|
 Dr. Joe Carson Smith,
a lifelong resident
of the Valley of the Sun, launched
Camelback Christian Church in 1974.
Dr. Smith served this
congregation for
32 years, and retired from the pulpit
in June of 2005.
Today, Camelback Christian Church sits on 5 acres of prime property along the resort corridor of Camelback Road, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Let me tell you a little about how it got there. The short answer of course is… God’s will put it there. We certainly won’t argue with that! But I would add two more words to describe how it got their… faith & sweat. According to the Apostle James, the two always go together, or else nothing much gets done in the building of the Lord’s Kingdom (James 2:17-26).
Here’s a brief history of events to further explain how it got there.
An announcement of a new church in Scottsdale is made on September 27, 1973. Camelback Christian Church holds its first service in the rotunda at Camelback Seventh Day Adventist Church on October 7, 1973.
On January 27, 1974 the congregation votes to authorize the board of directors to purchase 4.5 acres of land on the south side of Camelback Road, near 62nd Street. The price was $90,000. That doesn’t seem like much now, but for 20 average American families in 1973 it was enough to require a significant amount of faith. Our leaders and flock accept the challenge and the property is acquired. Oh yes, one other detail… the property is covered with mature citrus trees. We are now in the citrus farming business. Fruit picking and night irrigating become part of the work of the Lord’s Kingdom.
On July 10, 1977 a groundbreaking ceremony is held to commemorate the beginning of construction for our first building. By January 1978 construction is complete, and the new sanctuary building is occupied.
By September of 1980 an education building has been completed, followed soon by an addition to the building. Improvements to the frontage of the property occur over the next several years, including a wall, lighted sign and cross, as well as widened driveways.
By the spring of 1987, less than ten years from our first groundbreaking ceremony, our building program has been completed.
By January 1990, debt has been retired on the education building. The property is also debt free. Since then, all building and property debt has been retired.
In 1994 Camelback was approached by a wireless communications provider proposing a communications site on our property. Since then, two bell towers, one with a fully functional carillion of bells mark the location of our property on the North side, along with two flag poles. These architectural features conceal wireless cellular sites, which provide wireless communications coverage for many wireless service providers. With these sites comes income, which Camelback Christian Church dedicates to many Christian Missions around the world, far and near.
In 2006 Camelback Christian Church entered into an agreement with Arcadia Little League to provide recreational facilities for the youth of our community. Our ball fields are a part of our service and outreach to the Arcadia community.
We hope that you will come and be a part of this story. We offer an opportunity to be a part of this history. We offer an opportunity for you to exercise your faith. We offer an opportunity for you to serve and be served in the body of Christ. We offer an opportunity for you to love and be loved in the fellowship of Christ. We offer an opportunity for you to be nourished in the Word of God. We offer an opportunity for you to grow into discipleship and ministry. We offer you faith & sweat. Jesus has already provided the blood. We are saints alive, washed in his blood, sinners all, made righteous only by Jesus Christ. Come and be a part. |
