Russia, Belorussia and Ukraine suffered through hard times during the year of destruction, bloodshed, time of wars, and much political and economical turmoil. Millions of lives were lost because of the merciless rule of the communist regime. Thousands of Christians were exiled to Siberia and other prisons and labor camps, where they died because of their belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Through prophetic word from the Lord, the Holy Spirit began to speak and instructed the Christians to leave the country from various cities. By obeying, many were delivered in a miraculous way; God had lead them across the boarder into China. They lived in they city Koolja, Sinkiung province, for 14 years. It was during this time that the church was established.
The Lord again began to move with His Holy Spirit and told the people that they must leave China because hard times were approaching; that China will become a communist country.
Those that trusted the Lord began to journey on. This was a difficult journey as many traveled in covered wagons and other means, through China. After several years of journey through China, Philippines, South America, they had arrived in the United States of America. The first group of immigrants arrived into United States in 1951. Others came through South America and arrived in the United States in 1956 and 1957. They has settled and continued to exist as the original church in San Francisco, California.
Initially they had rented a place for worship, however as the church began to grow the need arose to acquire a bigger facility, perhaps one of the church’s own. It was not until 1961 that this groups began to build a new church, Russian Gospel Temple, located at 2233 – 17th Street, San Francisco, California 94103. In 1962, the Temple was dedicated to the service of the Lord and remains active to this day.
In 2022, Russian Gospel Temple was renamed San Francisco Gospel Church by a majority vote of the members, with the blessing of current pastors Yuriy Georgiev and David Dumanovsky, as well as previous Sr. Pastor Alex Shevchenko.
