40 Years of Skyway
SKYWAY CHURCH
40 YEARS SPREADING THE GOSPEL
On October 15, 1967 Skyway Baptist Church was constituted into a church. It had begun as a mission in January of 1967 with Roger Jones as the founding pastor along with his wife Edna. The first attempts to reach LAFB started in March of 1965 and lasted until August of 1966. After 17 months of trying to get a ministry started these first pioneers left and were replaced by a couple from Texas, the Jones. They persevered through and saw the congregation birthed. This persevering spirit has always been a trademark of the Skyway congregation. The apostolic call rested upon this church from its early beginnings with leaders unaware of the ultimate destiny of this church, yet courageous to fulfill the calling of God placed within their hearts.
The mission was sponsored by First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale. An interesting side note to this beginning is the current pastors Greg and Dawn Brown were born again, baptized and married at First Baptist Church of Avondale. It was there Greg surrendered to preach the gospel and was licensed into ministry. They were sent out to Skyway to be the Youth Pastor in 1983. God truly has a multi-generational plan that is bigger than any one person. Even when we do not realize how the plan is being fulfilled.
One of the key families in the very beginning was the Dixon’s. Penny and her husband Richard came to LAFB from assignment in Africa and were part of the building process. Skyway’s first buildings were barracks purchased from LAFB. One side of the building was the sanctuary and the other was made into classrooms. In the back were two tiny one toilet bathrooms. (Those bathrooms were in use until 1993!) In 1968 Richard passed away. Penny stayed faithful to serve in many offices at the church until her retirement in 2005. She is still a vital part of the Skyway family today.
Many young men surrendered to the ministry and went on to start churches as pastors in all parts of the United States. They would write back and tell of their churches. At this time there was only one person in our church that wasn’t from Luke.
In 1975 Pastor Lupe Davila started a Spanish speaking congregation at the church. He was faithful to preach the gospel to the many migrant workers who traveled through our state. In 1984 Skyway assisted Lupe in purchasing a site in El Mirage. When they opened the new church they named it Cielo Del Camino, or Skyway in Spanish. Little did we know that this would be the first church plant in the apostolic calling upon this church. We still support Brother Lupe today although he is retired, because we honor this man who spent his life preaching and serving the poor without regards to his own needs.
In 1978 Pastor Jones would leave to continue their calling as Church Planters. He was followed by Dr. Melvin Ratheal and then Johnnie Probst. Ruth Wilkins stepped in as a missionary from 1981-1982. She helped keep things going until Pastor Frank Moore arrived with his wife Cathy in 1982.
Pastor Frank had a vision of Skyway learning to sing praise choruses and moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Skyway was his first church out of seminary and he had served at other “Charismatic” churches in his past. He invited a young Youth Pastor to join him, Greg Brown, and together they began a journey of moving on with God regardless of denominational ties. Through Pastor Moore’s leadership Skyway was known as a “Spirit Filled Baptist Church.” This journey brought in understanding of the five fold ministry and the regular practice of all the spiritual gifts including an expectation for signs and wonders. Some of our existing leaders came to Skyway during this season of “tent revivals”.
Pastor Moore also had the vision of starting a Christian School at the church. He asked Dawn Brown, along with Jane Burleson to be the Directors of Skyway Christian School in 1986. Dawn would hold this position until 2002. Skyway Christian School began with a Pre-School and Kindergarten and finished with twelve grades. The school brought many families to Skyway and changed many young lives.
In 1984 Marv and Jan Gallion began being foster parents for boys. This opened the door for the “Lighthouse of Love Ministry” that cared for 72 boys over the eighteen years of ministry. Jan now serves as the Office Manager of our church.
In 1989 Pastor Greg Brown became the Senior Pastor of the church. On the first Sunday in March he entered this stage with sixty five men, women, and children in the first service. He served in a bi-vocational role for the first year until the church grew to the point that he left his management position at a Fortune Five Hundred company to lead the church. Every year brought continued growth to the church which included bringing new buildings for education and a new sanctuary in 1993. Skyway understood God’s call and vision for the church was to the entire Body of Christ and beyond a denomination. Skyway Baptist Church had become Skyway Church of the West Valley. The church incorporated in its new name with a vision to be a regional church.
The apostolic call to send Skyway members to other countries as short term missionaries began in 1993 when Pastor Greg and Dawn went to Australia. Since that time hundreds of Skyway members of all ages have traveled to over twenty countries to build clinics, conduct Pastor Training Schools, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. These trips have opened the doors to relationships with National Pastors who are supported by the church as they evangelize the un-reached nations of the world. This is now known as the Skyway Apostolic Network where we are working with other apostles who oversee hundreds of pastors world wide.
Raising up Ministers
The 1990’s brought great growth and change to Skyway. Every year the congregation was growing with new converts and new families. Once the church reached 300 members it was time for the many faithful lay leaders to accept God’s call to move into full time vocational ministry. Every one of the pastors on staff started out as members who became leaders that served so faithfully they were ordained on staff. They proved their faithfulness through the many years of lay service without ever being compensated. The saying, “every member is a minister” started when these staff members truly were simply members of the congregation.
Pastor Sam Holliday, the faithful right hand man of Pastor Greg, became the full time Associate Pastor in 1994. His wife Sherry became the ordained Discipleship Pastor in 2006. Pastor Kenny Koger became the ordained Youth Pastor in 1994. In 2007 he and his wife Janet were sent out with seventy five members from Skyway to start Elevation Church of Buckeye. Pastor Loraine Coleman has led worship since 1989 with her husband, Charlie and she became the ordained Worship Pastor in 1998. The first time Nick and Shirley Hill came to Skyway; Nick was preparing to tell Shirley he would never go to a church again. A greeter gave Nick a hug and the Holy Spirit ministered to him in a way like he had never known before and through time of ministry and leadership development, Pastor Nick was ordained as our Community Care Pastor in 1999. Marie and Kennedy Rice came to Skyway as members in 2000. Again, through much ministry, love, and the call of God, Marie was ordained as the Childrens Pastor in 2006. Clayton Thompson was baptized at Skyway while he was a high school student, now married to his wife Amelia; Clayton was ordained Youth Pastor in 2006. Rick and Gayle Bartlett came to Skyway as members in the mid 1990s. In 1996 Gayle became the Director of Skyway Bible Land Child Care facility. She now serves on the administrative staff. Doug Cox, the Business Manager and Frank Garcia, who is part of the Maintenance Staff, were both saved and baptized at Skyway. Brad Lal came to Skyway Christian School in fifth grade. In 2007 Brad became the Director of Point Zero Skate Park and Teen Center. Michelle LeCroy came to Skyway June 1995 as a member. She enrolled in the internship program and began working at Bible Land in August 1999. She is currently over Data Entry and part of the administrative staff. Susan Cheatham and her husband Roger became Skyway members January 1998. Susan received mentorship from Pastor Loraine in March of 1999 and became a Worship Leader the summer of 1999. She currently serves on staff as Senior Director of the Praise and Worship Ministry. Susie Ortega became a member of Skyway in approximately 1989. At that time she taught pre-school/kindergarten at the Skyway school. She became Assistant Director of Bible Land in 1996. She now serves as the Early Childhood Director of the Childrens Ministry. Jackie Martinez came to Skyway February 2006, and received the Lord into her life March 2006 and was baptized September 2007. She is also part of our administrative team. Philip Brown was carried around the campus by his mom ever since he was born. He graduated from Skyway School and later Wayland Baptist University. In 2007 he married his wife Jennifer and is now the Director of Media and Information. Dawn Brown came to Skyway at the age of twenty one. She has given leadership to the school and support to her husband Greg. In 2006 she was ordained as the Co-Pastor of Skyway Church.
A Time to Move
In 1999 the old campus at Ocotillo in Glendale, AZ was too small. There was no more room to build more buildings or to bring more people to church. It was time to move. Through much prayer and great sacrifice 25 acres were purchased in Goodyear, AZ. At the time of the purchase, the city was a small farming community with great plans on paper. By faith the members of Skyway believed in the vision of Pastor Greg to purchase the land and prepare to move. Going against conventional building fund projects, a simple basket was placed in the center of the offering table for everyone to give sacrificially above their tithe. In three years over one million dollars was raised. It took everything everyone could give and every ounce of faith everyone could pray but the vacant land that once was a feed lot became the new home of Skyway Church of the West Valley on October 31, 2004.
The grand opening of the new sanctuary started a new move of multiplication that has continued to be experienced. The Harvest Festival which Skyway holds every year on October 31st brought in over three thousand people. The congregation grew from seven hundred to fifteen hundred in the first thee years. The Teen Center has grown to a weekly number of over two hundred kids every Friday night. Salvations and miracles began to occur regularly at every service and people from all over the valley began to make Skyway Church their home. In 2007 Skyway began televising services on the local TBN station. This miracle breakthrough has led many to know the gospel outside of the walls of the local church.
The Future Growth of Apostolic Relationships
During this time of Skyways growth in numbers the church has grown in favor with man and with God. The apostolic call on Pastor Greg and the entire church has opened the doors for leadership to the Church and community. Every Fourth of July the church is filled with elected officials from the nations capital to the local city governments. The new 30,000 square foot education building will open in January of 2008 as a partnership with Phoenix Christian Unified Schools. This brings Christian Education back onto the Skyway Campus. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is partnering with Skyway to host regional Emergency Response Training. Skyway is partnering with TBN to broadcast its services locally with plans to broadcast internationally. Skyway is now a part of the Educational Apostolic Network, Wagner Leadership Institute. The WLI Phoenix is soon to be reaching out to plant Satellite Centers in other nations of the world. National and International speakers now come through Skyway as they are equipping the saints to do the work of service world wide.
It is humbling to see the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the grace of God so richly bestowed upon us. Everything we have and everything we are is a result of our merciful God. He is kind, loving and generous. He reveals Himself to us and then He reveals Himself through us. Without Jesus we would never do anything of significance. Through Christ, we can do all things. Jesus is always going to show Himself through His people. Skyway is a special church because God has always had a very special call upon the congregation. It is special because it has very dedicated people who make it real. It is special because the people of Skyway truly want the glory and presence of God more than anything else. When the Spirit of God is free to move amongst the people, wonderful things happen at the church. In closing we say, thank you Lord Jesus for being so merciful to Skyway for forty years.
“Skyway is a people with a lifestyle in the spirit and heavens. God named this church.” Dr. Kelly Varner, June 2007
SKYWAY CHURCH
40 YEARS SPREADING THE GOSPEL
On October 15, 1967 Skyway Baptist Church was constituted into a church. It had begun as a mission in January of 1967 with Roger Jones as the founding pastor along with his wife Edna. The first attempts to reach LAFB started in March of 1965 and lasted until August of 1966. After 17 months of trying to get a ministry started these first pioneers left and were replaced by a couple from Texas, the Jones. They persevered through and saw the congregation birthed. This persevering spirit has always been a trademark of the Skyway congregation. The apostolic call rested upon this church from its early beginnings with leaders unaware of the ultimate destiny of this church, yet courageous to fulfill the calling of God placed within their hearts.
The mission was sponsored by First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale. An interesting side note to this beginning is the current pastors Greg and Dawn Brown were born again, baptized and married at First Baptist Church of Avondale. It was there Greg surrendered to preach the gospel and was licensed into ministry. They were sent out to Skyway to be the Youth Pastor in 1983. God truly has a multi-generational plan that is bigger than any one person. Even when we do not realize how the plan is being fulfilled.
One of the key families in the very beginning was the Dixon’s. Penny and her husband Richard came to LAFB from assignment in Africa and were part of the building process. Skyway’s first buildings were barracks purchased from LAFB. One side of the building was the sanctuary and the other was made into classrooms. In the back were two tiny one toilet bathrooms. (Those bathrooms were in use until 1993!) In 1968 Richard passed away. Penny stayed faithful to serve in many offices at the church until her retirement in 2005. She is still a vital part of the Skyway family today.
Many young men surrendered to the ministry and went on to start churches as pastors in all parts of the United States. They would write back and tell of their churches. At this time there was only one person in our church that wasn’t from Luke.
In 1975 Pastor Lupe Davila started a Spanish speaking congregation at the church. He was faithful to preach the gospel to the many migrant workers who traveled through our state. In 1984 Skyway assisted Lupe in purchasing a site in El Mirage. When they opened the new church they named it Cielo Del Camino, or Skyway in Spanish. Little did we know that this would be the first church plant in the apostolic calling upon this church. We still support Brother Lupe today although he is retired, because we honor this man who spent his life preaching and serving the poor without regards to his own needs.
In 1978 Pastor Jones would leave to continue their calling as Church Planters. He was followed by Dr. Melvin Ratheal and then Johnnie Probst. Ruth Wilkins stepped in as a missionary from 1981-1982. She helped keep things going until Pastor Frank Moore arrived with his wife Cathy in 1982.
Pastor Frank had a vision of Skyway learning to sing praise choruses and moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Skyway was his first church out of seminary and he had served at other “Charismatic” churches in his past. He invited a young Youth Pastor to join him, Greg Brown, and together they began a journey of moving on with God regardless of denominational ties. Through Pastor Moore’s leadership Skyway was known as a “Spirit Filled Baptist Church.” This journey brought in understanding of the five fold ministry and the regular practice of all the spiritual gifts including an expectation for signs and wonders. Some of our existing leaders came to Skyway during this season of “tent revivals”.
Pastor Moore also had the vision of starting a Christian School at the church. He asked Dawn Brown, along with Jane Burleson to be the Directors of Skyway Christian School in 1986. Dawn would hold this position until 2002. Skyway Christian School began with a Pre-School and Kindergarten and finished with twelve grades. The school brought many families to Skyway and changed many young lives.
In 1984 Marv and Jan Gallion began being foster parents for boys. This opened the door for the “Lighthouse of Love Ministry” that cared for 72 boys over the eighteen years of ministry. Jan now serves as the Office Manager of our church.
In 1989 Pastor Greg Brown became the Senior Pastor of the church. On the first Sunday in March he entered this stage with sixty five men, women, and children in the first service. He served in a bi-vocational role for the first year until the church grew to the point that he left his management position at a Fortune Five Hundred company to lead the church. Every year brought continued growth to the church which included bringing new buildings for education and a new sanctuary in 1993. Skyway understood God’s call and vision for the church was to the entire Body of Christ and beyond a denomination. Skyway Baptist Church had become Skyway Church of the West Valley. The church incorporated in its new name with a vision to be a regional church.
The apostolic call to send Skyway members to other countries as short term missionaries began in 1993 when Pastor Greg and Dawn went to Australia. Since that time hundreds of Skyway members of all ages have traveled to over twenty countries to build clinics, conduct Pastor Training Schools, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. These trips have opened the doors to relationships with National Pastors who are supported by the church as they evangelize the un-reached nations of the world. This is now known as the Skyway Apostolic Network where we are working with other apostles who oversee hundreds of pastors world wide.
Raising up Ministers
The 1990’s brought great growth and change to Skyway. Every year the congregation was growing with new converts and new families. Once the church reached 300 members it was time for the many faithful lay leaders to accept God’s call to move into full time vocational ministry. Every one of the pastors on staff started out as members who became leaders that served so faithfully they were ordained on staff. They proved their faithfulness through the many years of lay service without ever being compensated. The saying, “every member is a minister” started when these staff members truly were simply members of the congregation.
Pastor Sam Holliday, the faithful right hand man of Pastor Greg, became the full time Associate Pastor in 1994. His wife Sherry became the ordained Discipleship Pastor in 2006. Pastor Kenny Koger became the ordained Youth Pastor in 1994. In 2007 he and his wife Janet were sent out with seventy five members from Skyway to start Elevation Church of Buckeye. Pastor Loraine Coleman has led worship since 1989 with her husband, Charlie and she became the ordained Worship Pastor in 1998. The first time Nick and Shirley Hill came to Skyway; Nick was preparing to tell Shirley he would never go to a church again. A greeter gave Nick a hug and the Holy Spirit ministered to him in a way like he had never known before and through time of ministry and leadership development, Pastor Nick was ordained as our Community Care Pastor in 1999. Marie and Kennedy Rice came to Skyway as members in 2000. Again, through much ministry, love, and the call of God, Marie was ordained as the Childrens Pastor in 2006. Clayton Thompson was baptized at Skyway while he was a high school student, now married to his wife Amelia; Clayton was ordained Youth Pastor in 2006. Rick and Gayle Bartlett came to Skyway as members in the mid 1990s. In 1996 Gayle became the Director of Skyway Bible Land Child Care facility. She now serves on the administrative staff. Doug Cox, the Business Manager and Frank Garcia, who is part of the Maintenance Staff, were both saved and baptized at Skyway. Brad Lal came to Skyway Christian School in fifth grade. In 2007 Brad became the Director of Point Zero Skate Park and Teen Center. Michelle LeCroy came to Skyway June 1995 as a member. She enrolled in the internship program and began working at Bible Land in August 1999. She is currently over Data Entry and part of the administrative staff. Susan Cheatham and her husband Roger became Skyway members January 1998. Susan received mentorship from Pastor Loraine in March of 1999 and became a Worship Leader the summer of 1999. She currently serves on staff as Senior Director of the Praise and Worship Ministry. Susie Ortega became a member of Skyway in approximately 1989. At that time she taught pre-school/kindergarten at the Skyway school. She became Assistant Director of Bible Land in 1996. She now serves as the Early Childhood Director of the Childrens Ministry. Jackie Martinez came to Skyway February 2006, and received the Lord into her life March 2006 and was baptized September 2007. She is also part of our administrative team. Philip Brown was carried around the campus by his mom ever since he was born. He graduated from Skyway School and later Wayland Baptist University. In 2007 he married his wife Jennifer and is now the Director of Media and Information. Dawn Brown came to Skyway at the age of twenty one. She has given leadership to the school and support to her husband Greg. In 2006 she was ordained as the Co-Pastor of Skyway Church.
A Time to Move
In 1999 the old campus at Ocotillo in Glendale, AZ was too small. There was no more room to build more buildings or to bring more people to church. It was time to move. Through much prayer and great sacrifice 25 acres were purchased in Goodyear, AZ. At the time of the purchase, the city was a small farming community with great plans on paper. By faith the members of Skyway believed in the vision of Pastor Greg to purchase the land and prepare to move. Going against conventional building fund projects, a simple basket was placed in the center of the offering table for everyone to give sacrificially above their tithe. In three years over one million dollars was raised. It took everything everyone could give and every ounce of faith everyone could pray but the vacant land that once was a feed lot became the new home of Skyway Church of the West Valley on October 31, 2004.
The grand opening of the new sanctuary started a new move of multiplication that has continued to be experienced. The Harvest Festival which Skyway holds every year on October 31st brought in over three thousand people. The congregation grew from seven hundred to fifteen hundred in the first thee years. The Teen Center has grown to a weekly number of over two hundred kids every Friday night. Salvations and miracles began to occur regularly at every service and people from all over the valley began to make Skyway Church their home. In 2007 Skyway began televising services on the local TBN station. This miracle breakthrough has led many to know the gospel outside of the walls of the local church.
The Future Growth of Apostolic Relationships
During this time of Skyways growth in numbers the church has grown in favor with man and with God. The apostolic call on Pastor Greg and the entire church has opened the doors for leadership to the Church and community. Every Fourth of July the church is filled with elected officials from the nations capital to the local city governments. The new 30,000 square foot education building will open in January of 2008 as a partnership with Phoenix Christian Unified Schools. This brings Christian Education back onto the Skyway Campus. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is partnering with Skyway to host regional Emergency Response Training. Skyway is partnering with TBN to broadcast its services locally with plans to broadcast internationally. Skyway is now a part of the Educational Apostolic Network, Wagner Leadership Institute. The WLI Phoenix is soon to be reaching out to plant Satellite Centers in other nations of the world. National and International speakers now come through Skyway as they are equipping the saints to do the work of service world wide.
It is humbling to see the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the grace of God so richly bestowed upon us. Everything we have and everything we are is a result of our merciful God. He is kind, loving and generous. He reveals Himself to us and then He reveals Himself through us. Without Jesus we would never do anything of significance. Through Christ, we can do all things. Jesus is always going to show Himself through His people. Skyway is a special church because God has always had a very special call upon the congregation. It is special because it has very dedicated people who make it real. It is special because the people of Skyway truly want the glory and presence of God more than anything else. When the Spirit of God is free to move amongst the people, wonderful things happen at the church. In closing we say, thank you Lord Jesus for being so merciful to Skyway for forty years.
“Skyway is a people with a lifestyle in the spirit and heavens. God named this church.” Dr. Kelly Varner, June 2007
