No shortage of leaders and familiar names will fill Global Credit Union Arena when Grand Canyon University starts its Fall 2024 Chapel season.
GCU President Brian Mueller will continue his tradition of leading the first of 12 services this fall on Sept. 9.
The theme will be Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Mueller opened last fall's services, all scheduled for 9 a.m. on Mondays, with a come-together message in which he implored the audience to rally as one for a “great cause.”
GCU Pastor Dr. Tim Griffin, who also serves as dean of students and vice president of Student Affairs, will lead Chapel on Sept. 16. Last October, Griffin referenced Psalm 103, in which David conveys the benefits of knowing God, following God and being blessed in God.
In addition to Mueller and Griffin, four speakers will return from last fall’s schedule. One will be Noe Garcia, pastor at North Phoenix Church, who will speak on Sept. 23.
Garcia, a native of Texas, authored “Repurposed,” which details his struggles and how God redeemed him and brought him back to life.
Dave Donaldson of Canyon Hills Church in Bakersfield, California, will speak Sept. 30. Donaldson has helped raise millions through his role as co-founder of CityServe, including feeding 800 people who lost everything in the Maui fires last August.
October features the return of three speakers from last fall. GCU alumnus Josh Watt of Redemption Church North Mountain will be the guest speaker on Oct. 7. Watts, who graduated in 2005, played baseball briefly and majored in math before shifting his emphasis.
Last fall, Watt recited catchy lines from songs, or “earworms,” to emphasize his message.
“No musician wants to write a forgettable lyric,” he said. “They all want to write unforgettable lyrics.
“And God, in the book of Psalms, was no different.”
Jason Fritz, lead pastor of Illuminate Community Church in Scottsdale, returns to Chapel on Oct. 14. Fritz, a Phoenix native, has performed pastoral ministry in the Valley for more than 30 years. He stressed unity and the importance of admitting to your sins at a service last fall.
GCU graduate Nick Ely, lead pastor of Christ Church, will return to Global Credit Union Arena to speak Oct. 28. One of Ely’s themes is “youthful responsibility.”
Tree Demeter of Redemption Church Peoria and Darryl DelHousaye of Redeemer Bible Church are newcomers to GCU Chapel. Demeter, who served the ministry of Athletes in Action for 15 years before shifting to church ministry, will be the guest speaker Oct. 21.
John Demeter, Tree’s husband, is the lead pastor at Redemption and spoke at Chapel in April.
DelHousaye, pastor at Redeemer, touts more than 50 years of local church experience and has authored several publications. He will speak Nov. 4.
Brian Kruckenberg, lead pastor of New City Church, will be the guest speaker Nov. 18. Kruckenberg spoke last spring about the perils of sin stemming from temptation.
The Fall 2024 Chapel schedule concludes with an online service on Nov. 25 and Christmas Chapel on Dec. 2.
There will be no service on Nov. 11 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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Chapel schedule:
Sept. 9: GCU President Brian Mueller
Sept. 16: University Pastor Dr. Tim Griffin
Sept. 23: Noe Garcia, North Phoenix Church
Sept. 30: Dave Donaldson, Canyon Hills Church, Bakersfield, California
Oct. 7: Josh Watt, Redemption Church North Mountain
Oct. 14: Jason Fritz, Illuminate Community Church
Oct. 21: Tree Demeter, Redemption Church Peoria
Oct. 28: Nick Ely, Christ Church Phoenx
Nov. 4: Darryl Delhousaye, Redeemer Bible Church
Nov. 11: Veterans Day, no Chapel
Nov. 18: Brian Kruckenberg, New City Church
Nov. 25: Online Chapel for Thanksgiving Week
Dec. 2: Christmas Chapel
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