Leadership

Reverend Jonathan Shoemake has served as Senior Pastor of First Church San Jose since April 2000.  With a passion for revival and revolutionary prayer, Pastor Shoemake’s ministry is focused on reaching people who are seeking answers, helping those in need and motivating those who want to be involved in the Kingdom of God.

Prior to becoming Pastor of First Church San Jose, Pastor Shoemake’s ministry included serving as an Evangelist and Pastor of The Family Church in Folsom, California.  Most recently, he was founder and Pastor of The Pentecostal Church (Hollister, California).

In addition to his pastoral duties, Pastor Shoemake is a highly sought-after speaker. Also, he currently serves on the Board of Directors of Pentecostal Communications (Pentecom), Apostolic Broadcast Network Global, and on the Steering Committe for Apostolic Studies Group. He is also co-founder of Freedom Week youth camp.

At First Church San Jose, Pastor Shoemake instituted a successful leadership program targeted at key congregational leaders. Pastor Shoemake's program curriculum teaches effective leadership principles and tools to assist leaders with making their ministry productive for the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Shoemake is an ordained minister of the United Pentecostal Church International. He and his wife, Tasha, reside in Campbell with their three children. With her warm personality and giving spirit,Tasha plays an integral part of the success of First Church San Jose. She is also the Director of the Ladies Ministry and a Sunday School teacher for pre-teen young ladies at First Church San Jose.

Bishop Jimmy Shoemake began ministry at 17 years old. Today, an internationally reknowned minister, Bishop Shoemake’s vision and contributions have shaped the Apostolic movement of this generation.

Bishop Shoemake’s illustrious ministry has included holding pastorate positions in Morris, Oklahoma, Exeter, California, Claremont, California, National City, California, and Houston, Texas. Bishop Shoemake was most recently Senior Pastor of First Church San Jose for nearly 25 years.

A true disciple of the Great Commission, Bishop Shoemake has a heart for home and foreign missions. He has served on the United Pentecostal Church's Foreign Missions Board for nearly 20 years. He has also ministered in several foreign countries, including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Philippines, Peru, Brazil, Belgium, Italy and Germany.

Throughout his ministerial tenure, Bishop Shoemake has served on various boards, such as the United Pentecostal Church's Western District & Oklahoma District Youth Boards, Sheaves For Christ Committees, the Home Missions (Christmas For Christ) Committee for several years, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Apostolic Broadcasting Network Global.

Bishop and his wife, Bobbie, a gospel music legend, reside in the San Jose area. For music from Bobbie Shoemake, please visit www.bobbieshoemake.com.

Jason West has been a member of the First Church of San Jose since 1980.  Bro. West and his wife, Leah, presently serve as Youth Pastor of the Revivalution Youth Ministries at First Church San Jose. They have filled this position since 2001.

Jason grew up being actively involved in First Church San Jose’s children’s choir, holiday dramas, Bible quizzing, youth ministry, choir, and community outreach events. As a teenager, he felt and answered the call of the Lord in his life.

Jason attended Christian Life College (Stockton, CA) and graduated in Spring 1999 with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology.  Upon graduation, he returned to the San Jose area and served as the Youth Pastor of The Pentecostal Church (Hollister, California) for nearly five years. During his time there, he established the SURGE Youth Department, comprised of young people ages 12 – 21 from various cultures and ethnicities.

Along with local youth ministry functions, Jason also serves as the Sectional Youth Director for Section 9 and the Director of Promotions for the Western District Youth Division of the United Pentecostal Church International.

Jason became a licensed minister of the United Pentecostal Church International in 2000, and then married the love of his life, Leah, in September 2001.  One of his short term goals is to pursue a M.A. in Exegetical Theology beginning in Fall 2007.

Jason’s personal philosophy toward youth ministry can be summed up in this phrase: “How you invest in the youth of today, will determine our churches tomorrow.”

Nanci Holston has served as the Minister of Music for First Church San Jose under both Bishop and Pastor Shoemake for the past 16 years. Coupling her technical excellence with an authentic heart of worship, the worship services at First Church San Jose are truly an uplifting and God-focused experience. She has a sincere burden for the music ministry and is a dynamic spiritual motivator to those who come in contact with her.

In addition to her duties as Minister of Music and its wide-reaching impact on many other ministries at First Church San Jose, Nanci was a teacher in the Music Department at Christian Life College for two years. Nanci has also established a western region annual piano camp and the Power2Power Musicians Workshop. She is also on the Steering Committee for the national Heart of Worship music and arts conference held annually. Nanci was also the founder and director of the award-winning Bay Area Pentecostals gospel choir.

Nanci's husband, Bryan, is active in leadership at First Church San Jose and served as project manager on the completion of the new sanctuary.

Nanci and Bryan reside in the San Jose area with their son.

Sharon Thomas serves First Church San Jose as Administrative Assistant.  In addition to her fourteen years of service as Administrative Assistant, she also served for ten years as a Classroom Supervisor for South Bay Christian Academy and assisted as a Daycare Teacher for Kiddie Kingdom Preschool and Daycare.  She has worked with our "More Than Conquerors" Seniors Ministry for over six years and is presently the Director of that ministry.  Sharon is an alumna of Pensacola Christian College, San Jose West Valley College and St. Petersburg Junior College. She has served the community as a Drug Counselor for San Jose Eastside Drug Abuse Center. 

Sharon's husband, Ed, has served in many capacities (construction project manager and director of the sound ministry). He has spent countless hours in the design and construction of all phases of the campus.

Sharon and Ed Thomas have four children and seven grandchildren.