caleb campbell |
Premiered Jan 31, 2023
In this video, Caleb Campbellālead pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church, uncovers false ideas animating Christian nationalism and his experience walking with people to disarm the logic and demonstrate a love that redirects them back towards the kingdom of God described by Jesus the Messiah.
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Pastor Campbell graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters of Arts in Ministry from Phoenix Seminary in 2015 and is currently a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served at Desert Springs Bible Church, in Phoenix, AZ since 2006, serving as Lead Pastor since 2015. He also serves on the board of United Pastors of Arizona and as the state-wide regional director of the Surge Network. He has spoken at events hosted by Acts 29, African American Christian Clergy Coalition, the Surge Network, Grand Canyon University, Converge Arizona, Young Life and Phoenix Seminary |
— Caleb Campbell (@calebphx) February 23, 2023 |
Nov 26, 2022: Salon: Evangelical pastor fights back against Christian nationalism
One pastor who is critical of the relationship between Trump and the Christian Right is Caleb Campbell of the Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona. According to a report from the Globe & Mail's Nathan VanderKlippe, Campbell is trying to counter the Trump/MAGA influence on evangelicals. |
“It’s a perpetual heresy. This one just is sprinkled with red, white and blue. This one tastes like apple pie.”
--Pastor Caleb Campbell; Desert Springs Bible Church defining "Christian Nationalism."
--Pastor Caleb Campbell; Desert Springs Bible Church defining "Christian Nationalism."
Although American Christians advocating for conservative policies is nothing new, Campbell believes that this new Trump-led evangelism is more dangerous in that it evokes the spirit of white nationalism. "This is a mean-spirited, vulgar grab for power with violent rhetoric," he said. "I’m familiar with what it means to be enculturated toward violent behavior." -Raw Story; 11.22.22 |
Nov 22, 2022: Raw Story: Christian Trump event left evangelical pastor 'absolutely terrified and horrified'
In an interview with the Toronto Globe and Mail, Pastor Caleb Campbell revealed that he decided to make wooing Christians away from the MAGA movement his personal cause after he attended a Christian event hosted by Turning Point USA, the right-wing activist group founded by Charlie Kirk. During the event he attended, says Campbell, Kirk misappropriated quotes from the Bible in order to make it sound like God wanted Christians to be armed to the teeth with firearms. |

Religion News: A ‘missionary to Christian nationalists,’ Phoenix pastor urges conversion, not confrontation Phoenix pastor Caleb Campbell has a theory about the growing number of Americans who are labeled as Christian nationalists.
Most would rather go to Cracker Barrel than storm the Capitol.
Many see themselves as good Christians who love their country. But somewhere along the way, they began to think being a good American and being a Christian were one and the same.
11.12.22
Most would rather go to Cracker Barrel than storm the Capitol.
Many see themselves as good Christians who love their country. But somewhere along the way, they began to think being a good American and being a Christian were one and the same.
11.12.22

Oct 31, 2022: Christianity Today: Christian Nationalism Debates Expose Clashing Views of Power
Caleb Campbell didn’t know he needed the term Christian nationalism.
He’d heard it, here and there, but it hadn’t really registered. It was at the edge of his awareness and his vocabulary as he tried to understand the disputes over racism, the pandemic, and the election that rocked his evangelical church in suburban Phoenix throughout 2020.
Then the new year started, a mock gallows was erected at the Capitol, and his social media showed some in the mob carried signs that said, “JESUS SAVES.” His mind strained to make sense of the two things together, and he remembered from somewhere that there was a term.
Christian nationalism.
“I needed that phrase to name it,” said Campbell, pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church. “This is a heresy. It’s a complete distortion of Jesus’ doctrine of power. I think Christian nationalism started in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was reaching for the Cross, and Peter, who loves Jesus, thought he should protect him with a sword.”
Caleb Campbell didn’t know he needed the term Christian nationalism.
He’d heard it, here and there, but it hadn’t really registered. It was at the edge of his awareness and his vocabulary as he tried to understand the disputes over racism, the pandemic, and the election that rocked his evangelical church in suburban Phoenix throughout 2020.
Then the new year started, a mock gallows was erected at the Capitol, and his social media showed some in the mob carried signs that said, “JESUS SAVES.” His mind strained to make sense of the two things together, and he remembered from somewhere that there was a term.
Christian nationalism.
“I needed that phrase to name it,” said Campbell, pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church. “This is a heresy. It’s a complete distortion of Jesus’ doctrine of power. I think Christian nationalism started in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was reaching for the Cross, and Peter, who loves Jesus, thought he should protect him with a sword.”
Nov 27, 2019: Arizona Capitol Times: Time is running out for Congress to pass law to protect ‘Dreamers’
I (Caleb) serve as lead pastor of a church in north Phoenix. Maria previously volunteered as one of our staff leaders, serving our congregation’s children and students. She was an excellent teammate, a diligent employee and a growing leader. She is a vital part of our church family and community.
The Bible calls us to stand for justice, especially for immigrants. Our values require a solution, which would benefit not only Dreamers but also the native-born Americans who attend church with and work alongside them.
The economic contributions of Dreamers in Arizona are strong. The Center for American Progress estimates that deporting all 27,865 Arizona DACA recipients would result in a more than $1.3 billion loss. This would devastate not only those directly affected by deportation, but also many other families who call Arizona home.
I (Caleb) serve as lead pastor of a church in north Phoenix. Maria previously volunteered as one of our staff leaders, serving our congregation’s children and students. She was an excellent teammate, a diligent employee and a growing leader. She is a vital part of our church family and community.
The Bible calls us to stand for justice, especially for immigrants. Our values require a solution, which would benefit not only Dreamers but also the native-born Americans who attend church with and work alongside them.
The economic contributions of Dreamers in Arizona are strong. The Center for American Progress estimates that deporting all 27,865 Arizona DACA recipients would result in a more than $1.3 billion loss. This would devastate not only those directly affected by deportation, but also many other families who call Arizona home.