Meet The Baptist
Connect
Our theme word for our network is Connect: Connecting with God, on Mission and Each Other. One of the privileges of my role in the network is that I get to travel all over our state and meet the Baptist. I wanted to give you the same opportunity without having to drive by connecting you to the pastors, leaders and servants in our state network. So, Arizona Mission Network, Meet The Baptist!
Monty Patton
AZMN Executive Director
Paul Eardensohn
There is a lot of work done before our missionaries get to the field. Meet Paul Eardensohn who helps our IMB missionaries get what they need to share the gospel in Sub-Sarahan Africa.
Jim Haggard
Jim Haggard may be the oldest active pastor in the SBC at 96 years old. You need to hear part of his story in this week's Meet the Baptist.
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Archive 2026
Aug 19 - Paul Eardensohn
There is a lot of work done before our missionaries get to the field. Meet Paul Eardensohn who helps our IMB missionaries get what they need to share the gospel in Sub-Sarahan Africa.
Aug 4 - Jim Haggard
Jim Haggard may be the oldest active pastor in the SBC at 96 years old. You need to hear part of his story in this week's Meet the Baptist.
Jul 22 - Bruce Ford
Meet Bruce Ford, who has pastored and led in Arizona for decades and is now leading historic First Phoenix Church to its "Next."
Jul 8 - Billy Van Camp
Meet Pastor Billy VanCamp of Heart Cry Church in Queen Creek.
Jun 24 - Brian LeStourgeon
Brian LeStourgeon is the pastor of Hillside Baptist Church and our Arizona Southern Baptist trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I invite you to hear his story and the story of Southwestern.
May 20 - Aldo Gonzalez
I have known Aldo Gonzalez for over a dozen years, and it’s time for you to meet him. Arizona Mission Network, meet this Baptist.
May 6 - John Lake
Meet John Lake, pastor of Church at Randall Place and a professor at Gateway Seminary. Listen to us discuss some of the unique opportunities of pastoring a church in a rural community.
Apr 22 - Andrew Bailey
Meet Andrew Bailey, pastor of Cross Church Surprise. He also serves at the Southern Baptist Convention in June with the Committee on Business. Listen to how this works.
Apr 8 - Charles Wesner
Charles has been pastor of First Southern Baptist Church Wellton for over 26 years and has pastored in Arizona for over 50 years. Meet pastor Charles!
Mar 25 - Paul Smith
Dr. Paul Smith came to Arizona for one purpose but God had a lot more in mind. Meet Paul Smith.
Mar 11 - Jeremiah Semmler
Meet Jeremiah Semmler. Jeremiah was not raised Southern Baptist. Listen to why he wanted to become part of our network.
Feb 25 - Hugo Cheung
Meet church planter Hugo Cheung, who is starting Valley Life Chinese Baptist Church to reach the thousands of Taiwanese nationals moving to our state as part of the Taiwanese semiconductor plant in North Phoenix.
Feb 11 - Cody Deevers
Cody Deevers is the pastor of the Table Church in Glendale, which he planted almost a decade ago. Cody shares how no matter what age your church is, there are always unique challenges that pastors must navigate at each stage of growth.
Jan 28 - Sonny Islas
Shine Bright Church has recently become part of our network. I met up with Pastor Sonny and you will enjoy getting to know him and serving with Shine Bright Church in Tucson.
Jan 14 - Andrew Marquez
While Andrew Marquez is a legacy pastor in our state, many of you may not know Andrew or his history in Tucson and our state. Listen to Andrew’s story and how his church is engaging his part of Tucson.
Archive 2025
Dec 17 - Mike Black
Meet pastor Curtis from Meadview Baptist Church. You will enjoy meeting this brother and friend.
Dec 3 - Brett Carlson
Brett Carlson has been the pastor of Mountain Ridge Church for over 22 years and he answers the questions "How Can You Help?"
Nov 19 - Curtis O'Brien
Meet pastor Curtis from Meadview Baptist Church. You will enjoy meeting this brother and friend.
Nov 5 - Brian McCoy
Many pastors struggle with burnout as they try to balance the countless needs before them. Meet pastor Brian McCoy of Foothills Baptist Church and hear his story of the traps that led him to burnout and of God’s faithfulness to rejuvenate his love for God’s people.
Oct 22 - Jack Marslender
Pastoring in one church over decades has a definite impact on both the church and the community. Watch this video with Pastor Jack Marslender, pastor of Avondale Baptist Church.
Oct 8 - Timbo Fowler
Timbo Fowler is a church planter and the senior pastor of One Hope Church in Tucson, AZ. He recently took on the role of Associational Mission Strategist for the Catalina Baptist Association.
Sep 24 - Paul Meldrum
Paul Meldrum became the interim pastor of First Southern Baptist of Flagstaff 10 months ago with the purpose of helping them through this transition. In this issue of Meet The Baptist, let me introduce you to Paul and his “Who’s your Next” Garret Boeck.”
Sep 10 - Josh Jennings
Sedona is one of the most beautiful places in the world. People come to see the red rocks, enjoy hiking and jeep rides but there is more to Sedona than just a tourist destination - Jesus is being made known. Meet Josh Jennings, pastor of Aletheia Church.
Aug 27 - Hudson Garcia
Vintage Church in North Phoenix launched as a new Send Network/SBC church plant on Sunday, August 3. While Hudson did not grow up knowing about Southern Baptist, he has discovered the joy of partnering with our network to impact the world. Meet Hudson.
Aug 13 - Bishnu Regmi
If you think that your church can’t make an impact, you have to watch this video about Grace International Church and meet pastor Bishnu Regmi.
Jul 30 - Ramon Rodriquez
Ramon Rodriquez has been the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Central for over a decade and has led so well and I’m sure that many of you have not met him. I want you to meet both Ramon and his bodyguard (interpreter) Eddy.
Jul 16 - Larry Whitney
Not all of Arizona is in Phoenix or Tucson. As a matter of fact, most of our state is in rural communities. Meet Larry Whitney, pastor of Mustang Mountain Cowboy Church as we talk about ministry in a rural setting.
Jul 2 - John Welcher
John became the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Yuma in September 2024. Hear his story and welcome him to our network.
Jun 18 - Anthony Cox
Anthony Cox is the founding pastor of Mercy Hill Church, in a historical church in downtown Phoenix. Anthony also represents Arizona Mission Network on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) as our trustee. If you ever wondered what the ERLC does on your behalf, you will be excited to hear it from Anthony.
Jun 4 - Chris Stull
Chris Stull is the church planter of Wellspring Church (wellspringchurch.com) and today we wanted to share his story, the challenges of being in a portable worship center for multiple years and let him share what it's like as our North America Board Trustee for Arizona Mission Network.
May 21 - Luke Panter
In this week of “Meet the Baptist” we want to continue in our series of meeting those who represent us. Luke is the founding pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Maricopa and our representative on the Southern Baptist Executive Committee.
May 7 - Steve Hayes
Today in Meet the Baptist, I want to introduce to you Steve Hayes. Steve has served Arizona as a missionary, pastor and now our International Mission Board Trustee for Arizona Mission Network. I believe you will enjoy his story!
Apr 23 - Tyler Trusley
I’m so excited about the young leadership we have in our state and one of those is Tyler Trusley, pastor of Cross Church in El Mirage. I hope you will listen to his and the church's story of redeeming a church building and the sacrificial decisions of those who went before Tyler.
Apr 9 - Chris Cummings
Some of you may be wondering what your Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goes too. Well in this segment of Meet the Baptist, I want to introduce you to church planter Chris Cummings. Chris is the pastor/planter of Doxa Church in Tucson. You will enjoying how the Lord called Chris to Tucson and how this church plant is reaching near downtown Tucson.
Mar 12 - Allen Mann
Starting a church on the Hopi Reservation has its challenges. In this week's “Meet the Baptist,” get to know Allen and his wife as they share their unique needs and welcome AZMN churches to partner with them to reach an under-served area of our state.
Feb 26 - Dan Diffey
In this week's “Meet the Baptist” I want to introduce you to Dan Diffey, church planter of New Covenant Community Church in Chandler. You will want to hear how the members of McQueen Road Baptist Church desired to make a kingdom impact in Chandler and gave their facilities to start this new work.
Feb 18 - Paul Pyle
In this week's “Meet the Baptist,” meet Paul Pyle. Paul is the pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Tucson. In this video, we talk about evangelism training in the church and his desire to help churches develop evangelism training.
Jan 29 - Will Vallely
In this week's “Meet The Baptist,” you get to learn a little more about Will Vallely, pastor of The Ridge Church in Prescott Valley and association mission strategist of Yavapai Association. Will shares what God is doing in his church and how they strive to reach Prescott Valley with the gospel.
Jan 15 - Andrew Marchbanks
In this week's “Meet The Baptist” we want to introduce you to one of our great young leaders, Andrew Marchbanks, associate pastor at First Southern Baptist Church of Glendale at Sahuaro Ranch. Listen to the value of leading his Christian Challenge team in “The 6 Types of Working Genius."