History of The Grove
The Grove found its roots in the Fall of 2000, when dozens of High School and Jr. High students began meeting weekly in the backyard of a Tempe home to worship and enjoy community. As parents and friends began to join these weekly times of worship, the gathering soon outgrew the backyard setting and moved to a nearby park. With more than a hundred coming weekly for worship, a church was born and began meeting at Valley Christian High School in Chandler (under the name Canyon Ridge Bible Church).
In the Fall of 2002 we moved to the brand new San Tan K-8: a beautiful campus, surrounded by dozens of new subdivisions, but with no nearby church. The Grove quickly attracted worshipers who sensed that God was doing something new in the rapidly expanding South Chandler.
By December of that year, a church of barely 200 people took a monumental step of faith and purchased 20 acres of land near the corner of Gilbert Rd. and Queen Creek Rd. to be the future home of The Grove. Crazy though it may have seemed, God beautifully orchestrated each step along the way.
For the next two years The Grove took shape as the congregation of about 250 pulled together every last dime for the construction of our new campus. The pioneers of The Grove sacrificed much to make this church a reality.
In May of 2004 we broke ground on the first phase of our campus. 10 of the 20 acres would be developed, including three buildings totaling almost 30,000 sq. ft., and 5 acres of sports fields.
Eighty-five percent of church plants never make it out of their temporary location. People give up, getting tired and discouraged. The nomadic existence of meeting in a school gym setting up 300 chairs, a stage, and a sound system become exhausting. So it was a great day when we moved onto our new campus in December of 2006. The Grand Opening was euphoric. God’s mission through The Grove was progressing at a rapid rate.
Since that time The Grove’s identity as a missional church has continued to take shape. A unique culture has been developed of people who "get" that the message of Jesus Christ is about loving and going. Today the church is committed to equipping people to take hope and healing to a broken world; locally, regionally, and globally. If you haven't already, come check out the movement that God is leading here at The Grove.