SWFMenu Placeholder.

HISTORY The organizational meeting for Canaan Missionary Baptist Church (CMBC) was held on Wednesday, December 6, 1989. Dr. Bernard Black, President of the General State Baptist Convention of Arizona, moderated the meeting. Dr. Black was joined by Bishop Henry Barnwell, pastor of the First New Life Missionary Baptist Church of Phoenix and Reverend D. Previn Carr, an assistant minister to Dr. Black. Reverend Carr was assigned to preach an inspirational message at this occasion. Several things were accomplished at this meeting, these included:  •The official adoption of the church name. •The identification and recognition of the charter members. •The Biblical direction for the organization of a Christian church was provided. CMBC held its inaugural services on December 10, 1989. Following prayer, Godly direction, and recognizing the need for another Christian church in the East Valley, CMBC was born. Reverend Montgomery Portis, a former associate minister with the Progressive Baptist church of Mesa, Arizona served in a significant role as both the minister with whom the church was organized and the primary preacher and teacher at Canaan church. Joining Rev. Portis as charter members of Canaan were: Bro. RogerBetts, Sis. Connie Betts, Sis. Carol Cooper, Sis. Linda Dailey, Sis. Greta Dillon, Sis. Michelle Dillon, Deacon Kenneth Hill, Sis. Sharon Hill, Bro. Marion Hill, Sis. Viveka Hill, Sis. Frankie James, Sis. Mercedes Jones, Sis. Vernell Junior, Bro. Charles Mayfield, Sis. Ruby Mayfield, Sis. Denise Portis and Sis. Valerie Smallwood. Children and youth present were: Sis. Adriann Portis, Sis. Ianna Portis, Sis. Isis Jones, Sis. Ikela Jones and Sis. Ashley Dillon.   The initial officers and workers in the church included: Sis. Michelle Dillon, usher's president; Deacon Kenneth Hill, chairman of Deacons; Sis. Sharon Hill, church musician; Bro. Marion Hill, choir director; and Sis. Vernell Junior, church financial secretary/treasurer. Shortly after the official organization of Canaan, Rev. Portis (an enlisted soldier with the U.S. Air Force); was moved to another part of the country; and at the time the church called various ministers to share in the preaching and teaching duties of the church. Among those called was Rev. Sherman J. Fort , an associate minister at the Ebenezer Baptist church of Phoenix, Rev. Wesley Jones Sr., pastor. After preaching and teaching on several occasions, Rev. Fort was asked to serve as the interim pastor, and then eventually as the pastor of Canaan church. Since that time the Lord has blessed Canaan to grow, go and glow for God. The church has experienced growth spiritually, numerically, financially and socially; with an emphasis on ministering to the whole man. God has also richly blessed Canaan with many associate ministers over the years, including at least three who have been called to pastor churches here in the valley of the sun. We thank and praise God for the things He has done! And, we pray that the Lord will allow us to demonstrate His light in this dark world.