Donald Wilson (born 1949,

Alta Vista, Kansas Alta Vista is a city in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 409. History Alta Vista was founded in 1887, and it was incorporated as a city in 1905. Alta Vista is derived from the Spani ...

) is the founder and was the senior pastor of Christ's Church of the Valley in

Peoria, Arizona Peoria is a city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in the state of Arizona. Most of the city is located in Maricopa County, while a portion in the north is in Yavapai County. It is a major suburb of Phoenix. As of the 2020 census, the popul ...

, one of the largest churches in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, with an average attendance of nearly 28,000 a week across 9 locations. On January 28, 2017, Wilson announced his retirement, effective October 29, 2017.

Education

Wilson attended

Manhattan Christian College Manhattan Christian College (MCC) is a private Christian college in Manhattan, Kansas. It was founded in 1927 as Christian Workers University. The institution's name was changed to Manhattan Bible College in 1930 and Manhattan Christian Colle ...

, Kansas State University, and earned his Ph.D. from the

California Graduate School of Theology The California Graduate School of Theology is an institution of higher learning in Garden Grove, California. History The California Graduate School of Theology was founded and chartered in the state of California in 1969 by William S. McBirnie, ...

Wilson and CCV

Don is the founder of Christ's Church of the Valley, which has been in existence since 1982; he began services in a rented movie theatre. Since that time, Christ's Church of the Valley has held services in an elementary school, a strip mall, and a building known as ‘The Castle’. In 1996, Christ's Church of the Valley raised over $1 million in one day, purchased of land in the northwest area of Phoenix for a permanent home. In 2006, CCV raised over $8 million on one weekend for the Ripple Effect campaign. This campaign is built two new buildings for Children and Youth ministries. These buildings opened fall 2008. For the first four years on the new property, Christ's Church of the Valley held services in a ‘sprung’ structure with seating for 1,100. After holding six identical services each weekend, in January 2004, Christ's Church of the Valley moved into their new 3,000 seat multi-use structure on the campus. Christ's Church of the Valley has over 22,000 in attendance each weekend at multiple services.

Family and personal life

Wilson married his wife, Susan on August 9, 1968, and has three grown children, Paul, Kelli and Kristi, all of whom are involved in full-time ministry. Don also has eleven grandchildren, Madison, Russell, Riley, Marlee, Jacob, Garrett, Jenna, Suzanna, Mia, Whitney and Abigail. Four of his grandchildren are married. Don and Sue currently live in

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Don 1949 births Living people People from Wabaunsee County, Kansas People from Peoria, Arizona American Christian creationists American Christian religious leaders