In 1926, a small group of believers gathered in the Masonic Hall in Vallejo for the first service of Full Gospel Assembly. Founded by Rev. George C. Mervin, the church was born in a season of spiritual hunger and marked by what early records describe as an unusual outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

1926: First service held at Masonic Hall
1928: Rev. Edgar E. Zimmerman becomes pastor

The young congregation began to establish roots in Vallejo. Under Rev. P. C. Tacker, the church purchased property at 407 Capitol Street in 1935. A new church building was completed in 1936, and that same year Full Gospel Assembly was formally recognized as an affiliated church of the Assemblies of God.

1935: Capitol Street property purchased
1936: Church building completed
1936: Official Assemblies of God affiliation

Through the 1940s, the church continued to grow under a succession of pastors, including Rev. E. James Cornwall and Rev. Joseph Gerhart. In 1947, additional property was purchased next to the church, creating room for the congregation's future growth.

1945: Easter celebrated at the Capitol Street church
1947: Property purchased for future expansion

The church entered a new season of growth and began looking toward a future beyond Capitol Street. In 1959, six and a half acres were purchased at Locust and Tennessee Streets, providing a new home for generations to come.

1953–1957: Rev. Robert C. Jones serves as pastor
1957–1961: Rev. Paul G. Trulin serves as pastor
1959: 6½ acres purchased for relocation

As the congregation prepared for its new campus, a new identity emerged: Church on the Hill. Under the leadership of Rev. L. H. Bottroff and Rev. Ronn Haus, the church entered a period of expansion, ministry, and community influence. Hilltop Christian School was established, investing in the next generation.

1961: Rev. L. H. Bottroff becomes senior pastor
1960s: Church becomes known as Church on the Hill
1960s: Hilltop Christian School established

The vision for the Hill became reality. In 1970, the first sanctuary on the Locust Street property was completed and dedicated. Just six years later, the church completed the sanctuary we know today.

The Hill was becoming more than a building—it was becoming a place where generations would worship, gather, and encounter God.

1970: First sanctuary on the Hill dedicated
1976: Current sanctuary completed

Church on the Hill's influence continued to extend beyond Sunday mornings. The sanctuary became home to Hilltop television productions, the Singing Christmas Tree, and regional conferences, bringing the church's ministry to audiences far beyond Vallejo.

In 1980, Rev. Ronn Haus transitioned into full-time television ministry, continuing the church's commitment to reaching people through new forms of media.

1980: Rev. Terry Inman becomes lead pastor

The church's vision increasingly turned outward toward the needs of Vallejo and the world. Under Rev. Terry Inman, the Christian Help Center began and short-term missions trips sent members around the world to serve alongside missionaries.

Under Rev. Scott Peterson, ministries such as Vallejo Outreach, Rejoice Vallejo, Queen for a Day, Sidewalk Sunday School, Bread of Life, and motel ministry reflected a growing commitment to serve the whole community.

In 1994, the Memphis Miracle became a defining moment of racial reconciliation within the Pentecostal movement, reinforcing a vision of a church where people from every background could worship together. The impact of this event overflowed into our own church community and city, releasing the Church into a new era of cultural healing and racial unity.

1990: Rev. Scott Peterson becomes senior pastor
1994: Memphis Miracle
1990s: Vallejo Outreach and community ministries flourish

The new millennium brought a renewed commitment to the city. In 2001, the Vallejo Dream Center was established, creating another avenue for the church to serve people in practical ways and bring hope to the community.

The vision continued to expand: the church was not simply a place people came to—it was a people sent into the city.

2001: Vallejo Dream Center established
2000s: Community outreach and service ministries continue to grow

As the church entered its ninth decade, generations continued to worship, serve, and lead together. The ministries and methods evolved, but the calling remained the same: to reach Vallejo, serve people, and make disciples.

The legacy built by those who came before was becoming a foundation for a new generation.

2010s: Continued community outreach, missions, discipleship, and generational ministry

In 2020, the world changed. When the doors of churches everywhere closed, our mission remained the same. An online campus was launched, allowing the church to continue worshiping, connecting, and reaching people during the pandemic.

In 2023, Pastor Fi and Cheryl Portillo were installed as lead pastors, carrying the church into its next chapter.

In 2026, we celebrate 100 years of God's faithfulness and presence.