Desert Rose Community Church was founded in 1997 by Dr. Brian Alton who currently serves as Senior Pastor and President.  In 1998, Dr. Alton, his wife Phaedra, and a team of dedicated pioneers instituted and facilitated the development of Gateway International Bible Institute (formerly Desert Rose Christian College) of which he is Chancellor.

Pastor Brian completed his Doctorate degree in Theological Studies in 2007 and has faithfully served in various ministry and pastoral leadership capacities since 1981.  His passion is for the Corporate Church; with a heart for souls, discipleship, and the city.  Early in his service, he studied under the ministry of the late Glenn A. Foster, former Senior Pastor of Sweetwater Church of the Valley.

Dr. Alton is commissioned as an Apostolic and Prophetic leader to the city of Glendale by his peers in various Christian, non-profit and corporate communities.  He currently serves on several ministry and corporate boards.  He is seen as a 'Catalyst for Unity' to the Corporate Church in the Valley of the Sun.  Dr. Brian was ordained as an Apostle by prominent leaders in the valley in 2008.

Pastor Phaedra Alton is the Co-Founder of Desert Rose Community Church and serves alongside her husband as Co-Senior Pastor also serving as a board member of Desert Rose Community Church and Gateway International Bible Institute in Glendale, Arizona.  Phaedra has been involved in ministering to inmates at the Women's Federal Prison and she served on former Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano's personal prayer team.  Phaedra's true passion is for Missions.  God has been taking her on a journey throughout different nations for the past few years and has used her to minister in both spiritual and practical ways to other countries she is called to.

Together, Brian and Phaedra strive to promote fellowship and unity with city-reaching events among the Corporate Body in the Valley.  Their desire is to unify the family of Christ, building a vast company of net-working believers that can more effectively cover and reach our city for Christ; co-gathering in together, the end-time harvest of souls.