In February 1981 a small group of friends, sharing a background and belief in the Christian Church and Churches of Christ, decided to step out in faith and seek guidance on how to organize a truly independent, non-denominational Christian Church in Fayetteville.
Their search led them to Don Forrester, the president of Winston-Salem Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and to several other Christian Church leaders in the eastern part of the state. These individuals provided a major commitment of time and effort to support this budding effort.
The group initially began holding Thursday evening Bible Studies in their homes. These meetings were led by Don Forrester, Bob Forrester and Harry Pitts -- who traveled several hours each week just to meet with and encourage the new "Bible Study group".
By April 1981 the group had begun meeting on Sunday evenings to conduct worship services. Initially these services were held in the homes of group members. However, by June the group had outgrown their homes and decided to rent meeting space at the Heart of Fayetteville Motor Inn (now Knights Inn) on Bragg Boulevard. During the time the group met there, it organized into a church.
The organizational meeting, attended by about thirty people, was held after the evening worship service on the first Sunday of June, 1981. During the meeting the group voted to organize as a church. It selected the name Fayetteville Christian Church and elected men to serve on an organizing "Steering Committee". The men included: Randy Anderson, Jim Dougherty, Frank Edgerly, Jack Jackson, Don Tarter, and Don Whiteman. After the meeting was concluded it was learned that the first Sunday in June 1981 was "Pentecost Sunday". So.... Fayetteville Christian Church was organized on the very same day that the first Church was organized in Jerusalem (approximately AD 33).
By early in 1983 FCC had outgrown its rented space at the Heart of Fayetteville Motor Inn and began meeting at the Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home on Ramsey Street. During the two years it met there, FCC employed its first full-time minister, Paul Scioto (served from 1983 through August 1986); purchased land on Rosehill Road; constructed its first building; and grew into a body of approximately fifty people.
FCC began meeting in its new building on Rosehill Road sometime in late 1984 and gradually grew into a congregation of nearly one hundred people.
Following the resignation of Paul Scioto in the fall of 1985, FCC called its second minister, Buddy Reed. Buddy served as Senior Minister for nearly twelve years (from December 1987 until June 1999). During his time of service, FCC grew to a size of approximately 250 in Sunday attendance. Other major accomplishments during his tenure included the addition of an associate minister position, the purchase of four and one-half additional acres of property, construction of a major addition to the original building, and construction of a new free-standing worship/educational facility that can accomodate up to 400 people in the auditorium.
Following Buddy's resignation in the Summer of 1999, the church called Mike Turner to be its Senior Minister. Mike served approximately three and one-half years (from January 2000 until July 2004). During Mike's years at FCC, it completed the second floor of the Worship building and began having both a traditional and contemporary worship service on Sunday mornings.
Tom Cooperider was called to be Senior Minister in March 2005 -- a position he continues to hold. During Tom's tenure, FCC has added a third ministry position and grown to an average Sunday morning attendance of nearly 300.
In February 1981 a small group of friends, sharing a background and belief in the Christian Church and Churches of Christ, decided to step out in faith and seek guidance on how to organize a truly independent, non-denominational Christian Church in Fayetteville.
Their search led them to Don Forrester, the president of Winston-Salem Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and to several other Christian Church leaders in the eastern part of the state. These individuals provided a major commitment of time and effort to support this budding effort.
The group initially began holding Thursday evening Bible Studies in their homes. These meetings were led by Don Forrester, Bob Forrester and Harry Pitts -- who traveled several hours each week just to meet with and encourage the new "Bible Study group".
By April 1981 the group had begun meeting on Sunday evenings to conduct worship services. Initially these services were held in the homes of group members. However, by June the group had outgrown their homes and decided to rent meeting space at the Heart of Fayetteville Motor Inn (now Knights Inn) on Bragg Boulevard. During the time the group met there, it organized into a church.
The organizational meeting, attended by about thirty people, was held after the evening worship service on the first Sunday of June, 1981. During the meeting the group voted to organize as a church. It selected the name Fayetteville Christian Church and elected men to serve on an organizing "Steering Committee". The men included: Randy Anderson, Jim Dougherty, Frank Edgerly, Jack Jackson, Don Tarter, and Don Whiteman. After the meeting was concluded it was learned that the first Sunday in June 1981 was "Pentecost Sunday". So.... Fayetteville Christian Church was organized on the very same day that the first Church was organized in Jerusalem (approximately AD 33).
By early in 1983 FCC had outgrown its rented space at the Heart of Fayetteville Motor Inn and began meeting at the Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home on Ramsey Street. During the two years it met there, FCC employed its first full-time minister, Paul Scioto (served from 1983 through August 1986); purchased land on Rosehill Road; constructed its first building; and grew into a body of approximately fifty people.
FCC began meeting in its new building on Rosehill Road sometime in late 1984 and gradually grew into a congregation of nearly one hundred people.
Following the resignation of Paul Scioto in the fall of 1985, FCC called its second minister, Buddy Reed. Buddy served as Senior Minister for nearly twelve years (from December 1987 until June 1999). During his time of service, FCC grew to a size of approximately 250 in Sunday attendance. Other major accomplishments during his tenure included the addition of an associate minister position, the purchase of four and one-half additional acres of property, construction of a major addition to the original building, and construction of a new free-standing worship/educational facility that can accomodate up to 400 people in the auditorium.
Following Buddy's resignation in the Summer of 1999, the church called Mike Turner to be its Senior Minister. Mike served approximately three and one-half years (from January 2000 until July 2004). During Mike's years at FCC, it completed the second floor of the Worship building and began having both a traditional and contemporary worship service on Sunday mornings.
Tom Cooperider was called to be Senior Minister in March 2005 -- a position he continues to hold. During Tom's tenure, FCC has added a third ministry position and grown to an average Sunday morning attendance of nearly 300.