THE WONDER OF VETERANS BLVD

Written by Brad Breckenridge

It was a Wednesday evening, and the sun was dropping below the horizon.

“The entry door was open a foot or so, and the song service spilled out loud and clear. I was part of the “Jesus People Movement,” although we did not know that… we found out later. ”

Darkness was filling the void. The church service started at 7:30, I was told, and turning west off of South Sixth and up ahead a few blocks, an old adobe duplex provided the only illumination. I slowly drove past and parked my truck on the side street. This was it. A stand-up sign proclaimed:                                                            

                                                          THE DOOR

125 W. VETERANS BLVD.

                                                    REAL PEOPLE

                                                    REAL MUSIC

                                                    REAL EXPERIENCE

          A large plate-glass window was covered with a peel-and-stick stained glass

Motif (design). The entry door was open a foot or so, and the song service spilled out loud and clear. I was part of the “Jesus People Movement,” although we did not know that… we found out later.

I approached the entry and boldly stepped through and stood there taking it all in, sight and sound. Several large clear glass light bulbs set in the ceiling illuminated all before me. You must take into account this was 1974. Big carpet sample squares of various colors covered the entire floor area. The ceiling was trying to hold on to warped and rain-damaged acoustic tiles. Several 3 inch steel poles were stationed down the center aisle holding up the roof.

Now, across the back wall hung a thick green velvet curtain. Folding steel chairs formed rows left and right, maybe 50 or so, and those held a handful of young people.

My attention was taken by the piano player. A pretty young girl was banging out a Gospel song along with a guitar player. She had this big grin on her face looking at me, and no doubt was thinking ‘look at what the cat dragged in’.

My thought was she was in high school and was volunteering to play for the services. (Lo and behold, as I found out later, she was the pastor's wife!)

Leading the song service was a guy my age. His arm was pumping back and forth at the elbow and had his hand in a fist while belting out the fast-paced song with great enthusiasm. ( In retrospect, I would not be surprised if that song was “There Is Power in the Blood”.)

Topping it all off was the fact that the song leader, the preacher, was in a wheelchair.

        I’m standing there, I’m thinking: MAN…this is perfect. The Gospel is being preached with boldness in this most unpretentious of situations, an area without prosperity. Middle of nowhere. Needy people. Yes! This is where the Gospel belongs!!!

        It was God’s perfect timing in my life. I was soon able to move from Phoenix to Tucson.

Pastor Warner and Mona were sent to Tucson to take over a marginally existing Foursquare Church on November 1st, 1973. Pastor Warner and Sister Mona are obviously full of the Love of God. The rest is history, as they say. You will find a number of books written about the Prescott church and that of Tucson. The hand of the Lord is given all the Glory!