POC Church History

  The People of Christ Missionary Baptist Church (P.O.C.) was conceived

  in the mind of Pastor Willie C. Rolland by the inspiration of God in late

  1995 and early 1996.  It began with a Bible Study in the home of Pastor

  and Sister Rolland; on Shakespeare Court in Tracy, California. 

  With several families in attendance, the first organizational

  meeting which included a pancake breakfast, was held on April 14, 1996.

  People of Christ Missionary Baptist Church held their first worship

  service on Sunday, June 23, 1996 at 140 East Grant Line Road in Tracy.

  After two years, People of Christ Missionary Baptist Church relocated to

  1655 Parker Avenue in Tracy in May of 1998.  As God continued to bless us.

  In 2007, POC obtained all the necessary permits to go forward with the

  plans and the construction of our new edifice located at 11473 Larch Road,

  here in Tracy, CA.

  In 2007, the People of Christ Church Family purchased two plus acres

  of land for the site to build an edifice for worship services. In 2004,

  our church family applied for a building permit. This began a struggle

  with the city of Tracy that is not reached the last hurdle yet. To our surprise,

  even though our property is in San Joaquin County, the city of Tracy

  has the water rights. After checking with the county about zoning

  and other issues and with their word that the area was zoned for

  churches, we submitted our application to build, only to find out

  that the city would not serve the site with water, even though there

  is a water line in the street; the challenge began.

  After over two years of struggling, we were able to get the city council

  to agree to serve water to the property.

  Thank God for giving us a spirit of perseverance. But, the battle is not over.

  You see they agreed to serve water, but limited the size of pipe to be used

  and of all things it is not large enough to service a fire sprinkler, which the

  city fire department requires. We are currently trying to resolve this issue

  without digging a well that will add significantly to the cost of construction.

  Pray that God will move in the heart of the city council and move this

  obstacle.

  God is Good and He is in control; He promised, He will not leave us nor

  forsake us.   He has blessed us to begin the work and we are pressing on

  in the name of the Lord;   "Being confident of this very thing, that he

  which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of

  Jesus Christ:" ... Phil 1:6 KJV

  On Sunday, August 8, 2008 the People of Christ Church family held the

  inaugural service in their new sanctuary; the first African-American

  church built from the ground up in Tracy’s history.

  People of Christ Missionary Baptist Church New Edifice Building

  Project Is Complete.

  To God be the Glory...