History of Camelback church of Christ

The Camelback Church of Christ met for the first time on January 9, 1966, at its present location. Prior to this time, it was known as the Twelfth Street Church of Christ with its meeting house located at 12th Street and Indianola. One hundred forty four families made up the Camelback congregation the first year.

Avis C. Wiggins served as the evangelist at the 12th Street location and moved with the congregation to Camelback. Homer Putnam Reeves, James D. Groves, and Mort Utley succeeded Avis Wiggins as pulpit ministers. Roger Elliott, associate minister, was added to the staff in 1975. Dan Woodroof of Kerrville, Texas, joined the Camelback family as pulpit minister in June of 1976. At this time, the congregation began a daily radio and news-paper ministry and Dan joined the TV panel program televised weekly over KTVK-TV.

The original eldership consisted of T. Evans Brown, Noel H. Cherry, A. J. Moore, Richard Pectol and Dave Shough. Leo Hennington and Stanley Guthrey also served as elders during the early years.

The building facilities of Camelback sit on a five acre plot centrally located between Phoenix and Scottsdale. The auditorium seats approximately 700 people and serves as the meeting place for area-wide workshops and meetings beneficial to sister congregations and to the community in the valley.

After 40 years of enjoying the Camelback facilities, plans began for renovating and expanding the structure. In the Spring of 2008, based on an earlier Biblical example (Nehemiah 2:18), Camelback began an “Arise and Build” campaign. On July 13, a congregational meeting was held at the building, followed by an open discussion. The Elders later agreed to move forward with Tom Wolfe as General Contractor and Ken Blackburn as Congregational Liaison.

In addition to the construction of a new 3000+sf Fellowship Hall, plans were made to renovate the original West wing of the building including:

The renovation and addition were completed and approved by the City in April of 2009. On May 3, the whole congregation celebrated with an Open House hosted by Dennis Barr, an outstanding slide show, and singing by the Choralaires.