About Accelerate Group
How Accelerate Group started:
Dr. Don Wilson and his wife Sue started Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV) in his living room in 1982 and expanded it to eight campuses under his leadership in the greater Phoenix area. It expanded to 8 campuses and over 27,000 in weekly attendance in 2017. It was at that time he successfully passed the baton to his successor and the church has continued to grow with 11 campuses, 35,000 in attendance, and a 300 person staff.
Having held several pastoral and leadership positions for over 50 years, Dr. Don is considered a trusted guide and leader. As an engaging speaker, he has conducted leadership trainings for over 7,000 pastors and leaders internationally. His special ability to relate to all age groups, demographics and corporate leaders, propels Accelerate Group’s relevancy across the variable needs of pastors and their spouse.
After faithfully serving Christ’s Church of the Valley for 35 years, Dr. Don & Sue launched Accelerate Group with a primary purpose: equipping pastors and their spouse to achieve long-term success in ministry and marriage. They have served over 150 pastors from Denver to D.C; and Arizona all the way to Australia.
Today, they have an experienced team and created a framework to help ministry couples put the health of their marriages first in order to lead healthy and thriving church. Accelerate Group also offers coaching and development for lead pastors, elders, and staff as well as weekend and focused ministry assessments to help organizations function more effectively.
THE TEAM
Dr. Don Wilson
Dr. Don moved their family in 1975 from Kansas to Arizona. He later founded CCV with three couples in their living room in 1982. After several temporary meeting facilities in the first 15 years of existence, they settled in the NW Valley when the congregation came together to provide a 1 million dollar miracle offering to purchase land for their first permanent facility. The church grew steadily over the next 20 years when Don and the elders executed a well designed transition plan that allowed CCV to continue its tremendous impact. .
Don and Sue have been married for over 52 years, they have three children whose families are all in the full time ministry and have eleven grandkids.
Mike Nave
Mike Nave’s professional background is in information technology and business, with an emphasis on global business services in executive roles. Mike has also provided consultation and leadership training for church boards. Being a pastor's son, Mike has a heart for church leaders and helping them succeed.
Mike has been an active member of Christ’s Church of the Valley since 1998. He has served in a number of volunteer capacities including a Greeter, an Usher, on the Missions team, and has led Neighborhood Groups as well as overseeing groups. Mike served as an Elder from 2000 to 2017, chairing the Board several of those years. Prior to CCV, Mike served on a number of missions boards and as an Elder. Mike and his wife Karen have three married sons and six grandchildren, living in Arizona, California, and Texas. All of Mike’s and Karen’s parents, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are active in their local churches.
Kevin Segal
Kevin and Pam Segal were married in 1996 at what is now Life Bridge Christian Church in Longmont, CO. They have three teenage children who all serve in various ministries at CCV. His roles have included Sports Outreach Pastor, Executive Pastor, and Director positions in the non-profit sector. These roles have taken him to Kentucky, Indiana and Arizona.
The desire to see the Kingdom expand is Kevin’s primary focus. He wears many hats as he works diligently to support the day to day operations at Accelerate Group.