Bellevue Heights Church (BHC) is unique in character in that it is comprised primarily of Christians who are over 50 years old. BHC welcomes all ages, but the church is located in a retirement community where at least one member of each household must be 55 years of age, and no permanent resident can be under 19 years of age. Most are retired or approaching retirement.
For this reason, the level of lay engagement in the operation of the church is significantly greater than in a multi-generational church. Many of our members have the time, energy, and expertise to provide leadership to BHC.
Becoming God's Servants to Share the Grace and
Love of Jesus Christ
Vision Statement
Bellevue Heights Church is an active congregation of senior adults. Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Word, we will participate in meaningful worship, challenge and encourage people to accept Christ, live as believers, learn as disciples, love others as Christ loved us, fellowship as God’s family, and participate in missions.
Ministries at Bellevue Heights
SEQUOIA MINISTRY -- A singles ministry that meets monthly for lunch, fellowship and programs. This group also sponsors monthly trips and projects of ministry to others.
BHCWM-- Bellevue Heights Church Women's Ministry. The ladies of Bellevue Heights meet for Bible Studies and have sponsored various mission ministry projects.
CARE & CONCERNS MINISTRY -- The Care & Concerns Ministry of our church serves many needs of our members through transportation, assisting in moving and holding estate sales, and keeping in contact with members through phone calls and visits.
Dr. Lee Jeffords, the Area Minister of what was formerly American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Southwest ABCPSW (what is now known as Transformation Ministries) called together a group of concerned Christians on November 21, 1971 to discuss the possibility of founding a new American Baptist Church in Sun City, Arizona. In February 1972 the Committee on Church Planning and Development of ABCPSW voted to sponsor our church. Without property or a building, the founders met at the First Federal Savings and Loan building on Dell Webb Boulevard, and later at the Lakeview Recreational Center. The first worship service was held on January 30, 1972 and the Rev. Clyde Demmel was the preacher. The first public worship was held on March 5, 1972 in Lakeview Recreational Center. The first morning worship service was conducted on January 20, 1972. Our church was officially founded on April 13, 1972. At first our church was a mission church and later an American Baptist Fellowship before officially becoming an American Baptist Church. Dr. Charles Bell was called to be the founding pastor and began on October 1, 1972. The first Sunday bulletin was printed on November 1, 1972, the same day the new American Baptist Church of Sun City, by vote of the congregation, became Bellevue Heights Church, American Baptist.
SENIOR PASTORS AT BELLEVUE HEIGHTS CHURCH
Rev. Dr. Charles Bell (Ann) October 1972 - May 1977
Rev. C. Glenn Orr (Dolores) November 1977 - August 1980
Rev. David Burrows (Mena) September 1981 - April 1986
Rev. Stanley A. Brown (Dorothy) December 1986 - April 1995
Rev. Boyd L. Baker (Fran) December 1995 - December 1999
Rev. Daniel Ivins (Libbey) December 2001 - March 2003
Rev. Mark L. Stevens (Robyn)February 2004 - February 2010
Rev. Dr. Dale Saxon (Charlotte) June 2010 - November 2011
ASSOCIATE PASTORS AT BELLEVUE HEIGHTS CHURCH
Rev. Blake Franklin (Marie) December 1977 - December 1983
Rev. David Rathjen (Kay) January 1984 - January 1990
Rev. Dr. Ralph Daniel (Dorothy) March 1990 - September 1994
Rev. Don Swanson (Joann) March 1995 - October 2000
Rev. Cheryl Adair (Ed) February 1997 - August 2003
Rev. David L. Tomb (Barbara) December 2000 - October 2008
Rev. Dr. Dale Saxon (Charlotte) July 2009 - June 2010
NURSE MINISTRY AT BELLEVUE HEIGHTS CHURCH
Sun Health Nurse Care
Nurse Fran Baker (Boyd) 2001 - January 2004
Nurse Rosalie Coulter (Ken) June 2004 - Present
Bellevue Heights Churchexists that its members may "become God's Servants to share the grace and love of Jesus Christ". Jesus taught that a deep love for God and others is the basis of all God's commandments (Matthew 22-37-40). As Jesus prepared to ascend to heaven, He commissioned his disciples to go throughout the world making disciples. Our primary focus is to accomplish ministry that seekers and Christians might become mature believers and followers of God in everyday life because of their passion for their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
The Founding of Bellevue Heights Church
Bellevue Heights Church
About Us
Our Core Beliefs
The Six Core Beliefs we hold as central to our mission to serve Jesus Christ and that guide our goals, objectives and ministries at Bellevue Heights Church:
GOSPEL:
We live by personal faith in the “Good News” of what God - - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - - has accomplished in the incarnation, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world.
SCRIPTURE:
We submit to the authority of the Word of God, incarnate in Jesus Christ, made known in the whole of Scripture as the supreme authority for faith and practice.
WORSHIP:
We believe humanity’s chief purpose is the worship of God in Jesus Christ. This is a shared experience of love, devotion, praise, tithing and allowing God’s Spirit to speak the truth of Jesus Christ through scriptures and the Holy Spirit.
MISSION:
We are driven by God’s Mission to: (1) Love God; (2) love others; and to (3) go into our community and around the world to evangelize seekers and disciple believers.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION:
We are committed to the spiritual formation of Christ’s image within believers by modeling personal spiritual wholeness, biblical faithfulness and Christ’s love, grace and compassion.
COMMUNITY:
We live as a vibrant community that brings everyone together in Christ across racial, cultural, gender and different Christian backgrounds as the “body of Christ”.
October 1972 - May 1977
