A Bilingual Church on North Central Avenue
Living Streams Church sits on a wide, tree-lined stretch of North Central Avenue in Phoenix, a few blocks south of the canal and within easy reach of the Sunnyslope and North Mountain neighborhoods. The congregation describes itself as a creative and healthy local church on a mission to display God's glory, build courageous people, and engage in society's pain. From a single campus organized around several connected buildings - the Worship Center in Building A, classrooms and offices in B and C, and the Chapel, Gym, and Loft in Building D - the church runs English services every Sunday morning, a fully Spanish-language gathering in the same hour, and a wide network of ministries that reach from Phoenix to Belize, Ecuador, Honduras, Uganda, and beyond.
Founded by Mark Buckley, who still serves as Founding Pastor, Living Streams is non-denominational and elder-led. The teaching team is anchored by Lead Pastor David Stockton and Español Lead Pastor Mario Benavides. The current Giving section mentions a 40 Year Celebration Fund to update the property - a facility built in 1967 and last renovated in 2008 - which places the church's earliest years in the mid-1980s.
Sunday Mornings: Two Languages, One Family
English gatherings meet at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, with each service running about 80 minutes. The pattern is consistent week to week: music led by the LSC Worship team, a Bible-based message from one of the teaching pastors, and a response time of worship. Every other weekend the church takes communion together, and any believer in Jesus is invited to participate. The dress is casual, and newcomers are welcomed as they are.
The Español service meets at 9:00 AM in Building D, led by Pastor Mario Benavides with contemporary worship that blends Spanish and English arrangements. Living Streams describes this gathering as una iglesia, dos idiomas - one church in two languages - and offers Plan a Visit forms, a WhatsApp group, and bilingual Life Groups to keep the two congregations connected.
Children from infants through fifth grade have their own program at both 9:00 and 11:00 AM. Check-in happens in the breezeway between Buildings B and C, near the playground on the south side of campus. First-time families can pre-register through Church Center to speed up the morning. Youth in grades 6 through 12 meet at 11:00 AM; middle schoolers gather in the Gym in Building D, and high schoolers begin in the main worship service and then move to Room B206.
What the Church Believes
Living Streams opens its Statement of Belief with the Apostles' Creed and confesses it alongside Christians worldwide: belief in God the Father almighty, in Jesus Christ his only Son conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, descended to hell, rose again the third day, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, from where he will come to judge the living and the dead. The church confesses belief in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (worldwide) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Beyond the creed, Living Streams affirms the triune nature of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), teaches that all humanity is sinful by both birth and action apart from Christ, and holds that reconciliation with God comes only through faith in Jesus and repentance from sin. Scripture is described as true, authoritative, and inspired by God. Members are expected to express obedience through water baptism, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is taught as a present-day gift that empowers witness. The church believes all the gifts of the Holy Spirit remain accessible to believers today, practices communion according to the New Testament, recognizes the Scriptural authority of a board of elders, and looks forward to the restoration of all things at the personal and visible return of Jesus Christ.
Those who call Living Streams their home church are expected to give of their time and talents, prayers, financial support through tithes and offerings, and love for fellow Christians.
Life Groups, the Spiritual Growth Track, and Baptism
Life Groups are the small-group heartbeat of the church, meeting in homes and on campus across the valley. Groups are organized around age, life stage, language, and topical interests, and a Group Finder is available through Church Center for anyone looking to plug in. The church calls Life Groups the place where authentic, Christ-centered community takes root.
For people new to the church or new to the faith, Living Streams offers a layered set of next steps. Explore is a four-week introduction to Living Streams' vision, values, and the unique way each person is wired for service. Essentials of Faith is an eleven-week course for newer believers or anyone wanting to revisit the fundamentals, covering salvation, prayer, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and daily Christian living. Both classes run seasonally.
Baptism is offered quarterly as a public declaration of faith and obedience. Baby Dedications are scheduled a few times a year for parents who want to commit publicly to raising their child in the way of Jesus. The church also runs an Internship Program with summer and year-round tracks in Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Production, Spanish/Bilingual Ministry, Missions, and others.
A Children's Center, Kids Ministry, and Youth Ministry
Living Streams operates a Children's Center on the property, a weekday preschool and early-childhood program that extends the church's reach into the surrounding community throughout the work week. On Sundays, Living Streams Kids provides age-appropriate programming for infants through fifth grade at both gathering times, led by Children's Pastor Missy Bessey (K-5th) and Sharon Welch (Nursery-Preschool).
Living Streams Youth is built around the conviction that courage isn't loud, it's lived, and that students move from a borrowed faith to an owned faith. The Sunday 11:00 AM hour includes middle school worship in the Gym and high school small-group time in Room B206. Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM bring both groups back to Building D for shared worship, games, and friendship before splitting into age-specific teaching - middle school stays in Building D while high school moves to the Loft for a more conversational walk through Scripture. The summer months include camps and a Royal Family Kids Camp week for foster children in partnership with Scottsdale Bible Church.
Young Adults (ages 18-30) are forming a new season of community, gathering for connection, growth, and the everyday questions of college, marriage, work, and faith. The Adults 55+ community meets Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 PM in Room A101 for Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship, with seasonal outings throughout the year.
Men's, Women's, and Marriage Ministry
Men's Ministry is pastored by Kurt Cotter, who serves as Men's Pastor and Counselor and offers pre-marital, men's, and marriage counseling. A Tuesday-morning Men's Breakfast gathers from 6:45 to 8:00 AM for teaching and food prep, and the men's calendar includes regular events and an annual Men's Retreat that has traveled to Gales Point, Belize. Women's Ministry is pastored by Renee Bergmen, who provides women's, pre-marital, and marriage counseling. A women's Bible study meets Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:30 AM in Building D, and women's events are scheduled throughout the year. The church also runs a Marriage Series that draws on resources from Gary Thomas, Timothy Keller, and others for couples at any stage.
A House of Prayer
Living Streams explicitly names prayer as central to its identity and points to Isaiah 56:7 - My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations - as a guiding text. The prayer rhythm is unusually rich. After every Sunday service, the Altar Prayer Ministry gathers at the front of the Worship Center to pray with anyone seeking repentance, healing, deliverance, or blessing. A Sunday Evening Prayer Room runs from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Gym. Wednesday mornings begin with the Prayer Room from 6:30 to 7:30 AM in the Sanctuary, followed by a Wednesday Prayer Meeting from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM that prays for revival. On Thursdays, a Spirit-led Prayer Meeting runs from 12:30 to 2:00 PM in the Building B conference room.
An Early Morning Prayer Meeting gathers in the Chapel on Wednesdays from 6:15 to 7:15 AM, and a weekday Drive-Through Prayer team staffs the church driveway from October through May, praying with anyone who pulls up. A Community Intercessory Prayer Team receives requests by email every Thursday and prays in agreement. Sozo Prayer Ministry, a prophetic inner-healing and deliverance ministry, is offered by appointment through a partnership with Living Fountain Ministries. Once a month, on the third Saturday, Living Streams joins We Pray All Day, a Phoenix-wide 24/7 prayer canopy, fulfilling prayer hours virtually.
Missions and Local Outreach
Ten percent of every dollar given to Living Streams is invested in missions. The church supports dozens of missionaries and partner organizations, plants churches, and facilitates short- and long-term outreaches. Living Streams has set a goal of sending out fifty long-term missionaries (nine months or longer), and the summer internship's missions track gives young adults hands-on cross-cultural experience in places like Belize, Ecuador, Peru, Southeast Asia (anti-trafficking), and Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.
Short-term mission trips depart regularly. Recent and recurring destinations include Puerto Peñasco for family construction and children's ministry, Gales Point, Belize for men's and women's retreats and youth outreach, Honduras for VBS and medical clinics, Uganda for VBS at Musana primary school, and Quito, Ecuador for the Agosto de Fuego revival seminar and a Ruge men's conference. The Rocky Point Medical Clinics, founded by Living Streams members George and Susie Stravros in 1998, serve monthly and welcome doctors, nurses, medical students, and Spanish-English translators. A Perspectives course, a fifteen-week study on God's heart for the nations, is offered for anyone wanting a fuller foundation.
Locally, the Living Streams Food Pantry serves roughly five hundred families a month, distributing quality food to anyone experiencing food insecurity. The pantry is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 to 10:30 AM on the northwest side of campus between Building D and the Growing Garden community garden. No referral is needed; a photo ID and proof of address are the only requirements. Volunteers serve as intake, drivers, and packers.
The church also walks alongside several partner ministries. Living Streams members serve with GoTEN (Go To Every Nation) as English-learning encouragers for refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and elsewhere. Sunnyslope Ministers of Hope reaches people experiencing homelessness. YoungLife focuses on relational evangelism with high school and middle school students. West Phoenix Sports runs low-cost leagues in volleyball, softball, T-ball, cheer, soccer, and basketball as a gospel bridge into the community. Feed My Starving Children packages food for global distribution, Phoenix Rescue Mission serves people facing homelessness and addiction, and Mentor Kids invests in children in underserved neighborhoods. Royal Family Kids, including a summer camp for elementary-aged foster children in Payson, is another long-standing partner.
Care, Counseling, and Recovery
Pastoral care at Living Streams is delivered by a team of staff and trained lay leaders and includes prayer, counseling, hospital and home visits, weddings and memorials, grief support, and financial coaching. A Practical Needs Team helps with minor home repairs and maintenance for seniors, widows, single parents, people with disabilities, and anyone recovering from illness, surgery, or crisis.
Pastoral counseling is available through Faith Cummings (women's and pre-marital), Renee Bergmen (women's, pre-marital, and marriage), Kurt Cotter (men's, pre-marital, and marriage), and David Stockton (men's). The church also maintains relationships with several licensed and faith-based professional counselors who meet with clients on the LSC campus, including Lorie Sirola, Deborah Vogt, Ed Rooney, and Yvette Rooney. Recommended external practices include True North Consulting, Central Counseling, Healing Waters Counseling, Biblical Counseling of Arizona, Thrive Therapy, and Scottsdale Bible Church's Lay Counseling.
Celebrate Recovery meets every Monday at 7:00 PM in the Chapel in Building D and is open to both men and women. It is a Christ-centered program for anyone working through hurts, habits, or hang-ups, using biblical principles and the twelve steps. Childcare is not provided. Grief Share runs twice a year in the fall and spring, plus a one-session holiday class in early November, providing support for people who have lost a loved one. Prayer requests can be submitted online at any time.
LSC Worship and the Music Library
LSC Worship is a team of musicians and vocalists who lead the congregation in Christ-centered worship that follows the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The team's stated mission is to behold Jesus, build disciples, and create out of abundance. The same team leads worship at the weekly English services, the bilingual Español service, children's services, youth services, midweek women's Bible study, and conferences throughout the year.
LSC Worship produces original music available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music, and the church hosts a teaching podcast on Transistor. A Recommended Reading library, organized by leaders including David Stockton, Alec Seekins, Jeff Gokee, Ryan Romeo, and Dan Riccio, curates hundreds of books under tags such as Spiritual Formation, Biblical Studies, Theology, Forgiveness, Marriage, Missions, LGBTQ+, Women's Ministry, Church History, and Worship. The library spans works from Augustine and Brother Lawrence to N. T. Wright, Henri Nouwen, Dallas Willard, Francis Chan, John Mark Comer, Jon Tyson, and Mark Buckley's own From Darkness into Light and Into the Desert.
Online, on the App, and at the Digital Courtyard
Sunday services are livestreamed on YouTube, and the Español gathering has its own livestream. After services, anyone can join the Digital Courtyard, a browser-based video-chat room where congregants can talk face to face over coffee, complete with prompts for camera and microphone access. The Living Streams mobile app, powered by Church Center, gives access to events, registrations, groups, giving, and sermon audio. A weekly e-newsletter keeps subscribers informed, and prayer, pastoral care, baptism, and service-volunteer forms are all available online.
Giving, the Property, and a 40 Year Celebration
Giving is handled through Church Center with bank-level encryption and options for one-time and recurring gifts. Cash and checks can be dropped in lobby boxes in Building A during Sunday gatherings or brought to the office Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Year-end giving statements are accessible online through Church Center; printed copies are available on request.
The church has launched a 40 Year Celebration Fund to mark four decades of ministry and to refresh a facility built in 1967 and last updated in 2008. The campaign is described as a partnership to keep the property a place of blessing for the surrounding community and for generations to come. The mailing address for donations and correspondence is PO Box 44800, Phoenix, AZ 85064.
The Staff and Eldership
Living Streams is led by Founding Pastor Mark Buckley and Lead Pastor David Stockton, with Mario Benavides overseeing the Español congregation. Kurt Cotter and Renee Bergmen serve as Men's and Women's Pastors respectively, and David McVicker leads worship as Worship Pastor. Manny Hernandez directs Next Generation ministries; Missy Bessey and Sharon Welch oversee children's and seniors' ministry; Isaac Miglio and Michael Christian lead high school and middle school. Jenn Taylor directs Connections, Dalton Davis leads the Creative team, Arthur Le oversees operations, and Tammy Valdez directs finance and human resources. Governance is held by a board of elders.
Visiting Living Streams
Visitors are encouraged to fill out a Plan a Visit form online. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM at 7000 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020, and can be reached at (602) 957-7500. Sunday gatherings begin at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, with the Español service at 9:00 AM in Building D, children's programming at both hours, and youth at 11:00 AM. Parking is available on campus, the dress is casual, and the goal of every Sunday is the same: to worship, pray, hear from the Holy Spirit, and be equipped through God's Word.