Pinnacle Forum was inspired by Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International, who challenged a handful of leaders in 1995 in Phoenix, Arizona saying, “I believe the only way we can change our culture is to find a way to network our high influence leaders and inspire them to use their influence for God.”

Three of these leaders (Merrill Oster, Terry Hamlin and Bill Dodder) later hiked up Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale, Arizona and prayed that God would raise up leaders who would respond to this challenge and steward their influence accordingly. Their prayers were answered, and they began convening small peer groups around the city that aimed to encourage one another spiritually, share Christ with their peers, and challenge each other to use their leadership position and resources in strategic ways for the glory of God. In 2001, Pinnacle Forum began to replicate this model throughout the United States, now providing inspiration and the networking mechanism for leaders across America to magnify Christ.