Rooted in Christ, Reaching Out with the Gospel
On North Price Road in Chandler, just south of the Loop 202, Chandler Bible Church gathers each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for a worship service that reflects the multi-generational, multi-cultural character of the East Valley. The church's motto, "Rooted in Christ together and Reaching out with the Gospel," points to a community that takes the study of Scripture seriously and takes the call to share it beyond its walls equally seriously.
First-time visitors can expect a relaxed atmosphere. People come in many styles of dress on Sunday mornings, and the invitation is simply to come however comfortable. The service is designed to welcome everyone from longtime believers to those just beginning to explore the Christian faith.
Sunday Morning Worship
The worship service begins at 9 a.m. and is followed by a refreshment time on the patio at 10:15 a.m. (or inside when Arizona heat demands it). After fellowship, E4:13 Groups for all ages meet at 10:30 a.m., September through May. During the summer months, an Adult Sermon Discussion Class continues at that hour.
Lead Pastor Sean Eddy preaches with an exegetical, expository approach, working through books of the Bible in sustained series. Recent series have included "The Way of Jesus...the Cross-Shaped Life" drawn from Mark 1, a long walk through 2 Kings titled "Faithful God in Faithless Times," and the Advent 2025 series "The King is Coming."
The music is intentionally blended. On a given Sunday you might hear an ancient hymn, a Christian classic from the 1980s or 90s, and a song currently playing on Christian radio. The common thread is solid content, singability, and a clear connection to the Bible passage being preached.
Communion is observed on the first Sunday of every month. Anyone who trusts Jesus for salvation is invited to participate, regardless of church background. On those Sundays, an additional offering supports the church's Christian Care ministries.
Bible-Based Beliefs in the EFCA Family
Chandler Bible Church is a member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, an association of about 1,600 congregations united around a common Statement of Faith. The church's own statement of beliefs walks through the historic Christian essentials: one God in three Persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); the Bible as the verbally inspired, inerrant Word of God; humanity's fallenness and need for redemption; the person and work of Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man, crucified and bodily raised; the atoning sacrifice of Christ as the only ground for salvation; the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit; the church as the gathered body of believers; baptism and the Lord's Supper as ordinances that visibly express the gospel; and the personal, bodily return of Christ.
Seven values shape the life of the church: the centrality of God's Word, fellowship, evangelism, prayer, worship, service, and discipleship.
Children and Students
Because the years from birth through about age 12 are seen as critical for a child's relationship with Christ, the church gives significant attention to its children's ministries.
Nursery care is offered during the 9 a.m. worship service for infants from birth through age 2, in Room A5 of the Main Building. Children's Church is available during the worship hour for children ages 3 through 4th grade; they begin the service with their families and step out to their own classroom just before the Scripture reading for a time of drama, music, crafts, Bible stories, and games.
E4:13 Groups meet at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays from September through May, with classes for nursery through 12th grade. Each child or student has a class pitched to their age, and nursery care is offered during this hour for ages 3 and younger.
Awana Clubs meet Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for kids ages 2 through high school, combining Bible teaching, verse memorization, high-energy games, music, and relationships. Open registration is offered each Wednesday night. All children's ministry leaders and helpers go through Safe Place Training, which includes background checks, references, and thorough instruction in safety, discipline, and age-appropriate teaching.
Men's and Women's Ministry
The men's fellowship meets throughout the fall, winter, and spring for study, discussion, and social events, with the goal of encouraging men in their faith and growing them as spiritual leaders in their homes, workplaces, and church. A weekly Men's Bible study meets on Mondays at 6 p.m. in the B-Building during the school year; it is an open group, and men are welcome to join anytime. Other men's events (BBQs, brunches) happen throughout the year. Mark Durben directs the men's ministry.
The women's fellowship follows a parallel pattern. A weekly Women's Bible study meets on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in the B-Building during the school year, with no registration required and women welcome to join at any time. Special events include "Chocolate Night," a Mother's Day brunch, and retreats. Ann Bales directs the women's ministry.
Missionaries and Local Outreach
Chandler Bible Church partners with several missionaries and ministries and encourages the congregation to pray for them, send notes of encouragement, and support them financially. Current partners include Arizona Reservation Ministries, the EFCA - West District, Jonathan and Susan Kopf, Karen Williams, Middle East North Africa Missionaries, and Walt Edman.
Elder Kim Millhouse chairs the missions committee and hopes one day to lead a group from the church on a short-term mission trip in support of one of these partners. He himself has been on thirteen: two to the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, one to Greece during the Syrian refugee crisis, and nine to Brazil, traveling with local pastors to villages along the Amazon.
Local outreach includes Feed the Hungry, a ministry that puts Christian love into practice in the community. Elder Mark Durben extends that reach into correctional settings, running a chapel service every other Friday at Adobe Youth Detention Center and an Academy every Thursday at Florence Prison for men.
Elders and Pastoral Leadership
Four elders shepherd Chandler Bible Church.
Sean Eddy serves as Lead Pastor alongside his wife Tess. The couple has seven children (four married), nine grandchildren, two dogs, and two tortoises. Sean delights in praying, preaching, and teaching for the equipping of the congregation and yearns for increased opportunities to show and share the gospel hope. He has coached youth soccer at some level for over twenty years and referees at the grassroots level.
Mark Durben is married to Betty, has three grown children and three grandchildren, and is a trained spiritual director and biblical counselor. Beyond his role on the elder board and as Men's Ministry Director, he is an Awana leader for middle school youth, runs the prison ministries described above, and supports Feed the Hungry.
Kim Millhouse, married to Victoria for over four decades, serves as an elder and member of the missions committee. His two sons and grandchildren all relocated to Arizona from northern Illinois.
Merle Wiens and his wife Claudia served with ReachGlobal for thirty-one years before retirement, living in three African countries. They continue as volunteers, traveling to the continent once or twice a year, and connect locally with and teach English to refugees in the East Valley.
Worship Team
The music ministry serves the Lord and the congregation through instrumental and vocal music. Members of the Worship Team lead Sunday morning worship and offer special music at other services and events, sometimes highlighting new songs being added to the worship sets. Sheila Baldwin directs the Worship and Music Ministry.
Connecting, Giving, and Staying Connected
Members and regular attenders are listed in alphabetical directories so newcomers can put names to faces, and a Next Steps pathway helps visitors move from first visit to deeper involvement. Online giving is processed through PayPal, with donations welcome to specific funds or projects and year-end statements provided for both online and in-person gifts. Sermons are posted each week as audio downloads and written notes, so anyone who missed a Sunday can stay caught up. The service is livestreamed on YouTube, and giving is available online, so the Chandler Bible Church family can worship together whether gathered in the building or watching from home.