About Starlight Park Community Church
If you have noticed Starlight Park Community Church appearing in resources connected to Prism Counseling & Coaching, there is a reason for that. Created as a fictional church setting, it is used by Prism Counseling & Coaching for teaching and training purposes. It is loosely inspired by the real, former Starlight Park Free Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona located in the Maryvale area, where Tres Adames's family was deeply involved during the 1960s and 1970s. The church was planted by Pastor Jim DeSpain and the area was remembered as a close-knit community that felt almost like a small town before the surrounding area became part of the larger metropolitan Phoenix landscape.
The reason this setting is used is because its story reflects the experience of many small to mid-sized churches. These are often churches that were built in rural or suburban areas and later experienced significant cultural and demographic shifts as cities expanded around them. That kind of transition creates real challenges and opportunities for ministry, leadership, and community life, making it a meaningful and relatable setting for training and reflection.
This fictional setting is used in materials related to the Christian DISC®, including the book Using the Christian DISC® in Your Church and Ministry, where Pastor Miguel and three additional staff members represent the four personality types within a church and ministry context. The church is also used as a consistent roleplay setting in an offering of the ACPE Spiritual Care Specialist program that is taught by Tres Adames. While Prism Counseling & Coaching has helped develop aspects of this offering, the Spiritual Care Specialist program itself is taught in various forms across the country by ACPE psychotherapist members.
In all cases, Starlight Park Community Church is not presented as a real, active church. It is a fictional setting rooted in real history, community life, and ministry experience, and is used for educational and training purposes.
The reason this setting is used is because its story reflects the experience of many small to mid-sized churches. These are often churches that were built in rural or suburban areas and later experienced significant cultural and demographic shifts as cities expanded around them. That kind of transition creates real challenges and opportunities for ministry, leadership, and community life, making it a meaningful and relatable setting for training and reflection.
This fictional setting is used in materials related to the Christian DISC®, including the book Using the Christian DISC® in Your Church and Ministry, where Pastor Miguel and three additional staff members represent the four personality types within a church and ministry context. The church is also used as a consistent roleplay setting in an offering of the ACPE Spiritual Care Specialist program that is taught by Tres Adames. While Prism Counseling & Coaching has helped develop aspects of this offering, the Spiritual Care Specialist program itself is taught in various forms across the country by ACPE psychotherapist members.
In all cases, Starlight Park Community Church is not presented as a real, active church. It is a fictional setting rooted in real history, community life, and ministry experience, and is used for educational and training purposes.