OUR STORY
New Life first gathered for worship on November 25, 1956. We met in Amphitheater High School and were named Amphitheater Baptist Church. God gave a vision to the members of Emery Park Baptist (which had been planted by First Baptist Tucson) to plant a church strategically located to reach Tucson as it grew further North and West. Twenty-six people implemented that vision and New Life was born.
In the spring of 1958 the average attendance grew to 50 and the church joined the Conservative Baptist Association.
In 1959 the church incorporated and bought two and a half acres at 1440 West Prince Road. The location was chosen to reach the growing area of northwest Tucson. To reflect the vision of the church to reach northwest Tucson, the name of the church was changed to Del Norte Baptist Church.
In January 1960 the church moved from the Amphitheater School auditorium to the Flowing Wells School auditorium. Evening services, youth meetings, and Sunday School classes were held in a house that came with the Prince Road property.
On March 20, 1960 the church broke ground on a new 160 seat sanctuary. The church worshiped in their new building for the first time on July 24, 1960. That year membership grew to 86 and the church bought a bus to bring kids in for Sunday School. By 1965 the church was holding two services. In 1968 it broadcasted services on the radio and bussed in an average of 150 children for Sunday School (attendance was around 200). By the spring of 1972 the bus ministry grew to include 8 busses, and the church reached a record high Sunday School attendance of 630 people (230 adults with 400 children bussed in). Church attendance grew to near 300 and the church rented the auditorium at Flowing Wells High School for Sunday services.
Because of the land-locked nature of the property at 1440 West Prince Road and to move to a more strategic location, the church abandoned the plan to build a new sanctuary at the Prince and Flowing Wells site and bought 20 acres in the 900 block of west River Road. By November 1972 Sunday School attendance peaked at a record 996 people (296 adults and 700 children bussed in on 14 busses). Each bus had a captain that ministered to the children on their route. Several of those captains later went into full-time ministry.
Through trials and cultural change, the church declined through the late 70’s and several decisions shaped our future. Most of the busses were sold, as was the 20-acre site on River Road. Proceeds were used to buy the A&W lot adjacent to the church and instead of moving, the church built a new sanctuary at its Prince Road location. In December of 1976 an arson fire destroyed the old church building. It was rebuilt to look exactly as it did originally. The new sanctuary held its first service on March 19, 1978.
In 1980 there was need for classroom space, and two education wings with an adjoining basketball court were built. Recognizing Tucson’s growth to the Northwest and God’s calling to reach that area, the church purchased land on north Thornydale Road with the idea of planting a church in the area. In March of 1983 Thornydale Family Church was launched. Throughout the 80’s the Adult Sunday School classes formed a strong foundation of the church’s ministry. Relationships were deep and strong in Christ, forming many friendships that will last through this life and into the next. Into the 90’s the Prince Road area declined. In 1996 many leaders left to be part of a new church plant, Desert Son, on the Northwest side. Through these first forty years of ministry, God blessed New Life. Two other churches were birthed (Thornydale Family and Desert Son), and multiple missionaries were sent to share the gospel to the ends of the earth. In addition, many in Tucson became followers of Christ through the impact of this body.
By September of 1998 with the decline of the area and the departure of others to plant new churches, Del Norte’s attendance was around 80. In October of 1998 New Life called Greg Lavine to be our seventh senior pastor. God used his zealous passion for Christ and evangelism, paired with Pastor Sam Fuller’s love and wisdom to lead the church with a newness of life. By June of 1999 the church re-wrote its constitution and doctrinal statement, sold its organ, and changed the name of the church from Del Norte to New Life. God was doing something new. Sam retired in 2001, and in the early years of Pastor Greg’s ministry, he would tell you that God used the church to minister to him more than he ministered to the church. In many ways we grew together as a family. An atmosphere of grace allowed us to love each other, to love God, and to reach out into our community.
In July 2005 the body voted to relocate to a more strategic location to reach Tucson as it grows even further North and West. By April of 2006 God provided and we bought a beautiful corner lot on Cortaro Farms Road at Camino de Oeste. In February of 2007 we sold the Prince Road site and moved into DeGrazia Elementary school. The dream to be more strategically located to reach Tucson was becoming a reality. In many respects we were living out the prayers of the church from 1970: “Lord make us a light on a hill to shine the love of Your gospel through all Tucson.”
We moved into our new 4900 W Cortaro Farms Road site in June of 2010. We were immediately blessed with the challenge of rapid numerical growth. We stretched, learned, and matured as we adjusted to that growth and we rejoice to be where God has us today. As we celebrate 60 years we are growing into our vision: To Cultivate a Community that Enjoys God and Transforms the World Through the Gospel.
In the spring of 1958 the average attendance grew to 50 and the church joined the Conservative Baptist Association.
In 1959 the church incorporated and bought two and a half acres at 1440 West Prince Road. The location was chosen to reach the growing area of northwest Tucson. To reflect the vision of the church to reach northwest Tucson, the name of the church was changed to Del Norte Baptist Church.
In January 1960 the church moved from the Amphitheater School auditorium to the Flowing Wells School auditorium. Evening services, youth meetings, and Sunday School classes were held in a house that came with the Prince Road property.
On March 20, 1960 the church broke ground on a new 160 seat sanctuary. The church worshiped in their new building for the first time on July 24, 1960. That year membership grew to 86 and the church bought a bus to bring kids in for Sunday School. By 1965 the church was holding two services. In 1968 it broadcasted services on the radio and bussed in an average of 150 children for Sunday School (attendance was around 200). By the spring of 1972 the bus ministry grew to include 8 busses, and the church reached a record high Sunday School attendance of 630 people (230 adults with 400 children bussed in). Church attendance grew to near 300 and the church rented the auditorium at Flowing Wells High School for Sunday services.
Because of the land-locked nature of the property at 1440 West Prince Road and to move to a more strategic location, the church abandoned the plan to build a new sanctuary at the Prince and Flowing Wells site and bought 20 acres in the 900 block of west River Road. By November 1972 Sunday School attendance peaked at a record 996 people (296 adults and 700 children bussed in on 14 busses). Each bus had a captain that ministered to the children on their route. Several of those captains later went into full-time ministry.
Through trials and cultural change, the church declined through the late 70’s and several decisions shaped our future. Most of the busses were sold, as was the 20-acre site on River Road. Proceeds were used to buy the A&W lot adjacent to the church and instead of moving, the church built a new sanctuary at its Prince Road location. In December of 1976 an arson fire destroyed the old church building. It was rebuilt to look exactly as it did originally. The new sanctuary held its first service on March 19, 1978.
In 1980 there was need for classroom space, and two education wings with an adjoining basketball court were built. Recognizing Tucson’s growth to the Northwest and God’s calling to reach that area, the church purchased land on north Thornydale Road with the idea of planting a church in the area. In March of 1983 Thornydale Family Church was launched. Throughout the 80’s the Adult Sunday School classes formed a strong foundation of the church’s ministry. Relationships were deep and strong in Christ, forming many friendships that will last through this life and into the next. Into the 90’s the Prince Road area declined. In 1996 many leaders left to be part of a new church plant, Desert Son, on the Northwest side. Through these first forty years of ministry, God blessed New Life. Two other churches were birthed (Thornydale Family and Desert Son), and multiple missionaries were sent to share the gospel to the ends of the earth. In addition, many in Tucson became followers of Christ through the impact of this body.
By September of 1998 with the decline of the area and the departure of others to plant new churches, Del Norte’s attendance was around 80. In October of 1998 New Life called Greg Lavine to be our seventh senior pastor. God used his zealous passion for Christ and evangelism, paired with Pastor Sam Fuller’s love and wisdom to lead the church with a newness of life. By June of 1999 the church re-wrote its constitution and doctrinal statement, sold its organ, and changed the name of the church from Del Norte to New Life. God was doing something new. Sam retired in 2001, and in the early years of Pastor Greg’s ministry, he would tell you that God used the church to minister to him more than he ministered to the church. In many ways we grew together as a family. An atmosphere of grace allowed us to love each other, to love God, and to reach out into our community.
In July 2005 the body voted to relocate to a more strategic location to reach Tucson as it grows even further North and West. By April of 2006 God provided and we bought a beautiful corner lot on Cortaro Farms Road at Camino de Oeste. In February of 2007 we sold the Prince Road site and moved into DeGrazia Elementary school. The dream to be more strategically located to reach Tucson was becoming a reality. In many respects we were living out the prayers of the church from 1970: “Lord make us a light on a hill to shine the love of Your gospel through all Tucson.”
We moved into our new 4900 W Cortaro Farms Road site in June of 2010. We were immediately blessed with the challenge of rapid numerical growth. We stretched, learned, and matured as we adjusted to that growth and we rejoice to be where God has us today. As we celebrate 60 years we are growing into our vision: To Cultivate a Community that Enjoys God and Transforms the World Through the Gospel.