The New Testament Christian Churches of America is moving its seminary from Graham, Washington, to the Phoenix, Arizona area, a relocation that has already brought much of the student body to Arizona while construction of the permanent campus continues.
The idea for an Arizona campus began taking shape in early 2023. Since then, the school has purchased land, built student housing, begun construction, welcomed students from Washington, and continued holding classes and worship services from a temporary location.
The first students arrived from Washington in late summer 2025. By the end of the Summer 2026 trimester, more than 60 percent of the student body had relocated to Arizona.
For NTCSAZ, the move has meant starting life in a new state before every part of the new campus is finished.
Building the New Seminary Campus in Arizona
The purchase of land gave the relocation a permanent home and allowed work on the Arizona campus to begin.
Aerial photographs show an open desert property bordered by a roadway and low commercial buildings, with mountains visible in the distance. Because the site is largely undeveloped, the new campus has to be built from the ground up.
Construction is only one part of the move.
The school also provides housing, having students move from Washington, maintain its academic schedule, and create places for classes and worship while the permanent facilities are being completed.
That process has unfolded gradually since 2024, with students beginning to arrive before construction was finished.
Moving From Graham, Washington, to the Phoenix Area
NTCSAZ isn’t being developed as a second seminary campus alongside Graham. The existing campus is relocating to Arizona.
That means moving more than academic programs and administrative operations. Students who began their seminary education in Washington have also had to decide whether to make the move south.
Many already have.
The first group arrived in late summer 2025, and by the end of the Summer 2026 trimester, more than 60 percent of the student body had relocated to Arizona.
Others remain in Washington while the transition continues.
Meanwhile, the students who have moved are already attending classes, living in seminary housing, and participating in worship services in Phoenix.
Classes and Worship Continue During Construction
The permanent campus isn’t ready for classes yet, so the school has been using a remodeled church in central Phoenix for both instruction and worship.
Photo courtesy of NTCSAZ
From the street, the single-story building is relatively simple, with a covered entrance and parking alongside it. Inside, the sanctuary has rows of upholstered chairs on wood flooring, chandeliers and ceiling fans overhead, and a raised platform with a wooden pulpit.
Behind the pulpit, a cross sits above an outline of a mountain range. A keyboard, bass, drums, and microphones are set up nearby for music during services.
The church sign lists Sunday worship at 11 a.m., and Thursday worship at 7:30 p.m. It also invites people considering a call to ministry to learn more about the seminary.
For now, the building gives NTCSAZ a place to keep its normal schedule going while work continues on the permanent campus.
Ten New Homes Are Already Housing Students
Student housing was another part of the Arizona project that couldn’t wait for the rest of the campus to be completed.
Ten newly built homes are already being used as student & staff living areas.
Having housing available made it possible for students to begin moving from Washington in 2025 instead of waiting until every campus building was finished.
The homes also create a residential environment outside class. Students live alongside one another, sharing meals, study time, and the routines that come with seminary life.
As more of the student body moves to Arizona, that housing will remain an important part of bringing the existing seminary community into its new location.
Students are Already Leading Worship Services
The transition hasn’t put practical ministry training on hold.
Students participate directly in services, including music, singing, and preaching. The schedule gives them regular opportunities to practice what they’re studying before a congregation.
Visitors also attend the services.
That means the temporary church is doing two jobs at once. It provides a place for students to train while also giving NTCSAZ a growing local worship community in Phoenix.
The arrangement reflects the seminary’s broader approach to preparing students for ministry: theological education happens alongside the practical work of serving a congregation.
Preparing Students for Ministry at Home and Abroad
The seminary of the New Testament Christian Churches of America prepares men and women for ministry through theological study and hands-on pastoral training.
Its programs emphasize the authority of Scripture, Christ-centered living, and compassionate pastoral leadership. Graduates may go on to serve in congregations, as missionaries, workers, or in ministries serving military communities.
That work extends outside the United States. The fellowship’s international efforts include missions in the Philippines and Panama, while its work with U.S. military members and their families includes pastoral care for people serving at home and abroad.
The seminary helps prepare people for those roles through a fellowship that includes more than 90 churches in the United States and overseas.
Planting new congregations is also part of that mission, giving the move to Arizona a purpose beyond relocating the school itself.
The Arizona Campus is Still Taking Shape
There is still work to do.
Construction of the permanent NTCSAZ campus continues. Some students remain in Washington. Classes and worship services are still being held in the remodeled Phoenix church while the new facilities are built.
But much of the relocation is already visible.
Land has been purchased. Ten homes are housing students. More than 60 percent of the student body has made the move. Classes are underway, and students are preaching, singing, playing music, and participating in services each week.
The move, which began as an idea in 2024, is now well underway, even as the physical campus continues to rise around it.
About New Testament Christian Churches of America
New Testament Christian Churches of America traces its beginnings to October 1969 in St. Louis, Missouri, where a group of Christians formed the New Testament Church of God.
In 1984, the fellowship reorganized under its current name as its work expanded nationwide. It celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019.
Today, New Testament Christian Churches of America includes more than 90 churches in the United States and abroad. The fellowship operates under the oversight of a board of directors while allowing local congregations some self-governance. Its ministries include local churches, missions, military outreach, and seminary education.
This article was prepared on behalf of the New Testament Christian Churches of America, a Christ-centered fellowship founded in 1969 that oversees more than 90 churches in the United States and abroad. Its work centers on teaching the Bible, baptizing new believers, discipling followers of Christ, and equipping leaders for ministry, including through its seminary programs.
Also read: Blast from The Past: 5 Historical Sites to Visit in Turkey
