Pastor Fortier & Wife Patricia

PASTOR ERIC FORTIER

Pastor Eric was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He comes from a family of preachers, which include his father, the late Paul L. Fortier; grandfather, the late Raphael A. Fortier, and two uncles.

In fact, his grandfather was a church planter during the 1940's. Pastor Eric grew up in the church under Bishop Donald E. Green at San Francisco Christian Center.  But strayed away from the Lord for a few years, and chose to learn the hard way that the “worldly life” was not what God intended for him and came back to the Lord in 1981.  He began serving in ministry at San Francisco Christian Center as a church musician, helped with church productions and attended church fellowships & events.  There he met a young lady named Patricia and they married in June 1983. 


He first felt the call of God while part of the music ministry at San Francisco Christian Center, but rather than just accept the call he decided to run from it.  In 1990, he and his family relocated to Elk Grove, California where God once again began to tug at his heart.  And in 1995 he said yes to the call God had on his life. He spent the next 5 years in preparation for what God was getting ready to do. During this time he worked in various aspects of ministries that included youth ministry, administration, audio/visual and time as an associate minister.

In 1999, after going through the death of his father, God reassigned him to work with his uncle at Bethel Church in San Francisco, California. It was during this time of traveling that God spoke to him about pioneering a church (World Impact Church Ministries) in Elk Grove, California, a suburb of Sacramento.

In 2001 with the assistance of Bishop Donald Green and San Francisco Christian Center, World Impact Church started with Pastor Eric, his wife, 3 children and 1 member. The church is continuously growing and ministries expanding with the gospel being heard by thousands each week via the churches’ television broadcast. 

Pastor Eric is a man of integrity who lives what he preaches and has a very charismatic preaching style that pulls no punches.  In 2003 Rev. William Pennington, a dear friend and Pastor of our sister church, Joy in Christ Christian Center of Fairfield California passed away suddenly and Pastor Eric was asked and without reservation agreed to assist that church during that very difficult time.  For a year and half Pastor Eric remained there as interim pastor and the bond grew strong between he and their congregation.  Although at times the assignment was very challenging with the traveling between the two churches and preaching, Pastor Eric sensed it to be in God’s will to stay on. 

His passion is too encourage and equip believers to be committed followers of Jesus Christ and become everything God has purposed them to be. His greatest joy is seeing people fulfill what God has designed them to be and do. One of his favorite sayings is "Potential, don't take it with you! - there is enough potential in the graveyard; when I leave here I want to make sure nothing is left". I want God to say, "He used up everything I gave him". 

The Bible tells us the devil is only around to kill, steal and destroy and Pastor Eric is devoted to equipping people with God’s Truth which enables them to identity the enemy’s lies & tactics and too live the abundant life that Christ died for.

Pastor Eric is married to Patricia, his wife of 23 years and they have three children Kristen, Dominic and Timothy. His interests outside of ministry include family, competitive sports (especially golf & basketball), reading, coffee, cooking, games (anything competitive) and coaching little league basketball.