1972-1975 – Beginning at Jordan Hall
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.
1975-1980 – Moving to Maynard Road
Soon after becoming a church, we purchased property on Maynard Road. 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.
1980-1993 – Growth at Maynard Road
Eventually the church needed more classroom space, so we built an Educational Building that opened in September of 1981. The following year we sent out our first international workers, Rick and Tina Sessoms. 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.
1993-2007 – Ministry in Cary and Around the World
We again exceeded our capacity. As a result, we constructed a 350-seat sanctuary, dedicated on May 23, 1993. In 1994, we sent Thomas 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 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. We have commissioned several other families through the Alliance and other missions agencies serving all over the world.
2008 – 2016 – Moving to Ten-Ten Road, Reaching Garner
CAC relocated to our current location on Highway Ten Ten in 2008 and immediately began using the new property to its fullest, adding Trinity Preschool. This location has allowed us to minister to a rapidly growing area of southern Wake County with a 600 seat capacity gymnasium/multi-purpose room. There are a number of small groups representing neighborhoods from Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina to Cary and Apex. Also in 2008, Scott Eichelberger was added in the new position of Executive Pastor, Brett Adams became Youth Pastor, and Ben Marsh was hired as Director of
Children’s Ministries. A variety of new summer camps have been offered for children. In 2010, Ben Marsh moved into the position of Youth Pastor, and in 2011, Cherri Durig became Director of Children’s Ministries. In September of 2011 CAC agreed to assume responsibility of Faith Community Church (formerly Faith Alliance) in Garner as a satellite campus and church revitalization project.
CAC from 2013 to 2016 In January 2013, Allen Springer was asked to serve as the site pastor of the Garner campus, Faith Community Church. By January 2016 we were able to celebrate that God had enabled Faith Community Church to become an independent church.
In early 2014, Thomas Becker assumed the role of Executive Pastor, filling the vacancy left by Scott Eichelberger as he moved to the role of Senior Pastor at First Alliance Church in Franklin, NC.
During this time God has continued to bless us by allowing us to commission and send multiple international workers into the world with the Alliance, Cru, OMF, TWR, and Wycliffe.
It has been exciting to see how God is working within our church and we look forward to seeing how He will continue to work in the future!