Broadcasting from the tucked-away ‘Narnia room’ at Amped Coffee Company, Eric Kilstrom and co-host Sawana welcome Pastor Randy Williams for a candid conversation about faith and community in Anthem. Randy explains why the congregation formerly known as Palmcroft Anthem, and Arizona Hills before that, is starting fresh under a new name: Sonoran Chapel. He reflects on how the pandemic tested churches, purifying some and breaking others, and admits he was surprised that many members only felt ready to return years later. Money, not people, is his real worry today: a roughly 15,000-square-foot space near Anthem Way carries rent that eats more than half the budget. Randy also celebrates unexpected growth in men’s ministry, credits Executive Pastor Mark for keeping the church’s marketing honest, and points to spiritual revival among college athletes at Ohio State and Notre Dame. The episode closes on how local businesses, residents, and churches can show up for one another.
Key takeaways
- Palmcroft Anthem has rebranded as Sonoran Chapel, keeping the same pastors, people, and location while parting amicably from the Palmcroft parent congregation; Randy notes the church was Arizona Hills before that and has changed names many times over 20 years.
- Money is the church's biggest challenge, not people: its roughly 15,000-square-foot space near the corner of Venture and Anthem Way runs about $40,000 a month in rent, more than half the total budget.
- In ministry since 1986, Randy says men's ministry has unexpectedly grown, with men opening up through retreats and small groups after being hesitant to join at first.
- COVID acted like a purifying fire on churches, with healthy congregations rebounding stronger and struggling ones falling apart; some Sonoran Chapel members only felt ready to return in person around 2023.
- Executive Pastor Mark, who previously owned an advertising company for churches and nonprofits, led the rebrand and keeps the church's posts authentic rather than imitating polished mega-church production.
- Randy points to spiritual revival among young college athletes at Ohio State and Notre Dame, including on-field baptisms and players sharing testimonies, as a sign of a broader generational shift.
Related: Eric's Eye on Anthem podcast