Laveen
Arizona
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
History of our church
Laveen is located near the South Mountains southwest of Phoenix, which was populated by mesquite trees and cacti.By the late 1930s the community boasted a school, post office and a small number of stores.
In April 1939, a group of mission-minded members of the Central Baptist Church of Phoenix determined to begin a Sunday School at the Laveen elementary school, although several attempts by various other denominations were short lived. Space in the school auditorium was leased and the mission begin.
In August of 1943 twenty-one members of Central Baptist were granted letters permitting them to organize a church. Laveen Baptist Church became a reality. Later that year, the church purchased land across the road from the school and the members constructed the first church building, capable of accommodating about sixty people.
Pastors, who were sacrificially dedicated to service, characterized the remainder of the 1940s. They worked at secular jobs to support their ministry and their families. Almost without exception their wives taught, led the music and formed women’s groups such as the Women’s Missionary Union.
Through the 1980s the church continued to grow and evolve. This was a period of strengthening and reorganizing as the community was transitioning from an almost purely agricultural one to one of a mixed suburban makeup. The activities of the church reached into the community and a Youth Director and a Music Director were added to the church staff.
The church continued to grow and we reached a point in the last half of the 80s that necessitated planning for further improvement and enlarging of our facilities. Planning and fund raising were undertaken for a three-phased development program; a larger sanctuary, an educational facility and an office building.
The early 1990s saw outreach of the church extend to the foreign as well as the local mission field. Missionary trips were made to Wales, the Ukraine, Brazil and Malawi. Members of the congregation gained insight and experience of the Lord’s work through participation in these missions.
In 1993 the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by having a groundbreaking ceremomy for the new sanctuary which would seat 400 persons. In 1997 the number of baptisms into the church doubled over the previous year as the population of the community continued to grow rapidly. The new sanctuary was completed in 1998.
In 2008 we will celebrate our 65th Anniversary.
Our Statement of Faith
"We believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible, that God is eternally triune, that man is sinful and deserves punishment, and that only Jesus Christ perfectly paid for it for all who believe, giving them eternal life. The Holy Spirit indwells those who believe and helps them live a godly life in loving fellowship. Those who do not believe will be eternally separated from God."
We at Laveen Baptist Church profess a living faith, rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday, and today and forever." Therefore, the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ [as revealed] in the Holy Scriptures.
Laveen Baptist Church
History of our church
Laveen is located near the South Mountains southwest of Phoenix, which was populated by mesquite trees and cacti.By the late 1930s the community boasted a school, post office and a small number of stores.
In April 1939, a group of mission-minded members of the Central Baptist Church of Phoenix determined to begin a Sunday School at the Laveen elementary school, although several attempts by various other denominations were short lived. Space in the school auditorium was leased and the mission begin.
In August of 1943 twenty-one members of Central Baptist were granted letters permitting them to organize a church. Laveen Baptist Church became a reality. Later that year, the church purchased land across the road from the school and the members constructed the first church building, capable of accommodating about sixty people.
Pastors, who were sacrificially dedicated to service, characterized the remainder of the 1940s. They worked at secular jobs to support their ministry and their families. Almost without exception their wives taught, led the music and formed women’s groups such as the Women’s Missionary Union.
Through the 1980s the church continued to grow and evolve. This was a period of strengthening and reorganizing as the community was transitioning from an almost purely agricultural one to one of a mixed suburban makeup. The activities of the church reached into the community and a Youth Director and a Music Director were added to the church staff.
The church continued to grow and we reached a point in the last half of the 80s that necessitated planning for further improvement and enlarging of our facilities. Planning and fund raising were undertaken for a three-phased development program; a larger sanctuary, an educational facility and an office building.
The early 1990s saw outreach of the church extend to the foreign as well as the local mission field. Missionary trips were made to Wales, the Ukraine, Brazil and Malawi. Members of the congregation gained insight and experience of the Lord’s work through participation in these missions.
In 1993 the church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by having a groundbreaking ceremomy for the new sanctuary which would seat 400 persons. In 1997 the number of baptisms into the church doubled over the previous year as the population of the community continued to grow rapidly. The new sanctuary was completed in 1998.
In 2008 we will celebrate our 65th Anniversary.
Our Statement of Faith
"We believe in the inspiration and authority of the Bible, that God is eternally triune, that man is sinful and deserves punishment, and that only Jesus Christ perfectly paid for it for all who believe, giving them eternal life. The Holy Spirit indwells those who believe and helps them live a godly life in loving fellowship. Those who do not believe will be eternally separated from God."
We at Laveen Baptist Church profess a living faith, rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ, who is "the same yesterday, and today and forever." Therefore, the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ [as revealed] in the Holy Scriptures.