown boy and former assistant pastor, Norman Campbell, served many years as a missionary in Columbia and Argentina. Norman currently serves as Decade of Harvest Director for all Central and South America. His son, Dan, also serves with his family as a missionary in Argentina. Former music and youth pastor, Harold Calkins, left PCC to serve for more than twenty years in the Spanish Literature ministry. Norman Arnesen, another PCC’er has taught at Bethany College for twenty-five years and now teaches in Bible Colleges in Africa. In addition, many other former youth and staff serve in churches throughout the USA.

Former pastor’s daughter, Darlene Scratch, married Loren Cunningham (pictured bottom left) in this very sanctuary and together they launched the international ministry of Youth With A Mission. Others from our midst have directed various divisions and phases of YWAM. Multitudes of PCC people have served over the last 30 years as missions interns in many nations of the world. Today, from our body, Melany & Sandy Wilks serve in the Philippines, Laurie & Bruce Norris in Guatemala and Illinois, Charles Laster in YWAM missions building, Kristy & Steve Foth with YWAM Island Breeze based out of Tampa, Florida - and the list continues to grow.

Our most recent "gift" to missions is Associate Pastor Milan Novick and his wife, Janice (pictured left). A few years ago they joined the ministry team of Dr. & Mrs. Sobhi Malek in France who direct a dynamic outreach in world missions. Others released to full-time missionary service in recent years include: Kelli & Steve Bevelhymer (pictured previous page, bottom middle) with Wycliffe (Africa), Susan & Scott Lewis (pictured previous page, bottom right) with Wycliffe (Africa) and June LaBret, now ministering in the Philippines as an appointed Assemblies of God missionary. These are all ours! In addition, the PCC Missions Ministry supports 40 other world-outreach causes.

Peninsula Christian Center has had only seven pastors in seventy-three years. Five of these Godly men have gone to be with the Lord. PCC has had five major locations of worship in its history and three of these five locations are currently being used as worship centers in Redwood City!

Our current pastor, Don Stavros had been Associate Pastor and director of Creative Arts at Peninsula Christian Center for 12 years, prior to becoming Executive Pastor. His 36 years as an ordained minister has centered around teaching from the Word and involvement in music ministry. He has served in churches in Oregon, Texas, Illinois and California.

Our previous pastors, Anita and Rick Howard, served at Peninsula Christian Center for more than thirty years. They began in September, 1971. Pastor Howard, in addition to leading this church, has ministered in more than ninety nations during these years. He has written two major books for Global University which are both currently available and being used in more than fifty different languages and approximately ninety nations. "Christian Maturity" and "Tents, Temples, and Palaces" are literally being used worldwide.

Pastor Howard has been an adjunct faculty member at Bethany College in Santa Cruz for seventeen years and is listed as adjunct faculty at two theological schools. Anita is Human Resources Director of a large Peninsula-based corporation and has an MBA from Pepperdine University. She served for a number of years in ministry to young couples and is currently a vital part of the Creative Arts and Worship Team ministries . 

Probably no church this size ministers to as many people on a regular basis as Peninsula Christian Center. The Naioth Sound and Publishing ministry sends teaching tapes to most areas of the world on a regular basis. Naioth has published THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (now in it’s second printing) which is also available in Spanish and Chinese. Pastor Howard, as author, has been a featured guest on CBN as well as many local market television and radio stations. In 1996, two more books were released:  THE LOST FORMULA OF THE EARLY CHURCH and SONGS FROM LIFE. 1998 saw the completion of THE FINDING TIMES OF GOD and THIS WAS YOUR LIFE, (published by Baker House) co-authored with Jamie Lash.  SEVEN BIBLICAL STEPS TO PERSONAL RENEWAL - published in the year 2000 is a devotional study of The Penitential Psalms. In 2002 RESTORING RESTORERS - a vulnerable treatise for those who are called to rebuild was published.  Rick's newest book - THE KING DESCRIBES HIS KINGDOM - is a revolutionary look at Matthew 13 in light of contemporary times.

A competent volunteer staff responds to the many administrative needs of PCC. This includes ministries to men, women, single adults, youth and children.  Darleen and Bob Brien have provided excellent leadership of the "Pillars" ministering to the needs of many of our adults. 

Our community outreach continues to expand. PCC’s Bethlehem A.D., an outdoor live nativity, facilitated by our own Paula & Karl Dresden, has been viewed by more than 100,000 people in the last 12 years. 

The excellent Peninsula Christian Schools, sponsored by the church, has an outstanding preschool and the growing Grade School serving grades K-8.  The highly qualified and experienced Dr. Wilbur Martin is the School Administrator and Principal.

The establishment of Church Agape Resource Exchange (C.A.R.E.) has provided a means for the sharing of physical resources within the body of Christ.

The ministries of Worship and The Arts are a highlight for those who attend or just visit PCC. The music and drama presentations are considered among the best on the San Francisco Peninsula. Pastor Don Stavros along with his wife, Marian, direct these ministries. Their teaching and music has taken them to most of North America and many countries of the world. 

Laurie & Lorin Wilson assist in the leadership of the music department. Lorin is co-director of all rehearsals and performances and also serves on staff as director of desktop publishing as well as overseeing our technology needs.