From 41 people meeting on April 26, 1989, at the Pima Bank on R. H. Johnson Boulevard to form First Assembly of God of Sun City West, the church has grown to over 400 adherents. The first worship service was also in the Pima Bank on Sunday, June 11, 1989, with its first pastor, Rev. Gordon H. Nelson, officiating.
About Us
Pastoral Staff
Church On The Green's Pastoral Staff is comprised of ordained Assembly Of God ministers.
Dr. Jay Knoles
Lead Pastor
Dr. Jay Knoles began his Christian journey in the early 1970’s as a graduate of Teen Challenge. He soon met and married the love of his life, Doris. They have now shared 53 years of blessed marital life. Following his call into full-time ministry, Dr. Jay was ordained with the Assemblies of God in 1978 while on active duty as a Chaplain’s Assistant in the USAF. He has earned an M.A. in Biblical Studies at Fuller Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Dr. Jay has served in a wide range of ministerial endeavors, including 42 years as a missionary to Native Americans, Bible college professorships, and pastoring in Winslow, Arizona.
Dr. Jay and Doris have lived in Sun City West since 2018. Together they bring an impeccable record of successful ministry. Doris has served as an Administrative Assistant at two colleges and taught financial workshops. Her extensive career reflects a deep commitment to compassion ministries, financial stewardship, and administrative leadership. She now serves Church on the Green as the Executive Administrator. Their pastoral aspirations include a crystal-clear vision for evangelism, church growth, and discipleship.
Loren Gerdes
Music Pastor
Pastor Loren Gerdes and his wife Nancy moved in 2001 from Wisconsin to join the ministry staff. Both are Midwesterners, growing up in Minnesota and Wisconsin. As teenagers, both heard God's call to ministry and attended North Central University in Minneapolis. There they met, fell in love, and married. God has blessed them with a daughter, a son & daughter-in-law, and three grandsons -- the joy of their lives.
During college, Loren and Nancy traveled in musical groups. Upon entering full-time ministry in 1973, they continued to develop their musical gifts along with preaching, teaching and all other aspects of church ministry. Loren and Nancy have served as Associates and Senior Pastors in Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin before answering the call to Sun City West.
Their love for passionately worshipping God is evident as they lead people into the presence of the Lord, firmly believing that miracles happen and needs are met as the congregation comes before God with open hearts and simple faith. Under Pastor Loren's leadership, the choir adds a dynamic dimension to the worship service. His outstanding and accomplished piano and keyboard accompaniment makes every soloist feel like a professional.
Pastor Loren's vision and prayer for the Church On The Green is that we, individually and corporately, will grow in passionate love and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, to each other, and to the world around us. Furthermore, that as we grow and mature in Christ, His love and power will flow through us to truly make a difference in the lives of those we meet, as well as the community.
Renford Norris
Pastoral Care
Renford Norris was born and raised in Farmington, NM. His maternal grandmother and her sister, along with their children founded the church in which he grew up in. His grandmother's sister was the founding pastor.
He is the 5th child of seven children, two girls and five boys. His father became the pastor of his church after he started his family.
Renford received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues at the age of eight in 1958. He delivered his first sermon at age eighteen in 1968 after feeling the call to the ministry.
Pastor Renford married Lana McGinnis after meeting her at a church in Richardson, Texas in 1971. He was on his way back to New Mexico from Georgia where he had been ministering for the previous year. They have two children a son and a daughter and three grand children. Lana has been by Renford's side and faithful to support him in every ministry endeavor through the years.
Renford served in the call of evangelistic and pastoral work during the seventies and eighties. He also served as the Communications Manager for Life Today with James Robison for eight years. One of his calls was to fill the position of Hospital Chaplain at Baylor Scott & White-Centennial in Frisco, Texas from 2008 until moving to Sun City, Arizona in 2018.
Our Beliefs
Two years after the founding of the Assemblies of God, members adopted 16 beliefs for the Fellowship. This list, known as the Statement of Fundamental Truths, remains virtually unchanged. Four of these beliefs are considered the major tenets of the Fellowship.
Salvation Through
Jesus Christ
(John 3:3, 16, 17; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
Baptism in
the Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:8; 2:4; 17, 18, 38, 39)
All
believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry.
Divine Healing
for the Sick
(James 5:14-16)
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
The Second Coming
of Christ
(1 Thessalonians 4:14-16; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52)
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
History
Shortly thereafter, the Western Savings and Loan building at Stardust and Beardsley was purchased. Subsequent to Rev. Nelson's retirement December, 1997, Rev. Ben E. Leonard became pastor to this congregation of 117 members on January 11, 1998. It was only a few years until the congregation outgrew this facility.
Seeing the need, a very generous businessman acquired the Crestview Center that had been Del Webb's administration building and gave this marvelous gift to the church. In October of 2003, after months of remodeling and landscaping, the church was named Church on the Green and opened its doors to an inviting entry/foyer, sanctuary, hospitality and other rooms. The beautiful dining room that had once been Terrace On The Green restaurant became the fellowship hall where church dinners, ministry functions, Sunday Morning pre-service coffee and refreshments are enjoyed while overlooking the third green of Hillcrest Golf Course with its picturesque ponds and beautiful landscaping. As God has blessed our fellowship since its inception, we desire and anticipate His continued blessing and growth on the ministry of Church On The Green.
