Art Lyons felt called to the ministry, after his conversion at the age of 20, which saved him from a life of drug abuse, alcoholism and periodic jail time. Five years later, in 1980, he graduated from the Horizon School of Evangelism (HSE), majoring in counseling and he has been in some type of full-time ministry (volunteer and professional) ever since. He currently divides his time between ministry at Canyon Community Church and various correctional institutions. In his 32 years of ministry, Pastor Art has been ordained and licensed with the following churches: Calvary Chapel, Cornerstone Christian Community, and the Christian & Missionary Alliance, all in Chula Vista, California. Pastor Art has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, Master’s Degree in Counseling and a Doctorate in Ministry.

Pastor Art has authored and published a book called Our Lives in Recovery dealing with eight principles reoccurring in the lives of those who have been affected by incarceration. He has developed a correspondence curriculum that is currently used in jails and prisons across the United States.

Pastor Art has been the administrative pastor at Canyon Community Church for the last 25 years. He oversees the facilities and teaches  on Sunday mornings on a rotational basis with the other pastors at CCC .