Golden Valley: Taking steps to share the gospel

By Noah Jaeger

Golden Valley Baptist Church in Golden Valley is taking steps in evangelism.

Golden Valley is a hurting area where few churches dare to venture. However, Golden Valley Pastor Dean Stanley sees incredible hope and gospel potential for his community.

“We’ve found people with big hearts, and people who have been delivered because of the gospel,” Stanley says. “They know the value in how the gospel changes lives, so they have a passion to change our community.”

For three years, Stanley and his church have been seeking to meet the needs of their community. Currently, the church is constructing a new building to unite their three worship services together under one roof each Sunday and provide a place for physical, emotional and spiritual healing for all who come.

With a continued passion to reach others who need hope, the Golden Valley church is planning to take another step: starting a church plant near the Oatman Highway, south of Golden Valley.

“There are no churches in this area, but demographically there are a lot of residents there, so there’s a need for a church,” Stanley says. “We’re identifying people of peace and gatekeepers there, so we can start a Bible study that reaches the community. Our ‘next step’ is for the community beyond us.”

Eddy Pearson, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention evangelism/discipleship facilitator, has assisted Golden Valley as it takes steps to focus on evangelism.

“We all need a next-step mindset to move and grow,” Pearson says. “The alternative is to sit and atrophy.”

Pearson’s efforts include relationally supporting Stanley.

“Next steps must permeate all areas of life: personal, family, vocational, faith, if we are going to move forward productively,” Pearson says.

As churches continue to respond to the Great Commission, the AZSBC is striving to support those churches in making their unique next steps in all areas of life and ministry.

Noah Jaeger, a freelance writer and photographer, is a member of Mercy Hill Church in Phoenix and serves on the Christian Challenge staff at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus.

Get Involved

–Join Dean Stanley in their next step by praying for him, his family and their church.

–If your church needs help formulating or taking the next step in evangelism, contact Eddy Pearson at eddy@azsbc.org.