Rather than holding tightly to key leaders, McDowell Church has embraced a multiplication mindset that is creating new opportunities for ministry and outreach.

By Carl Stagner | Read Time: 4 minutes

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McDowell is a church at the foot of the sprawling desert range known as the McDowell Mountains. Tremendous growth and transformation among the congregation over the years have led to expansion not only of its facilities, but also its influence throughout the Phoenix metro, across the state of Arizona, and around the globe. While it may not initially sound like a good thing, several pastors have left the Scottsdale church amid significant growth. But when these pastors are commissioned to help start new works in places and spaces ripe for spiritual harvest, leaving can actually be the best thing.

Three churches. That’s the number of congregations launched through the ministry of McDowell. Though it may be tempting to hold tightly to the best leaders, letting go is often the right course of action when the advancement of the kingdom of God is at stake. When disciples make disciples and leaders launch leaders, the number of people transformed by the gospel is multiplied. Now that’s some math everyone can get behind!

Initially led by pastors who had previously served on McDowell’s staff, three churches—two in Phoenix and one in Flagstaff are now actively proclaiming Jesus because of multiplication.

Jared Doe serves the Desert City Church, which opened up on the north side of Phoenix, in 2014. Jared is the son of McDowell’s founding pastor, Don Doe.

In 2019, Arcadia City Church became a reality on the east side of Phoenix through the efforts of Michael and Christy Fay, who helped plant the church after serving at McDowell.

Then, in November 2025, Cameron and Kelly Lippert began leading a new congregation in Flagstaff. Called Flag City Church, waving its banner far above the desert valley floor of Phoenix, the new congregation meets inside Canyon Chapel only several miles northeast of Northern Arizona University. Cameron and Kelly served on McDowell’s pastoral staff for over a decade.

“McDowell was a small part of seeding Desert City and Arcadia, and played a primary role in seeding Flag City Church,” Matt Anderson, McDowell lead pastor and interim state pastor, explains. “The Arizona Association of the Church of God has been giving a small amount of support to Flag City, as well as two other Hispanic church plants that have begun in the past two years. I love seeing our state association support church plants in Arizona!”

Essential Ingredients

Matt reflects on what led McDowell to these pivotal multiplication moments.

“As I look back across McDowell’s history,” he says, “I see several commitments that God used to shape us. From its beginning in 1995, McDowell has sought to be a Christ-centered community that is Good News to its neighbors. This community has grown to both proclaim the gospel and live the gospel throughout the week, in many corners of our city.”

Matt continues, “In every season of expansion—whether physical expansion on the campus, beginning a ministry, or working to seed another church—the vision has been to reach people with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. We’re a small part of that in the Valley, and always see our work as a partnership with other faithful churches in our neighborhoods. The building has never been the mission. It is a tool that allows us a footprint, or outpost, for Kingdom work.”

The role of faithful leadership, extraordinary generosity, incredible sacrifice, and wise stewardship also can’t be overstated.

“The growth, reach, financial freedom—it all belongs to God and is for his good in the Valley,” Matt explains. “The people of McDowell have simply wanted to cooperate with the Spirit’s work in, among, and around our lives.”

In Theory and Practice

McDowell is committed to be “a community following Jesus, learning to love.” This comprehensive understanding s more than a “catch phrase.” It functions as a weekly reminder of their identity and purpose, shaping the decisions they make and the direction they go.

“I’m not sure where I first heard it,” Matt reflects, “but I remember this truth from years ago: over time, the gravitational pull for a church is to turn inward and create complexity, or hurdles, for those seeking to connect with and honor God in their lives. That struck me on a number of levels. First, I realized that each of us has our own experiences with the Spirit as we walk out our faith. And when we have significant experiences, our tendency is to ‘sacred-ize’ what was meaningful in that moment. Think music style, ministry program, etc. And then we expect those same preferences to be sacred for others. That is dangerous.”

“Secondly,” Matt continues, “I realized that, over time, we expect others to understand and behave and experience the same convictions we are experiencing after years of maturing faith. That’s unfair to those who are beginning the journey.”

“And finally,” he adds, “we’re selfish. I’m selfish. And it’s easy for me to forget that the Kingdom is not about me, my schedule, and my preferences. It’s his Kingdom, for his glory, for the good of the entire world. So, we must live in community, follow Jesus, and make disciples, loving and serving others intentionally.”