9 Ross valley Drive, San Rafael, CA
The signs of the 'Oldest protestant congregation' in Marin County began in San Rafael around 1848, with the actual church worship starting in 1859 at a community hall in what is now downtown San Rafael. From that humble beginning, the church was led by lay people like Mr. L K Walker and Mr.A L Bateman. They had started organizing prayer meetings and bible study meetings for Methodists, as there were other Christian denominations also meeting at the same venue. Every week, their numbers steadily grew and the group began looking for a permanent place to worship. A new church building was secured in 1881 along 4th Street. This was at 912, 4th street, then later they moved to another structure at 1426 4th street. Church pastors began to be appointed to the church from around those early years, a trend that continued up to the present day.
In 1950, the church moved from its former site along 4th Street, to its current location at 9 Ross Valley Drive, San Rafael. The first worship service that was conducted at the current church building was on Easter Sunday 1950. The church pastor at that time was Rev. Quincy K Hamilton, who served the church from 1945 to 1952. It was also in 1950 that the church was able to acquire its pastor's residence, a structure that the church still maintains today.
From 1952 to 1996, a total of twelve [12 ] pastors had been appointed to the church. The Pastor at this church in 1996 was the late Rev. John Auer, who in 1999 welcomed in a group of Fijian worshipers from the Methodist Church in Fiji. Since 1999, the Fijian ministry at this church had continued to grow in number as they also helped the church in the ministries and the administration of the church. The church acknowledges the efforts and the contributions of the founders and former members of this church over its over 165 year history. There are just too many to name, who served this church in the many roles that each had played, and it is our prayer that our Lord Almighty ' Well done, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful to a few things, I will appoint you to be in charge of great things, enter into the joy of your master.' [ Matthew 25:21 ]
Rev. Tevita G Koroi was born in Fiji and was baptized before the age of one in the Methodist of Fiji. He attended elementary and high school in Fiji before he gained his Bachelor's degree in History and Politic at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. It was also at the same university that Rev. Koroi gained his Post Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management and his Master's in Business Administration degree. He served in the Fiji Public Service as a high school principal for 20 years, while also being the National President of the Fijian Teachers Association and the Fiji Teachers Confederation [ the joint body of the two Fiji Teacher Organization ]. He was appointed by the Fijian Teachers Association in 2008 to be the Executive President of the Fijian Teachers Association from the same year until his resignation in 2011 to migrate to the US.
He arrived in California as a Methodist Lay Preacher from Fiji and joined Centennial UMC in Sacramento. He with his wife Maina started serving the church as greeters during Sunday worship. He was then called by Pastor Linda Loessberg-Zahl, the Local pastor, to be the Fijian Ministry Lay Leader, a role that he performed for three years before taking up the role of Church Council Chairperson. While being the Fijian Ministry Lay Leader, Tevita gained his Basic Lay Servant certificate, his Lay Speaking certificate and Lay Minister Certificate. In June 2016, he was called by the District Superintendent for the Central Valley District on the assignment of the Bishop, to be the Lay Minister at Isleton Community UMC, in Isleton, CA. After serving the church for two years, Tevita completed his Licensing Class and was appointed by the Bishop to be the pastor at First UMC San Rafael.
After graduating from Claremont School of Theology in 2023, Tevita was commissioned as a provisional elder before being ordained in 2025 as a church elder. Rev. Koroi is a second year Doctor in Ministry student at the Pacific School of Religion at Berkeley, CA. He is thankful to everyone who has been in some ways part of his life journey in the many contexts in which he has crossed paths with each one. " Like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." [ Jeremiah 18:6 ].
Sunday 10.30 am for the English service at 9 Ross Valley Drive, San Rafael, CA, 94901.
Sunday 1.30 pm for the Fijian service at 9 Ross valley Drive, San Rafael, CA, 94901.
Tuesday
10AM - 3:00PM
Friday
10AM - 3:00PM
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