Canyon Ridge Christian Church

Journey with me back to 1985. Las Vegas was experiencing its first major growth spurt. Gene Appel, senior pastor of Central Christian Church, recognized the need for spiritual guidance in this burgeoning city. Canyon Ridge Christian Church’s story begins here. By 1990, the dream of a new church took root. Mike Breaux, initially hesitant, answered the call to Las Vegas. He partnered with Kevin Odor from Ohio. Their vision for Canyon Ridge Christian Church was born. Picture racquetball courts transformed into children’s classrooms. Imagine baptisms in an Olympic-sized pool. For five years, Canyon Ridge was a nomadic church. They held services in gyms and schools, including Cimarron-Memorial High School. This period forged a strong, resilient community. Canyon Ridge Christian Church became known as a place of belonging, even before belief. The church continued to grow. In 2014, Canyon Ridge Christian Church offered support to military families like Ali and Josh Frazee. The church provided childcare, meals, and prayers during Josh’s deployment. This exemplifies the church’s commitment to community. Canyon Ridge Christian Church eventually settled on its 40-acre campus at Lone Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard. The church hosts thousands for Easter and Christmas Eve services. A typical weekend sees around 6,500 attendees. The church has expanded its reach with a satellite campus in Centennial Hills. They continue to emphasize community and leadership development. Canyon Ridge Christian Church also has a vibrant online presence. It supports outreach programs in far-off places like Nicaragua and Southeast Asia. In 2018, Drew Moore became Lead Pastor, carrying forward the founding vision. The church’s mission remains: to join Jesus and bring life to everyone, everywhere, every day. They offer programs like Celebrate Recovery, grief support, and marriage classes. Canyon Ridge Christian Church thrives on the principle: “Big enough to celebrate and small enough to care.” Small groups meet both on and off-campus, fostering deeper connections.