A Brief History of Cary Alliance Church

Jordan Hall (1972-1975) In 1972, the First Alliance Church of Raleigh planted our Church. Pastor Ed Smillie helped a small group from First Alliance start Sunday Services in Cary’s Jordan Hall on North Harrison Avenue. By December of 1973, the small congregation had grown sufficiently to officially become Cary Alliance Church. In January of 1974, Rev. Charles Sigmund answered God’s call to be the pastor.

Move to Maynard Road (1975-1980) Soon after becoming a church, we purchased property on Maynard Road for $26,000. In April 1975, we broke ground for a 4,800 square foot sanctuary that opened for worship in February 1976. In 1978, the Lord brought a new pastor to the church, Rev. Charles Denhart. By 1980, we had become a family of two hundred members.

CAC from 1981-1992 Eventually the church needed more classroom space, so we built an Educational Building that opened in September of 1981. The following year, reflective of an increased ministry capacity, we sent out our first international workers, Rick and Tina Sessoms. Later, in 1983, we called our first Associate Pastor, Don Robertson. By 1984, we had again outgrown the facilities, so we lengthened the Educational Building.

In June of 1989, Rev. Mitchell Gregory became our senior pastor. Eleven months later, we called Thomas Becker to be the Assistant Pastor. We added a second worship service to the Sunday morning schedule in August of 1990.

CAC from 1993-2007 We again exceeded our capacity. As a result, we constructed a 350-seat sanctuary, dedicated on May 23, 1993. Since then the church experienced capacity growth for the Maynard Road site.

In 1994, we sent Tom and Miriam Becker to serve as international workers in Russia. We also called Matt Fisher to replace Tom as our Assistant Pastor. Then, in 1996, we called Paige Adams to serve as the church’s first Youth Pastor. A few years later, in 2002, we called Mike Miguel to serve as Church Administrator. In 2006, Chris Johnson became our second Youth Pastor and international worker candidate. In 2006, we called Scott Simpson to be our first Worship Pastor. Barbara Smith has served as church secretary since 1999.

Sending out international workers continues to be a priority. In 2004, we sent Matt and Terry Fisher to serve in Russia. In 2006, we commissioned Paige and Angela Adams to serve in Indonesia. Later in 2008 Michael and Valerie Stephens were commissioned for service in Senegal.

CAC from 2008 to 2011 CAC relocated to our current location on Highway Ten Ten in 2008 and immediately began using the new property to its fullest, adding the Upwards program and Trinity Preschool. Also in 2008, Brett Adams became Youth Pastor, Scott Eichelberger was added in the new position of Pastor of Church Ministries, and Ben Marsh was hired as Director of Children’s Ministries.

This location has allowed us to minister to a rapidly growing area of Wake County. There are a number of small groups representing neighborhoods from Holly Springs to Clayton to Cary and Apex. A variety of new summer camps have been offered for children.

In 2010, Ben Marsh changed to his current position as Youth Pastor, and in 2011, Cherri Durig became Director of Children’s Ministries.

In September of 2011 CAC joined with our sister church, Faith Alliance in Garner, to become one church ministering in two locations.

We look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in the future.