In 1984, two families started Living Streams in Mark & Kristina Buckley’s living room. The vision was to form a healthy church, a place for equipping Christians in ministry and growing strong families. By word of mouth, the church grew quickly, moved a few times, and now finds its home at Central and Glendale, close to downtown Phoenix.
The vision remains the same. We seek to make true disciples who will reach out and share the love of God with their families, friends, neighbors and people everywhere.
"Our Story" Quick Links
What We Believe | Core Values | Mission | Vision | Style | Every Person A Minister | A Hospital For the Soul | Accountabilty Of Leadership | Church Goverment |
Open Communication Policy | Every Person A Missionary | Families | Relationships | Church Plants
What We Believe
God is community, and he made us for himself.
We believe in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. He exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, perfect Messiah-King, died for sin and was raised and sits enthroned as Judge above the world.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Messiah of Israel. He was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified for our sins and was resurrected bodily from the dead. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
God wants to know us and us to know him, intimately.
We believe that everyone must receive Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior in order to have eternal life. We believe that repentance from sin is essential for salvation.
God has chosen to reveal himself to us through writing.
We believe the Bible is the Word of God. It is inspired, infallible, and authoritative, and the commands therein must be obeyed by all believers.
God is Spirit; he lives inside his people and makes them like himself.
We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is given to believers as a gift from God. We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts and convinces, gives new life, indwells, comforts, builds, instructs, and empowers the believers to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, the greatest of these being love. We believe the Holy Spirit unites believers with one another in the body of Christ, and equips members with various gifts and ministries including prophecy, healing, and tongues.
Jesus once died and now is forever alive.
We believe every member of the church must express his or her obedience to Christ through water baptism. We practice communion according to the teachings of the New Testament.
We recognize that God has established pastors and elders in the church who have a responsibility to counsel and instruct the members with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit according to the teachings of the Bible. Their goal is to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
We believe Living Streams Church to be a small part of the body of Christ on earth. We are members of the Church which has been built by Jesus Christ over the last 2,000 years, beginning in the New Testament. We express our unity with all Christians who love and serve Jesus as their Lord.
We expect the commitment of each member of the church to include their time, talents, financial support, prayers, and love for fellow Christians.
Core Values
You can learn a lot about a person by what they value. The same holds true for an organization, especially a church. Below you will find links to many of the various ties that bind us together as Living Streams Church. We consider these philosophies of ministry core to everything we are and do as a local manifestation of the body of Christ.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44 NIV).
Mission
Our mission is to be a healthy church, following Christ together by loving God, loving people, and expanding God’s kingdom.
We believe a healthy church is one where people learn to obey what Jesus referred to as “the great and first commandment”: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. . . . And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39 esv). Let’s not overcomplicate things: the ethical teachings of the Bible boil down to loving God and loving people. Thus we desire to be a community marked by tangible growth in our love for Jesus and for others expressed by ever-deepening devotion and visible good works.
“We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:19–21 NIV).
Vision
Our collective vision for Living Streams Church is
- to love God through devotion to His Word, authentic worship, and relevant biblical teaching;
- to love people by providing groups and studies that will equip them to live healthy lives and inspire them to be servants;
- to help people fulfill their unique, God-given destinies in ministry and missions;
- to provide a refuge of spiritual rest for the children of God; and
- to expand God’s Kingdom by raising up and preparing a new generation of spiritual leaders and servants of God.
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).
Style
We are intentionally casual at LSC in order to relate person-to-person without religious barriers. We believe Jesus was challenging, authentic, and honest—as were his earliest followers. So we try to portray Christ in the manner that best represents him. That’s why we’re not afraid to talk about our weaknesses. We know we are flawed people—sinners saved by the grace of God. Jesus saves us, restores us, transforms us, and secures us with a new life and a new heart. Set free from the oppressive weight of guilt and shame we become empowered and sent to make a difference in the kingdom of God. “
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23 NIV).
Every Person a Minister
Everyone is gifted and called to help build up the body of Christ—the church. That’s why during the worship services you’ll see people from the congregation participating in the offertory, communion, and praise and worship. Ministry here is not the exclusive privilege of ordained pastors. In fact, the pastors and teachers were given to the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 esv). Thus our desire as well as our job description is to equip you for service so that the church and God’s kingdom might be built up on earth.
Not everyone is involved in direct ministry here at Living Streams however. Instead many of our people are involved in ministries such as Young Life, Community Bible Study, Neighborhood Ministries, Food for the Hungry, Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, Right to Life, and many more. Regardless of your life situation or sphere of influence we want to help see you bear fruit for Jesus Christ.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7 NIV).
A Hospital For The Soul
While we believe God wants everyone to serve a unique and irreplaceable role in his kingdom, we also understand that people often come to us broken and battered and in need of rest or perhaps even deep restoration. You shouldn’t experience pressure to get involved serving at Living Streams. Our first priority is each person’s spiritual health. Therefore feel liberated from having to do and just be. Come to some meetings and events; get to know people in a casual, relaxed way; move at your pace while allowing God’s Spirit to speak to you and bring restoration and healing to your heart.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor . . .” (Isaiah 61:1–2 NIV).
Accountability of Leadership
Living Streams is an independent church in that we are not directly affiliated with a denomination. We do have active relationships with and are connected to other churches in the Valley however. Senior Pastor Mark Buckley is part of a group called Pastors in Covenant, which includes leaders from other local churches such as Word of Grace, Valley Cathedral, Covenant of Grace, and others. These pastors pray, bear one another’s burdens, and strive to provide a spiritual covering for each other, offering each one support in one’s ministry as well as personal life.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1–2 esv).
Church Government
“Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV).
The government of Living Streams is based on the New Testament principle of a plurality of elders. Elders are selected in light of the character qualities described in 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:6–9; and 1 Peter 5:1–5. Even though Mark Buckley personally founded the church, he submits his life to the elders. The board of elders governs the church and has the final say regarding the fellowship. When it comes to some major issues (for example, building acquisition, change in location, etc.), the elders sometimes call meetings inviting the entire congregation to participate in decisions.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2–4 NIV).
Open Communication Policy
We do not shy away from sensitive or controversial topics at Living Streams. We also desire open disclosure and public accountability for how the church is managed. We therefore publish a monthly financial statement that any of the pastors can be available to discuss with those interested. We also desire to speak the truth in love. Thus we are more than happy to openly discuss issues of doctrine, church discipline, etc.
“... speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NIV).
Every Person a Missionary
The advancement of the gospel and God’s kingdom both locally and globally are of utmost concern to Living Streams. Therefore of all the monies that come into the church, 10 percent is set aside to further the holistic ministry of the gospel (“missions”) all over the world.
We desire to create a culture at LSC where every person views oneself as a missionary—whether across the street or across the globe. Every person is either a “goer” or a sender, but every follower of Jesus is (like Christ and his apostles—from the Greek word meaning “messenger” or “sent one”) a “sent one” to bring the message of reconciliation as an ambassador for Christ to his or her sphere of influence. So while we send teams of young people, ministers, and other leaders on “mission trips” such as the team sent each winter to Mexico to serve communities through the construction of churches and orphanages, or various other summer mission trips to places such as Lithuania, South Africa, the Czech Republic, and the Ukraine, we do not view these trips as encompassing “missions” at LSC.
These short-term trips do give people invaluable on-the-ground experience sharing their faith in other cultures, and anyone would benefit and be encouraged in one’s faith to participate in one or several of them. However, we believe the charge to “make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” was given to every follower of Christ, and therefore every person is a full-time missionary to one’s sphere of influence, whether that sphere is physically located around the corner or around the world.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 NIV)..
Families
We want to help families become holistically healthy and stay healthy. We want to equip dads to be better dads, moms to be better moms, and we want to help couples build strong marriages so their children can be raised in healthy, loving families. We want kids to grow up with a desire to follow Jesus and to raise their kids to do the same. Our preaching, teaching, counseling, and small groups all work toward that end result.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged” (Colossians 3:18–21 NIV).
Relationships
When you come to a larger church, it can be difficult to feel a part of things and to develop meaningful relationships. The best way to “get connected” (as well as to grow spiritually) is through participation in community. For many people this means gathering in smaller groups where intimacy and trust can naturally develop. We therefore offer a variety of groups for men, women, couples, young adults, students, and other select demographics which include home groups, book studies, service groups, and support groups. Regardless of your current life situation or circumstances there’s a place for you at Living Streams.
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV).
Church Plants
Expanding the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven—that’s what Living Streams is all about. We’re grateful that God has enabled us to plant churches in the Valley such as Streams Church, which is located in the far West Valley. This fast-growing church began in October 2004 and is pastored by Lloyd Baker.
Our missional church in West Phoenix is called Kineo Church. Kineo is pastored by Jeff Skeens, who is currently pursuing his Master's of Divinity at Phoenix Seminary. Kineo also administers a successful Discipleship House program for young adults between the ages of 18-29.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” (Matthew 13:31–32 NIV).
Going Up?