South Hills Church Community

South Hills Church Community started when God called Bret Johnson, an established Pastor working at a large church in the San Francisco Bay Area, to start a church in the Las Vegas Valley.  

June 2000 Five young adults moved with the Johnsons to Las Vegas.  Despite not knowing a soul in the valley, this small cadre began to meet people and share their dream of starting a new church that would eventually start other churches.   

Sept. 2000 20-30 people started meeting in the living room of the Johnson home on Sunday evenings.  After only two more months this group had grown to more than 50 people and found it necessary to move into an apartment clubhouse where the other members of the founding team were living.

Jan. 2001  After six months of living in the valley, South Hills Church Community celebrated its official grand opening at the brand new Bob Miller Middle School at the west end of Green Valley in Henderson.  192 people were at the grand opening service on January 4, 2001.  During its first year, South Hills Church Community met only on Sunday evenings and average attendance was about 150.  

2002 The church added a morning service and attendance climbed to nearly 300. Janice Yurek joined the staff in May, and Chris Lyons in December.

2004 When South Hills Church Community celebrated its third anniversary it transitioned to two morning services (dropping the evening service) and averaged 400 in attendance.   We moved into our current facility at Horizon Ridge and Carnegie.  Lighthouse Academy opened.  Neal Benson joined the staff.

2005 As the church moves into its fifth year, attendance grows to 600.  South Hills Church Community experienced 40% annual growth in both attendance and giving over the first five years.  Our first daughter church launched on Sept. 11th, 2005 with a grand opening attended by 142 people.   

2006 South Hills celebrates its fifth anniversary with Fernando Ortega.  Average attendance in 2006 is 710 after expansion of the Worship Center and Gathering Room.  The Federal Bureau of Land Management grants South Hills the right to purchase 10 acres at the I-215 & St. Rose Pkwy. to build a permanent church campus.  The RENOWN campaign for our new campus realizes pledges of  $2.7 million.  Chase Feindel joined the staff.

2007 Significant growth and a great year.  Weekly attendance averages exceed 800.  It is apparent that we are outgrowing our current shopping center worship space.  Architects and consultants complete plans detailing the construction of our permanent home at the 215 and St. Rose Parkway.  New staff members include Nathan Phinney, Kalani and Mary Watanabe.

2008 We broke ground on our new campus in April with an outdoor celebration the entire church attended. During an economic recession when little is being built anywhere, construction on a new church building begins. Shaun Sawyer and Brandon Gallup joined the staff.