Money Raised
01. Seating for 1,200 – 1,500 people in a beautiful, functional, and flexible space.
02. Interior Perimeter Walkway for better access and low Spacious Commons/Lobby with a welcoming coffee area open throughout the week to foster connection and fellowship.
03. New Studio spaces for production of podcasts, music recordings, and other multimedia ministry.
We have now been on our current campus for three years, and during that time, our ministries have continued to grow and attendance continues to increase. This growth has often required creativity in finding available meeting spaces throughout the campus, and at times, has also resulted in tight fits in the worship center. On many Sundays we have needed to add extra seating to accommodate everyone in that space.
While adding a third service might seem like a quick solution, it presents several challenges (which we experienced at our previous campus) that we prefer to avoid. Our current 90-minute services allow unhurried time for worship, teaching, and prayer. Compressing these would require shortening important elements, which we are not willing to sacrifice.
The parking lot, particularly on the east side, is in urgent need of repair. Completing it now prevents costly rework later and prepares the site for future phases.
We did explore that option. However, since the current worship center was built in 1983, any significant renovation would require bringing the entire structure up to today’s building codes—an expensive and complex process. In addition, we would need to find a temporary location for the congregation to meet for a year or more during construction, which could be highly disruptive. After careful study, we concluded that building a new worship center offers a more strategic and cost-effective long-term solution.
In future phases, the current worship center will be thoughtfully transformed into a chapel designed for mid-sized gatherings such as weddings, memorials, and funerals. Additional portions of the building will be adapted to provide valuable space for smaller meetings, classes, and Bible studies.
While it may appear that some spaces are lost, new parking areas will open in other parts of campus as part of Phase One. During certain construction phases, there may be temporary disruptions, but we will ensure parking remains accessible and manageable throughout.
We are committed to remaining debt-free. Target dates serve as helpful benchmarks, but they are not fixed deadlines. We will move forward with each phase only as funding is secured.
We encourage everyone to view the campaign as an opportunity for additional giving rather than a replacement for regular support. Your ongoing gifts to the General Fund are what sustain the ministry, staff, and day-to-day operations of Desert Hills. The “Oasis in the Desert” campaign is focused on our long-term campus development and is intended to be above and beyond regular giving.
In many churches, campaigns like this actually inspire greater overall generosity as people catch the vision for both present and future ministry. If you’re able, we ask that you continue your regular giving and prayerfully consider how you might also participate in this important next step of faith.
Every Sunday, I encounter individuals who have come to Desert Hills seeking hope, truth, and transformation through an encounter with the risen Christ. They are eager for the Word of God and are weary pilgrims, thirsting for living water. Time and again, people have referred to Desert Hills as a spiritual oasis in the desert.
This is an apt illustration of our aspirations. Not only do we reside in a geographical desert in the Phoenix area, but we also live in a spiritual desert. Desert Hills strives to be relentlessly biblical in every aspect of our lives as the new covenant people of God. We aim to be a sanctuary where the weary can be rejuvenated, where those hungry for the truth of the Word can find nourishment, and where those thirsting after God like a deer panting for water can be satisfied. We desire to be a place where sinners hear the good news of the gospel and are rescued from eternal destruction, where they are then transformed into mature disciples, and where they use their gifts to be employed by God to extend His kingdom.
Over the past three years since our move to our new campus, God has graciously continued to grow Desert Hills significantly. Our Sunday morning services are at 90% capacity, our children’s ministry is at full capacity, and our student and young adult ministries fill every seat (and often require additional seating). We are also out of space for Bible studies, men’s and women’s events, and other gatherings on our campus.
One reason we bought our current property in 2022 was that it was spacious enough to allow us to expand without relocating. We believe it’s time to start that expansion project. With strong growth in attendance and giving, and the current and future need for more space, we’re ready to seek the Lord’s provision to implement our site plan. The site plan will enable us to accommodate more people, so others can experience the same refreshment, encouragement, and conviction we find during our regular worship, Bible study, service, and fellowship gatherings.
When we moved to our new campus, we made sure fundraising wasn’t the sole focus of our church life. We didn’t have a fundraising thermometer, hired no consultants or financial firms, and trusted the Lord to provide our needs without burdening our congregation with debt. Our commitment to the site plan remains the same: to prioritize Christ and His Word, and to trust the Lord to provide through the generous giving of His people, ensuring that He receives all the glory throughout this endeavor until its completion. We remain steadfast in our primary purpose as a church, to be the pillar and support of the truth for the glory of God.
We’re calling our site plan implementation Oasis in the Desert to reflect our desire to be a place where our community can come to deeply drink from the living water Jesus offers through His Word and the Spirit. This ambitious project will take years to complete, but we trust that the Lord will guide and provide for us as we seek to honor Him by remaining relentlessly biblical in our pursuit of loving God, serving one another, and reaching the world. Please join us in this endeavor as the Lord continues His miraculous and marvelous work of building His church at DHBC.
– Dr. Robb Brunansky, Teaching Pastor
As someone who first walked into Desert Hills as an 8-year-old boy, I’ve had the privilege of watching this church grow, change, and remain steadfast in its commitment to God’s Word. The growth we have seen over the past few years is not just about numbers- it’s about lives transformed, marriages and families strengthened, people hungering to dive deeper into God’s Word, and the gospel going out. I see this up close every week-in our worship services, classrooms, and conversations happening all around campus.
It has become clear that we are outgrowing our current spaces, and need to make renovations and repairs in other areas. As such, it’s time to take a faithful step forward. The site plan our elders have approved is a bold but necessary investment in the future of our church. These plans reflect not just logistical needs, but also ministry opportunities. They will enable us to welcome more people, deepen fellowship, and continue proclaiming God’s word with clarity and conviction for years to come. I want to personally invite you to be part of this. Whether you’ve been at Desert Hills for decades or just a few months, your participation matters. Pray with us. Give as the Lord leads. Be part of what He is doing here.
Let’s take this exciting next step together!
Blessings in Christ,
– Matt Yeary, Executive Pastor