June 30, 2021
Arizona Pastor Ministers to Harley Riders
Larrie Fraley oversees missions work at Christ's Church of the Valley in Arizona while ministering to Harley-Davidson riders across the Phoenix metro. “I kind of look at [them as] my flock.”
June 30, 2021
Larrie Fraley oversees missions work at Christ's Church of the Valley in Arizona while ministering to Harley-Davidson riders across the Phoenix metro. “I kind of look at [them as] my flock.”
February 10, 2021
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who attended Sullivan (Mo.) Christian Church was shot and killed Jan. 31 while serving as a security guard for a firm that contracts with MetroLink, the mass transit system in St. Louis. James Cook, 30, leaves his wife, Kim, and two children, ages 9 and 5. Kim thanked the community for their support and her church for helping strengthen her family, Fox 2 Now reported. On Tuesday, SCC livestreamed a memorial service it hosted for Cook. Nathaniel M. Smith III, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death, according to stltoday.com. A
By Chris Moon Christ’s Church of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona, recorded 4,371 baptisms in 2019. It was the most ever for the megachurch and the most recorded by any Restoration Movement congregation in the 22 years Christian Standard has compiled data from churches. “The church has always had a big focus on evangelism,” said Ashley Wooldridge, senior pastor of CCV. Christ’s Church of the Valley in 2019 also saw a big spike in average attendance, jumping 7.4 percent to 34,444. That made it the seventh fastest-growing megachurch on Christian Standard’s list. It is the largest congregation in the Restoration
April 29, 2018
The consistency of challenging their congregation to be bold in furthering the kingdom over the years paid off throughout 2017. By Natalee Jones Change isn’t easy but it’s necessary for growth. That’s what Don Wilson kept in mind as he was deciding to retire as senior pastor of Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV) in Phoenix, Arizona, a church he helped launch. Wilson and his wife were meeting with three other couples in the Wilsons’ living room just over 35 years ago when they felt God calling them to start a church in the Phoenix area. CCV’s first service
By Jennifer Johnson A few years ago I wrote a proposal for an online initiative that would provide customizable resources for churches wanting to develop their pastors, worship leaders, campus ministers, church planters, elders, and key volunteers. I suggested an online portal with everything from 101 to seminary-level books, articles, podcasts, and videos, as well as suggested “tracks” with curated lists of resources for specific groups. I referred to research from the Barna Group and Ed Stetzer as well as insights from the leaders of Orchard Group, Stadia, and some of our megachurches to support my argument. It was summarily
August 15, 2015
By Mark E. Moore The Leadership Institute”s residency program at Christ”s Church of the Valley, Peoria, Arizona, began in 2013 because of a single disturbing statistic: 85 percent of all ministry students drop out of ministry within the first five years.1 This is an atrocious attrition rate””a devastating loss of leadership potential with a $60,000 average price tag in tuition. It begs the question: “Why?” The problem is not with our Christian colleges. They are doing a fine job teaching the basics of the Bible. Students come out conversant in apologetics, hermeneutics, homiletics, and a range of theological perspectives. They
March 14, 2013
By Paul Boatman Mark Moore is teaching pastor of Christ”s Church of the Valley (CCV) in Peoria, Arizona, a congregation with weekly attendance of about 19,000. He left a 22-year professorship at Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri, to lead a creative ministry-equipping program through this congregation. You left a respected professorship after two decades. Why? Influence. I loved teaching in Bible college. I also love preaching. When pastor Don Wilson opened the door at Christ”s Church of the Valley, I realized I could pursue both loves. It gives poetic balance to my career: The first half in academia and
By Jennifer Taylor The Solomon Foundation, a new church extension fund for the Christian churches and churches of Christ, launched several months ago with headquarters in Englewood, CO. Doug Crozier, formerly president of Church Development Fund (Irvine, CA), serves as chief executive officer of the new organization. Crossroads Christian Church (Grand Prairie, TX) and Christ”s Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ) worked with Crozier and his team to fund the development and launch of the foundation. Leaders from Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Greenwood, IN), Real Life Ministries (Post Falls, ID), The Crossing (Quincy, IL), and Churchill Meadows Christian Church (Toronto,
By Jennifer Taylor “Neighborhood Ministry has become our nerve center,” says Ashley Wooldridge, executive pastor at Christ”s Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ). “It is the reason our church is growing.” CCV senior pastor Don Wilson created Neighborhood Ministry three years ago to more effectively accomplish the church”s mission of winning people to Christ, training them to become disciples, and sending disciples to impact the world. Each person at CCV is encouraged to join a neighborhood group””a weekly gathering of people who live in the same neighborhood or subdivision. The groups meet each week in a study based on the