First Covenant Church Oakland

This is most likely going to be the last feedback I ever give on a church. This church holds a special place in my heart. This is the first REAL church I went to. Just some trivia facts, when he was in High School, Tom Hanks went to church here, I wasn't here at the time.

The high school group at this church had a HUGE impact on my life, what a great High School group it was. I got involved with VBS...Vacation Bible School at this church, and Urban Outreach. A beautiful church building. Gorgeous stained glass windows. The time I spent here was primarily high school-college years.

Thank goodness I found this church, praise God for First Covenant Church.

I first went to what was then the "Mission Covenant Church" in Oakland CA when it was down near what is now the Kaiser Auditorium. At that time, the pastor was Rev. Edwin S. Johnson, a wonderful Christian man. I believe the Nazarene Church later purchased that building.

Because my father was an immigrant from Sweden, he liked to listen to the church's radio program on Sunday mornings, even though he was NOT a Christian and did not believe in Jesus Christ.

The radio broadcast, came on with the pastor and a lady from the church singing in Swedish the song, "Guds Barns Trygghet". At that time (in the 1940's), the entire broadcast was in Swedish.

Every year, we would go early Christmas morning to the Julotta service held at 6:00 A.M. at the Mission Covenant Church, even after they built the "new" church at 2100 5th Avenue in Oakland.

I can remember when they had the "Ground Breaking Service" for that new church. I was about 8 years old (I am 86 now), and I sat on the hill as the service was conducted.

By the time I was a teenager, I met a family who also lived on the island of Alameda, who would drive two miles out of their way to pick me up for Sunday School and church. Later, a wonderful young man who also lived in Alameda would take me.

We had a wonderful Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Herriott, when I was a teenager. I loved the Young People's meetings and the activities they provided for Christian youth. Rev. Harold Erickson was the Pastor of the church at that time. He was a wonderful Bible teacher, who truly loved the Lord.

My parents sold our home in the Bay area and moved to San Jose, where I married a fine Christian man. We later moved to Tucson AZ and eventually to Lanesville IN, where I have lived for the past 45 years.

Looking back, am so thankful for the blessings that were mine during those years of my life. I trust that you will continue to be a blessing to the young people of this generation also.

Amazing diverse intergenerational church with great music and worship, strong biblical teaching, wonderful programs for kids and congregation involvement in serving the community of Oakland and beyond

Been attending this church since 1991 (since birth) great sense of family, community events are great as well as the infamous trip to camp cov.

Pastor Marco is an amazing pastor. I met him several years ago in a youth ministry and now he is growing First Cov at its best. I am honored to know him and call him a friend.