A Vacaville Landmark on Chandler Street
Shiloh Baptist Church has stood at 185 Chandler Street in Vacaville, California since 1998, when the congregation moved from its original home on Elizabeth Street. Long before that relocation, the church had already carved out a distinctive place in the city's history: on November 21, 1976, twelve founding members gathered under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and, with Reverend William J. King, voted to name Shiloh Baptist Church - the first designated African American church established in Vacaville.
Nearly five decades later, the congregation that began with twelve members still meets under the motto "To Equip - To Establish - To Build Up The Body of Christ." The name Shiloh itself reflects the founder's vision: in his words, "Shiloh will be a Beacon of Light."
Five Pastors, One Continuing Mission
Shiloh has been shaped by a succession of pastors whose names are still remembered in the congregation's story. Reverend William J. King shepherded the church from its founding in 1976 until 1983, followed by Reverend Jonathon Wilson, whose two decades of leadership (1984 - 2004) included the 1998 move to Chandler Street. Reverend Terry Long led from 2005 to 2010, and Reverend John B. Black, whose motto was "The Bible is our Sole Authority," served from 2011 to 2014.
During that transitional season, Reverend Gregory Mack, then Shiloh's youth pastor, was named Interim Pastor in October 2014. On March 2, 2016, he was elevated to Senior Pastor, the role in which he continues to serve today.
Pastor Gregory Mack, Sr.
Pastor Gregory Mack, Sr. is a third-generation preacher of the gospel. Born in Oakland, he grew up at Little Temple Church of God in Christ under the tutelage of his father, the late Reverend Robert D. Mack, Sr., and his mother, Michelle R. Mack. He accepted Christ and was baptized in August of 1993 and, at the age of fourteen, began studying the organ and serving as one of the main musicians at his father's church. He was licensed to preach in June 2000 and ordained as an Elder in the Church of God In Christ, Inc. in 2003.
After his father's passing in March 2005, Pastor Mack assumed leadership of what became Temple of New Beginnings Church in Fairfield, then spent four years as an active elder at Showers of Blessing Church in Sacramento under Dr. Darnell Thomas before accepting Shiloh's call to serve as Youth Pastor. Under his care the youth department flourished; after his appointment as Senior Pastor, he has continued to lead the whole congregation with what he calls a passion for "ministering the word of God in a clear, provocative and revelatory manner." He and his wife, Sheena S. Mack, have been married for fourteen years and are the parents of five children.
What Shiloh Believes
The congregation's teachings follow the fundamental truths of historic Christian orthodoxy. Shiloh affirms the inspiration and infallibility of the Old and New Testaments as the only rule of faith and practice; the Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity and incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth, born of the virgin Mary; the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross; His bodily resurrection, ascension, and literal return; salvation by grace through faith; water baptism by immersion; the baptism with the Holy Spirit; the local church as the primary instrument for making disciples; and the resurrection of the dead and final judgment.
That doctrinal spine is summarized in a memorable acrostic the church calls B.A.P.T.I.S.T.:
- B - Bible: the only rule for faith and practice.
- A - Autonomy of the local church: Jesus Christ is the head of this church; no outside denominational body controls its decisions.
- P - Priesthood of every believer: each Christian has direct access to God and shares responsibility for telling others about Christ.
- T - Tithing: ten-percent giving, taught as a matter between the believer and God.
- I - Immersion: baptism by full immersion as a picture of being buried and raised with Christ.
- S - Spirit-led living: daily dependence on the Holy Spirit as the source of power for life.
- T - Telling others about Christ: every believer's responsibility and privilege to share what God has done.
Shiloh's five core values grow out of that framework: the Bible as the inspired and only infallible Word of God, prayer as essential to unleashing God's power, togetherness and unity in the body of Christ, intentional lifelong kingdom living, and excellence in everything the church does.
Sunday Morning at Shiloh
Weekly worship gathers at 10:00 AM at the Chandler Street building. The services follow a preaching-centered, gospel-rooted pattern in which the Word is taught with energy and application. Communion is observed on set Sundays, and baptisms take place every fourth Sunday of the month during the morning service, with a required preparation class the preceding Thursday at 6:30 PM. Services are livestreamed on livestream.com through the Shiloh Baptist of Vacaville channel, and recordings of recent sermons - with titles ranging from "Standing On His Promise" to "The Gift of Hope" - are posted for on-demand listening. A long-running teaching series, "The Sufficiency of the Grace of God," remains available in the archive.
Baby dedications are performed every quarter during the 10:00 AM worship service, with parents bringing newborns, infants, and toddlers to the altar for dedication by the Senior Pastor.
XTREME KIDZ Children's Ministry
Children meet at the same 10:00 AM hour in XTREME KIDZ, the church's purpose-built children's ministry. Director Lady Sheena Mack leads a program designed to help young people build a strong spiritual foundation by teaching and inspiring them to know God's Word. Children are discipled through small group participation, dramatic skits, praise and worship, community outreach projects, and biblical foundations - all aimed at developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a sense of self-respect, discipline, morals, and self-worth that carries into home, school, and community. The ministry partners with parents in the church's broader mission to equip, establish, and build up the next generation.
Men's and Women's Ministries
Shiloh runs parallel ministries for men and women that share a common vocabulary - equipping, establishing, and building up - while addressing the distinct callings of each.
The Men's Ministry, led by Reverend Robert Carter, actively pursues men of every station of life - married, single, younger, or older - to connect them to God, to His Word, and to one another. Its aim is the whole man: mind, body, and spirit. Activities include a monthly men's breakfast, a Guys' Night Out, sporting events, and a men's retreat.
The Women's Ministry pursues women of every status of life and seeks to unite them into "a sisterhood of Christian love and fellowship." Special events include a Mother-Daughter tea and luncheon, an annual prayer breakfast, Ladies Night Out, and sporting events.
Congregation Care
A dedicated Congregation Care ministry, overseen by an Associate Minister and supported by the deacon board, walks alongside members through life's milestones and crises. Its scope includes:
- Deacons: ordained servants assisting the pastor with the offering, communion and baptism services, weddings, funerals, and ordination services.
- Water Baptism: total immersion by believer's request, with deacon-led counseling; observed every fourth Sunday.
- Weddings: ceremonies framed around the Genesis 2:24 promise that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, planned with couples in advance.
- Bereavement and Funeral Services: available Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, led by Reverend Patricia Mandeville.
- Hospital Visitation: a team charged to watch over members during illness and hospitalization.
- Baby Dedication: held quarterly during morning worship.
The Giving Well and Community Outreach
The Giving Well Ministry embodies the church's reading of "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). It provides both food and clothing to individuals from the congregation and the wider Vacaville community.
- Food and Clothing Distribution: Tuesday mornings, 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon.
- Emergency Food Bags: Monday through Friday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM, available through the Administrative Office. The bags typically contain dry goods to sustain families with an urgent need.
The church also maintains a Social Concerns ministry that complements The Giving Well, and a youth-focused ministry called S.W.W.A.E.
Getting in Touch
The church office is reached at (707) 240-6242. The mailing address is 185 Chandler Street, Vacaville, CA 95688. Online giving is available through the church's giving page, and worship services can be followed live via the ShilohBaptistofVacaville channel on livestream.com. Visitors bringing groups are asked to submit a Visiting Group Form at least two weeks in advance; Shiloh notes that a typical worship service runs about ninety minutes.