WELCOME TO OUR CHURCH FAMILY
Hello my name is Pastor Ivan Kirk (PI).
Let me share a little about myself. I graduated from Western with a M.Div. in 2015 after seven long but very enjoyable years! It took that long because four days prior to starting my studies at Western, I became the full-time pastor at Good Shepherd Community Church (GSCC) while being employed full-time as a computer engineer!. My life focus is two-fold: 1) Helping Christians inside and outside the church to understand that believing the gospel should result in living the gospel; and 2) Sharing with non-Christians that the gospel is God’s invitation to become members of His family regardless of their past!
I have served on the Western Seminary Alumni Council and my role was to help create a network where Western alumni can equip and encourage one another outside of our local churches to fulfill our mandate to be faithful disciples of Jesus who faithfully make disciples. I chair & co-lead on several faith-based ministry boards helping to transform lives with the Word of God; developing godly leaders; and fostering multicultural integration within the Church as part of the Kingdom of God mandate (Mt.28:19-20).
I am married to my beautiful wife (Marcia Oliva), who is also my best friend. We have shared twenty-four years growing together with thirteen of those years ministering at GSCC together. Together we have six sons Ivan II (Ayesha), Ian Kirk, Jeremy (Loreli), Ryan, Alex (Gabrielle), Isaiah (Stephanie) and four grandchildren: Imery, Iyana, Nikoli, and Kimora.
Fun facts: We both love fast things (cars, motorcycles, planes, etc.). I am a life-long learner and avid reader studying many areas of life. A former bodybuilder, martial artist and personal trainer. Our family loves visiting Hawaii and everyone is creative in wide variety of ways! I could go on – but what we would really like is to share stories and lives with you personally!
Looking forward to it!
– PI
About Us
OUR CHURCH
Our church began meeting in a small storage train back in 1960. By God’s grace, we have seen a lot of amazing things over the years. However, through all the change, one thing has remained consistent: a desire to show people who Jesus is and how to become devoted disciples of him.
From day one, we have been a community church committed to growing in our faith and in our relationships with one another. We have taken Jesus’ command to “be known by our love for one another” to heart. We know this is why so many people feel at home when we gather together. We are family and the Bible is clear that that is how a church should be!
HAVE A QUESTION?
If you have any questions about our church or maybe you have a prayer request, please feel free to ask, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We acknowledge that every local church is different, but we are all united into one body by the saving power of Jesus. These tenets of faith are what we affirm and believe. We believe that God is the Creator of the universe, creating both the seen (physical) and the unseen (spiritual) realms, and that God is also the giver of life and sustainer of life. We believe the Holy Bible is God’s Word personally spoken by God to reveal Himself and that the Bible is without error in all issues to which it speaks. We believe in the Trinity, one God in three Persons, consisting of the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is the Divine God who came from heaven to humanity as a man yet fully retained the Divinity of God. We believe that while living a sinless life, Jesus was rejected and betrayed by man to be crucified and die on the cross. He did not remain dead, but he rose from the dead on the third day. We believe that the death of Jesus on the cross provided complete atonement for all the sins of those who believe in Jesus as the Chosen One of God and to receive the Holy Spirit becoming “born again” as children of God.
We believe Jesus physically rose from the dead, was seen by and interacted with many eyewitnesses, including the disciples and apostles and that Jesus has now ascended back into Heaven. Jesus is currently seated in Majesty, Power and Authority alongside the Father, and He is now accessible to us in both Prayer and Fellowship.
We believe that Jesus is the judge of all of humanity’s thoughts, intentions and actions and that He is just and wise in His judgment. As judge, Jesus will judge the unjust [those who are not covered by the blood of Jesus Christ] to everlasting condemnation while to the righteous [those who are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ] He will give of eternal life and rewards. We believe the Church is the bride of Jesus, that He will one day return for her and until then that we are to be diligent and faithful to Him in reaching Tracy, neighboring communities and the world with His message of love, mercy and forgiveness.