Our Mission

As a church, our mission is to Build Bridges.

Building a bridge with God, through our devotion.

Building a bridge with our church family, through our fellowship.

Building a bridge with the community, through our compassion.

Our Story

Let’s step back and explore the origins of Maryvale Bridge United Methodist Church (Maryvale Bridge UMC). Picture a vibrant Phoenix, Arizona, filled with dreams of unity and community. Our story started when Epworth United Methodist Church (UMC) and Nuevo Pacto United Methodist Fellowship (UMF) joined forces to create something special.

In the year 2000, Reverends Peggy Ward and Laszlo Vega sparked an idea: to connect with the growing Hispanic community near Epworth UMC. This idea became a reality as they reached out, knocking on doors, sharing flyers, and inviting neighbors to gather for Bible studies. From these small steps, a warm community began to take shape.

Imagine the streets buzzing with excitement as Sidewalk Sunday School, led by Billie Fidlin, brought us all closer. Guided by leaders like Reverend Jaime Vazquez, Nuevo Pacto UMF blossomed. Contributions from Jim Wiltbank, Robin Greentigerman, and others paved the way. This journey led us to a new name: Maryvale Bridge UMC, under the leadership of Pastor Joel Arvizu.

Our church found its home in the heart of the Maryvale neighborhood, a place spanning from 35th Ave to 87th Ave and from I-10 to Glendale Ave. We nestled ourselves right where our community thrives.

Maryvale Bridge UMC was born with a higher purpose: to stand strong together, reflecting the diversity of our community. The name itself came from a dream held by Pastor Joel Arvizu of a bridge linking God and our community, built through every event and opportunity.

Our path has been one of building bridges—connecting hearts, families, and cultures. Today, we continue this legacy by bridging gaps through food pantries, community services, discipleship, African outreach, health programs, English classes, and bilingual worship. We’re all about building bridges, not walls, just like the story of two brothers who turned a conflict into a bridge of understanding.

Our history whispers the spirit of “building more bridges.” As we honor our past, we forge ahead, creating connections that strengthen our community and bring us closer to God.

May our legacy of unity and bridge-building guide us toward brighter tomorrows.