We are a Christian church serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley. Our services are bilingual (Japanese with immediate live English translation), and everyone is welcome.
We are a warm, family-like community with people of all ages, from children to seniors. During the worship service, we also offer a bilingual Japanese-English Sunday School program for children.
After worship, we enjoy a meal together or spend time over coffee/tea and refreshments. Even if it is your first time visiting, we hope you will feel right at home and enjoy getting to know everyone!
Maybe you have never been to church before but are interested in the Bible. Maybe you miss Japanese culture, or Japanese food. Or maybe you would simply like more opportunities to speak Japanese. Whatever brings you, we would love for you to come and visit us!
If you went to Sunday School as a child, or if you used to attend church but haven’t been for a while, you are also very welcome!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email or phone.
We look forward to welcoming you!
meet our pastor
Hello! My name is Munetoshi (Toshi) Hatsusegawa, and I am the pastor of Baylight Gospel Church.
I was born and raised in Osaka. For some reason, people often tell me that I don’t look like I’m from Osaka, but I am an Osaka native through and through—I can’t live without takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and manzai comedy!
My family was not Christian, but I became a Christian when I was a university student through the influence of a friend.
Whenever I had questions about the Bible or Christianity, this friend would answer them. But other than that, he never tried to convert me or push his faith on me. He simply continued to be my friend and was always there for me. Over time, I found myself drawn to the way he and his Christian friends lived. I also became curious about the invisible Presence I always sensed whenever I was with them— it was the presence of God.
I began to realize that there is a God who created the heavens and the earth—and who created me. I learned that time itself has a beginning and an end, and that God is master over time. And I discovered that this God has a plan for my life, for the path I have been walking and for the road ahead.
As I came to understand these things, I experienced a peace that was difficult to put into words. I found myself wanting to trust this God, and that is how I came to faith.
Soon afterward, I served at a church in Sakai City, Osaka, for about eight years. I then moved to Vancouver, Canada, where I studied the Bible and theology. After a total of six years of study and ministry in Vancouver, I moved to Toronto, where I served as a pastor at a Japanese-Canadian church for about eight years.
From there, I came to the San Francisco Bay Area and served as a pastor at a Japanese church for more than eight years. In the spring of 2026, Baylight Gospel Church was born and I became the pastor.
I am married and have two sons. At home, English is strictly forbidden—Osaka dialect only! You will often hear phrases like, “Honma kaina?” (“Seriously?”) and “Shiran kedo” (“But what do I know?”) flying around our house.
I like to think that some of that warm, easy-going Osaka atmosphere has found its way into our church as well. We are a community that is bright and joyful, yet also seeking to walk alongside those who are hurting—a place where people don’t have to try too hard or pretend to be someone or something they’re not.
We would love for you to come and visit us sometime.
Here, you will find joy and tears, laughter and songs—and the unique story of every person who walks through our doors.
We look forward to welcoming you!!
History
Pastor Toshi began meetings in his own home back in February, 2026. Anyone who wanted to grow in their walk and faith in Jesus Christ was welcome. It was a gathering of encouragement and sweet fellowship. Pastor Toshi’s desire is for everyone to know God’s truths and their power to transform lives. Baylight Gospel Church was incorporated on 4/28/2026. We now meet on the campus of Redwood Church, which has graciously and generously offered us a space to function and grow as a church.
Mission
The identity of Baylight Gospel Church is first and foremost a community of Jesus Christ-followers. We hold God’s Word (the Holy Bible) as the ultimate foundation of our purpose and actions. As we have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we wish to invite others who are wanting more than what society and our digital world offer. We want everyone to have the opportunity to know their identity through God’s eyes, and the peace and love that only He can give. As the number of evangelical Christians in Japan is less than 0.5%, we also have a special burden to reach out to the Japanese, both here in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Japan.
What we believe
The following statements are derived from the Holy Bible and upheld by our congregation.
God. We believe in the God of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
Moses. We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit are
one. We believe that God is perfect and just, faithful, and loving. We believe that He
desires to have an intimate and personal relationship with us, His creation, who are
made in His image.
The Holy Bible. We believe in the literal reading of the Holy Bible, that it is without
error, and that it informs us on how we are to relate to God and each other and live
out our lives.
Creation and Sin. We believe in creation as it is described in Genesis. We believe
that we are sinful from birth and that it is only by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice that we are
saved from our sin and reunited with God.
Christ and Salvation. We believe that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God. We
believe that He was born and lived as a human being as recorded in the Holy Bible.
We believe that he was crucified for our sins, died, was buried, and resurrected to
life three days later, and that He sits at the right hand of God the Father. We believe
that anyone who believes in the name of Jesus Christ is saved.
The Holy Spirit. We believe that God gave us the Holy Spirit when Jesus ascended
to heaven. We believe that the Holy Spirit is our counselor, helper, and advocate.
The Church. We believe that the Church is the body of Christ and made up of
believers and followers of Jesus Christ. It is not a building. We believe that we, the
Church or God’s children, are responsible for blessing the people and communities
around us and to make known the gospel of Jesus Christ through our words, actions,
and attitudes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.