History of our Church
The land that White Tanks Southern Baptist Church resides on today was provided through our affiliation with the Avondale Southern Baptist Church in the 1960's. The original meetings were held in an old Cabana near the present day church. Throughout the past several decades the church has undergone various cosmetic changes - from the Cabana to worshipping in a surplus building purchased from Luke Air Force Base to our current sanctuary. Although the faces of the congregation have changed over the years, the spirit and love within our church has always remained constant and dependable. Some of the things that have allowed us to grow throughout the years are our Faith in Jesus Christ, and our belief that the Holy Bible is the unerring Word of God. Please join us in one of our worship services very soon.
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Comments from Pastor Paul regarding White Tanks Southern Baptist Church:
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It is exciting to be in an area where there is a large potential for growth; White Tanks Southern Baptist Church has been blessed with a great opportunity to bring the Gospel of Jesus to Buckeye, Arizona, and the surrounding communities. Nothing gets me more excited than seeing a person come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, and give their life to Christ. We have a church that loves the Lord, and loves people; everyone is invited to come hear God's word.
About the Pastor
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Pastor Paul A. Lopes, Sr. was born July 22, 1965 at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois. His father, a was a career man in the United States Air Force; as a result, Pastor Paul has lived in Europe and all over the United States. While his father was stationed in Italy, Pastor Paul went with his Mother to the Baptist Church in Aviano, Italy. There he accepted Jesus on May 14, 1978, and was baptized the very next day. Pastor Paul reflects, "I knew I found the answer I had been searching for... The first time I heard the Gospel preached I accepted Jesus as my Savior."
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In the spring of 1983 Pastor Paul graduated from Moon Valley High School which is in Phoenix Arizona. He went on to graduate from Glendale Community College with an Associates of Arts (AA) degree in 1986; after getting his Associates Degree, he went to the University of Phoenix and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1994.
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Pastor Paul started attending Garden Lakes Baptist Church in 1992. That same year he began serving as a youth Sunday School Teacher; he served at that position until 1998. He was licensed into the Gospel Ministry on September 21, 1994, and was ordained the following January. He became the Pastor of the Rainbow Valley Baptist Church in May of 1998, and held that position until January 2001. Pastor Paul accepted the call to become pastor of the White Tanks Southern Baptist Church on August 26, 2001.
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Pastor Paul and his wife Patricia have been married for 21 years, and they have 4 children; Max Carrillo, Erik Carrillo, Paul Lopes Jr., and Isley Lopes.