OUR HISTORY
Christian Fellowship Ministries emerged from a remarkable assembly of ordinary men profoundly touched by the divine hand of God. Their impact, akin to the fire of a global revival, rippled across the world…
In the year 1970, Pastor Wayman Mitchell set foot in the unassuming town of Prescott, Arizona. Shortly after his arrival, God orchestrated the salvation of a group of young hippies, whose unconventional backgrounds stood in stark contrast to the church’s regular attendees. However, as these new souls were embraced, the Holy Spirit began to pour out His blessings upon the congregation. Pastor Mitchell’s mission to reach out to young people led to the inception of the ‘coffee-house’ concert ministry. At its inaugural event, more than 200 young individuals, many of whom were saved, attended. This marked the birth of a regular concert ministry, where bands performed, testimonies of salvation were shared, and the Gospel was preached, resulting in countless salvations each night. From the outset, Pastor Mitchell recognized that the concert ministry served as a training ground for nurturing future ministers. It was managed by young individuals deeply committed to Jesus and His church. Those who had experienced radical conversions were eager to share the transformative power of God’s work within them, and personal evangelism soon became a cornerstone of the church’s foundation. Impact teams followed: groups of individuals who ventured to neighboring cities to help others encounter the same divine experience. Over time, God unveiled His plan for discipleship, wherein young couples were trained to serve in local church ministry.
In 1973, the first couple was sent forth directly into the ministry, and God’s blessings overflowed. This marked the beginning of a wave of church plantings across the Southwestern United States, extending further across America as converts prayed for the Gospel to reach their hometowns. By 1978, the first couple had been sent to another nation—Australia—and the Gospel’s impact transcended borders, mirroring the success experienced at home. Subsequently, churches were established in Mexico, Holland, and Germany. As the understanding of God’s global mission deepened, churches began to sprout across the world.
Presently, over 4,000 churches have been established in more than 150 nations, with this number growing continually. This church is a living testament to that visionary journey and strives to expand this mission in the short time remaining before the return of Jesus. We have been given a vision for the era in which we live—a message that is simple, yet forms the bedrock of all truth. It declares that Jesus Christ is the sole hope for humanity’s salvation, a truth applicable to every person in every corner of the world. In a world filled with empty dreams and false promises, the enduring and strengthening truth is Jesus Christ and His redemptive sacrifice on the cross!
In 2017, Jamie and Tina Ocaña were launched out of Espanola, New Mexico and planted into Bernalillo, New Mexico. Over the last 8 years, God has built a powerful work here in Bernalillo. In January of 2025, James & Kersha Heimberg and their 2 kids were launched out of Gallup, NM to assume pastorate of the thriving Bernalillo congregation.
God is still moving powerfully to build a church that patterns after the original church, in Prescott, AZ.
