Our History Since 1930

1930

The Evangelical Church was founded by Pastor Leonardo S. Mercado. As a young boy in Williams, Arizona, young Leonardo was invited by a young Anglo neighbor to visit his Methodist Sunday school. Leonardo refused to attend for some time until, due to the neighbor's persistence, he heard the Gospel of Salvation and received Christ as his only and sufficient Savior.

Years later, Leonardo and his wife, Hazel, moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where, with a handful of faithful brothers, he began to congregate in the living room of a deacon with the last name Carillo on Jefferson Street, near the Phoenix city limits. On Thanksgiving afternoon in 1930, that small flock organized a new church,

La Iglesia Evangélica Mexicana.

Dr. Dick Mercado

Dr. Dick Mercado who, as a baby born on March 23, 1930, was present at those first services. In the wonderful grace of God and His Goodness, the day came when Dickie grew up, he received the call of God to serve in the church, and in 1970 he assumed the founder's place as the senior pastor of the church.

A New Campus 70's

After many years of meeting in various places, often humble and uncomfortable places (air conditioning hasn't arrived for decades!), they finally saw the hand of the Lord miraculously provide---LARGELY AS A MISSIONARY GIFT!--- a beautiful campus with a good number of various buildings---all sufficient to accommodate the church, the mission agency and the Christian school---bless the Lord! As we moved four and a half miles from the east of downtown Phoenix to the west, we were a little worried that we would lose some brothers because they couldn't travel that distance. We wouldn't have had to hesitate. Not only did we NOT lose a single family, but God all glory---within two or three years, the congregation was double what it had been. The days came when, through the mercies of the Lord, attendance rose to an average of more than 600, 700, and even 800.

It was on those blessed days that on three different occasions, we saw the Lord bringing more than 1,000 souls on special Sundays. Souls were being converted and baptized, entire families were surrendering to the Lord, and we were rejoicing in experiencing, as a church, the biblical doctrine of Home Salvation ( Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, AND THY HOUSE. [Acts 16: 31] --- emphasis is ours)

Three Generations

In 1994, Dick Mercado Jr. succeeded his father as the third senior pastor of the Evangelical Church for almost a decade.

An Independent Church

As the church prayed for a senior pastor, from 2005-2009 several faithful men filled the pulpit. Pastors such as Bacilio Alfaro, Alex Millán, and José Rubio shepherded the flock

The Church Keeps Marching Forward

Pastor Steve M. Rubio answered the call to be the 4th senior pastor of the flock in August 2009.

We praise the Lord that for almost one hundred years the Evangelical Baptist Church has not lacked sound doctrine and preaching.

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:21