History

History

  1. 1964

    By God’s grace, in January 1964, two students from San Jose Bible College (a Church of Christ/Christian Church school that is now known as William Jessup University), approached six residents of the small town of Livermore and shared their vision about starting a new church. In February 1964, a core group of eight young, energetic and faith-filled people began meeting in their homes for worship. In October, they began to meet in the local Forester’s Hall. Later in June 1965, they moved the meeting place to the more accessible venue of the Eagles Hall on N. Livermore Avenue.

  2. 1965

    In June 1965, the church called Frank Barnett, a graduate of SJBC, to become the first official pastor of the church. He continued until August 1967.

  3. 1966–1967

    In August 1966, the group officially incorporated with 12 members as a church called Valley Church of Christ. Later, they changed the name to Valley Christian Church. The church also gave serious prayerful consideration of purchasing a permanent meeting place. By April 1967, the church set their sight on a small vacant church building at 811 Marylin Avenue. It was built in the early 1960s. The church with 24 adult members bought the church building for $60,000.

  4. 1967

    In November 1967, the church called Jim Parker to be the second pastor of the church. He continued until September 1976.

  5. 1976–1985

    Then in October 1976, the church called Larry Trummel to be the third pastor of the church. He left the church after 42 years of faithful service in July 2019. By grace, the Lord used him to bring reformation to the church. In September 1985, the majority of the church members voted to continue down the path of becoming a Reformed Baptist church.

  6. 1986

    In October 1986, the church voted to change the name of the church to Livermore Reformed Baptist Church (LRBC) and adopted the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, and a new church constitution.

  7. 2002

    In 2002, LRBC sent one of its lay elders, Chris Santiago, as a foreign missionary. He and his wife Shirley went to the Far-East. By God’s grace, they worked and served there for over twenty years.

  8. 2010

    In 2010, the church renamed itself Gateway Church. They continued to subscribe to the same confession of faith.

  9. 2016–2025

    In November 2016, the church called Mike Kelley to become the fourth full-time pastor of the church. He served the church faithfully until December 2025.

  10. 2019–2026

    In September 2019 Jeff Escott, was ordained as a lay elder/pastor. In January 2024, Chris Santiago was re-ordained as a lay elder/pastor. In January 2026, Chris became the fifth full-time pastor of the church. With faith and reliance upon the Lord’s grace, he and Pastor Escott are following after Christ as He leads Gateway Church into the future.