By Sheila S. Hudson
Twenty-four devout believers had a dream, to deliver living water to the spiritual desert that is Las Vegas.
They saw the beginning of their dream”s fulfillment with the birth of Central Christian Church in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, Nevada, on April 29, 1962. The congregation was dedicated to a grace-filled, countercultural lifestyle. From 43 founding members, Central burgeoned to 950 in 1991. Under Gene Appel”s leadership, the church purchased 56 acres and built an auditorium seating 3,000. God had indeed blessed Central”s mission “to connect the unconnected to Christ and together grow to full devotion to him.”
Central continued its outreach goal of building a caring community. In 1993 the result was a daughter church, Canyon Ridge Christian Church. Canyon Ridge began meeting in a YMCA building with an audience of 750 people. Mike Breaux was the founding minister. In its second year, Canyon Ridge purchased land at Lone Mountain. Kevin Odor became senior pastor. Attendance burgeoned to more than 4,000 by 1998, prompting construction of a larger facility. The emphasis on extending grace became more evident as growth continued to soar.
By the millennium, leadership teams from Central and Canyon Ridge began praying and planning for a church in the southwest side of the Las Vegas valley. In September 2000, The Crossing was welcomed into the family. One thousand excited believers attended The Crossing”s first service, which served up an outpouring of grace to the Mojave Desert. The Crossing moved into a new facility in August and is averaging 1,300 in attendance.
With this daughter church barely toddling, the leadership teams were still convinced there was need for another type of outreach in the community. So in 2002, The Apex became another daughter church in God”s family.
Grace Principles
The following simple biblical precepts of grace have been the foundation for all of the congregations: (1) only God can forgive sins; (2) God is the judge of our hearts; and (3) children of God must accept those God accepts. These basic principles undergird all leadership decisions and faith commitments. Grace is indeed “God”s unmerited love toward us,” but finding practical ways of extending grace in full force may sometimes give us difficulty.
In order to fulfill the goals of teaching biblical precepts to would-be servant leaders, tutoring Christians to discover and use their spiritual gifts, and training leaders to influence others, Central Christian Church has partnered with Lincoln (Illinois) Christian College to launch Central Christian College. This alliance will initiate programs for personal growth, offer certificates in various areas, and aid those wishing to pursue a degree.
Central”s vision is to educate an emerging generation of leaders fully equipped for their mission. Spring course offerings include Introduction to the Bible, Worldviews, Life of Christ””Part 1, and Hebrew History and Literature””Part 2.
Central Christian Church continues to grow and is averaging 8,500 each weekend in four identical services. “Central is all about connecting people with God and one another,” says Jud Wilhite, senior pastor. “We are a Bible-based, contemporary church centered on the life-changing power of God”s grace. We are not perfect people””far from it. But we are committed to following God and sharing his love with others.”1
Churches in the Las Vegas desert are flourishing. A few devoted leaders sacrificed and shared their knowledge of Christ and his grace, and thousands have responded. Christ knew only mercy, compassion, and love could infuse a spirit broken by sin. Only his Spirit can rejuvenate and revive. His followers are carrying his message forth in a seemingly unlikely place.
In Romans 5 Paul said this:
All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn”t, and doesn”t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it”s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that”s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life””a life that goes on and on and on, world without end (Romans 5:20, 21, The Message).
Like springs in the desert, grace gushes forth in what many have tagged “sin city.” Shane Philip, pastor of The Crossing, says, “We don”t call this “˜sin city” anymore. We call it “˜the city of grace” because the apostle Paul said, “˜where sin increases, grace increases all the more.””2
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1Central Christian Church Central Beat, Fall 2005, p. 2.
2“A Great Big Baby!” by Shane Philip, CHRISTIAN STANDARD, 3 August 2003, p. 7.
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The Las Vegas Family of Churches
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
1001 New Beginnings Drive
Henderson NV 89015
Founded: April 29, 1962
Jud Wilhite, senior pastor
Average weekly attendance: 7,500
CANYON RIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
6200 W. Lone Mountain Road
Las Vegas NV 89130
Founded: 1993
Kevin Odor, senior pastor
Average weekly attendance: 4,500
THE CROSSING, A CHRISTIAN CHURCH
7950 Windmill Lane
Las Vegas, NV 89113
Founded: September 24, 2000
Shane Philip, senior pastor
Average weekly attendance: 1,072
THE APEX
Mailing address: P.O. Box 80687
Las Vegas NV 89180
Gathering of simple churches that meet weekly in homes and combine monthly.
Founded: Emerging in 1997 and became autonomous in 2002
Overseer: Greg Hubbard
Average weekly attendance: “At least 100,” although not counted
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Sheila S. Hudson is a Christian writer and speaker who lives in Athens, Georgia.
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