In May 2027, Forrest Memorial Christian Center will celebrate 50 years of faith, service, and community in East Contra Costa County. This is our story.
In May 2027, Forrest Memorial Christian Center — Church of God in Christ — will mark 50 years of ministry in the Pittsburg, Bay Point, and Antioch communities. Half a century of Sunday services. Half a century of prayer, praise, and the power of the Holy Spirit moving among the people. Half a century of showing up for a community that has grown and changed around us, while the foundation beneath us has never moved.
We are on the road to that milestone now. And we want you to walk it with us.
“Fifty years is not just a number. It is a testimony. Every soul saved, every family helped, every young person mentored — it is all part of what God has done through this house.”
The story of Forrest Memorial begins with a man, a calling, and a step of faith. In 1977, Evangelist B.J. Forrest — led by the Spirit of God — began what would become Forrest Memorial Christian Center. The church was first known as the Tracy Church of God in Christ before taking its permanent name, reflecting the founding family’s commitment to building something that would outlast any one season.
In 1979, the church’s charter was formally approved by the State of California — an official recognition of what God had already confirmed in the hearts of its members. In 1986, Superintendent B.J. Forrest relocated the ministry to Pittsburg, California, planting the church on the soil where it stands today.
From its earliest days, Forrest Memorial carried a reputation that would follow it for decades: the small church with a big heart and great anointing.
From the very beginning, Forrest Memorial understood that ministry extends beyond the sanctuary. Under Superintendent Forrest’s leadership, the church established Forrest Fire Ministries — a charitable arm of the church dedicated to serving families in need across Contra Costa County. Each year, the church adopted up to three families, providing temporary housing, food, and clothing. They collaborated with Toys for Tots, hosted community giveaways, and showed up in the community long before it was called “outreach.”
In 2002, Forrest Fire Ministries was formally chartered as an official nonprofit arm of Forrest Memorial — expanding its reach and formalizing what the congregation had always lived: that helping is a ministry, and service is a form of worship.
This legacy of service is not a chapter in Forrest Memorial’s history. It is the through-line of everything we do — including the Brightest Light Initiative, which carries this 30-year tradition into a new era of expanded community partnership and greater impact.
Legacies are only as strong as the generations that carry them forward. At Forrest Memorial, that next generation is Elder Billy L. Forrest II — son of the late Superintendent Dr. B.J. Forrest, Sr., and the current pastor of this church. Elder Forrest II has not inherited a title. He has inherited a calling — and he has answered it with the same spirit of faith and service that has defined this ministry from its earliest days.
Under his leadership, Forrest Memorial is not looking backward. We are moving forward — expanding our outreach, deepening our partnerships, and preparing to celebrate 50 years with a community that has been part of our story every step of the way.
As we approach our 50th anniversary, we will be marking the journey with a series of special moments, celebrations, and community events. We invite the entire East Contra Costa County community — members, partners, alumni, and neighbors — to be part of this milestone.
- Anniversary commemorations and milestone celebrations throughout 2026–2027
- Special services honoring the legacy of our founder, the late Superintendent Dr. B.J. Forrest, Sr.
- Community events celebrating 50 years of faith in action
- Oral history and memory-gathering initiatives — we want to collect your stories
- A culminating 50th Anniversary celebration in May 2027
To every member who has ever sat in these pews. To every family we have served at a holiday giveaway, a Bright Days event, or a quiet moment of need. To every partner church, community organization, and neighbor who has linked arms with us over these five decades. To the community of Pittsburg, Bay Point, and Antioch that has been our home and our purpose:
Thank you. We would not be here without you. And we are not done yet.
“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”
— 1 Samuel 7:12 (KJV)
May 2027 is coming. And we are believing God for the greatest chapter yet.