Established in 1957, our congregation has stood as a place where faith becomes action, and where connection becomes community care. For decades, we’ve believed that church doesn’t end at the sanctuary doors; it begins the moment we step out to serve the people around us.
In Apache Junction, that calling feels especially vivid. We see our neighbors, we know their stories, and we feel their hopes. That’s why our mission work isn’t an occasional project — it’s the rhythm of who we are. Whether we’re supporting families in need, partnering with local organizations, delivering meals, offering prayer, or simply showing up with open hearts, our commitment is steady and sincere.
At Desert Chapel, connection isn’t a slogan — it’s a spiritual practice. We believe God meets us in the simple moments of kindness: a shared meal, a conversation on a doorstep, a donated blanket, a warm smile on a hard day. These are the places where love becomes tangible, where faith becomes visible, and where our community becomes stronger.
Apache Junction has shaped us, inspired us, and trusted us. Being known as “the Heart of Apache Junction” is not a title we claim lightly — it’s a responsibility we embrace with gratitude. As we continue to grow, serve, and reach out, we remain committed to walking alongside our neighbors with compassion, hope, and the steady belief that together, we can lift one another up.
Desert Chapel UMC: rooted in 1957, growing in love, and always here for our community.
Focus Area 1 – Every Member in Ministry:
Increasing congregational participation in all areas of the Church
Nurture church members to begin short-term small groups
Focus Area 2 – Know the Neighbors:
Door to door survey inviting our neighbors to tell us what they think
Door to Door Prayer
Focus Area 3 – Care for the Poor:
Assist those who are guests at the Community Feast and Clothing Closet to connect with public and non-profit assistance programs (housing, addiction treatment, utility and rent assistance)
Serve as a hub for Grief Counseling
Acquire talent to have on-site parish nurse services on Sunday mornings
Focus Area 4 – Improve the Facility:
Landscape maintenance and improvement
Resurface parking lot
Paint the building exterior
Partner with ministry-driven nonprofits with like-minded missions to use the facilities to expand the reach of the church's services
Focus Area 5– Build Community Relations:
Build unity among the churches
Lobby for public transportation
Engage in community events that occur in and around Apache Junction
After meeting as Sunday School beginning in 1950, Desert Chapel UMC began in 1952 as the “Protestant Community Church” a local, independent congregation, to meet the needs of the small but growing community near the foothills of the Superstition Mountains. Desert Chapel joined the Methodist Church in 1957. From the very beginning Desert Chapel has had a special relationship with the community of Apache Junction, supporting the local community through outreach ministries and faith-based programs.
Since then, Desert Chapel UMC has expanded the scope of its community services to include drug support programs, and community outreach through our Clothes Closet, Community Feast and Food Box programs .
The needs of 21st-century communities seem to be growing by the day. Our centers have expanded to meet these needs. Over the years, we have learned that what people need most is someone who will listen to their concerns - someone they can turn to for support when the going gets tough. And that's what Desert Chapel UMC is all about.
In 2007 Desert Chapel celebrated it's Jubilee year, 50 years of service to the community. Thanks to the work of Lyla Siebrecht and Elaine Slate, the history of Desert Chapel has been put into a PDF file that can be read by all.