OUR VISION

Proclaim the dominion of God in the New River Valley.

Raise up a standard of righteousness.

Be a bridge-builder between ministers, races, and people from all walks of life.

Equip and train all ages for the work of the ministry.

Be a lighthouse to the world.

OUR MISSION

The mission of Christian Growth Center is to teach Christians who they are in Christ Jesus and how to live a victorious life in their covenant rights and privileges. We are called to:

• Lead people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and then to a place where they as born-again believers operate proficiently in the Biblical principles of faith, love, healing, prosperity, redemption and righteousness and can share these principles with others.

• Assist believers in becoming rooted, grounded, and established in the Word of God by teaching them to give God’s Word first place in their lives. (Colossians 1:23; Psalm 112)

• Provide an atmosphere for the presence of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

• Build an army of mature believers, bringing them from milk to meat, and from religion to relationship.  We are called to train them to become skillful in the word of righteousness and to stand firm in their God-given authority. (Hebrews 5:12-14; Ephesians 6:10-18)

OUR HISTORY

Christian Growth Center church began in 1982 as a bible study of 18 people meeting in their homes in Christiansburg.  As attendance grew, it was necessary to find a larger meeting place and the decision was made to officially form a church. Meanwhile in Fort Worth, Texas, Rob and Tricia Sowell were working for Kenneth Copeland Ministries when they were invited to Christiansburg to conduct a seminar on love and unity. The Christiansburg group was so inspired they requested the Sowells to pastor them.  Over the next few weeks, Rob and Tricia determined it was the will of the Lord to pastor this new church.

On June 20, 1982, Rob and Tricia Sowell having been licensed and ordained by Kenneth Copeland, became pastors of Christian Growth Center.  Attendance the first Sunday was 44 and during that first year it doubled.  A larger space was needed and CGC relocated to its current location, 1850 Electric Way, a former carpet warehouse.  It contained over 4300 square feet and was situated on 2 1/4 acres of land. Renovation began immediately and the first service was held in the new building on May 7, 1983.  Over the next four years, CGC grew to over 200 members. This new growth brought a decision to enlarge the building to 8500 square feet.  The sanctuary was doubled in size and a children’s ministry area of 1300 square feet was added.  Church offices were also an addition and the entire building renovated. The project was officially completed in September 1987.

Now entering its 27th year of ministry, God continues to raise up a standard of righteousness in the New River Valley and beyond through Christian Growth Center. Founders Rob and Tricia Sowell are passionate about equipping and training the saints of God to live victoriously through their covenant rights in Christ Jesus; leading believers to a place of proficiency in the biblical principles of faith, love, healing, prosperity, redemption and righteousness.

What We Believe – Statement of Faith

• We believe in one God manifested in three person:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the first begotten Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, buried, resurrected, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and is true God and true man.
• We believe the Bible in its entirety to be the inspired Word of God and the infallible rule of faith and conduct.
• We believe in the resurrection of the dead, the eternal happiness of the saved, and the eternal punishment of the lost.
• We believe in personal salvation of believers through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
• We believe in sanctification through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit, and we believe in personal holiness, purity of heart and life.
• We believe in divine healing through faith in the Name of Jesus Christ and that healing is included in the Redemption.
• We believe in water baptism, in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as distinct from the New Birth, in speaking with tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance (Acts 2:4), in the gifts of the Spirit, and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.  We believe that all of these are available to believers.
• We believe in the Christian's hope; the soon-coming, personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.