Our History
4:47 PM | Posted by
Fair Haven Christ Fellowship
On August 28, 1983, a small group of people desiring to obey God began to meet in the home of Mike and Kathy Douglas in Owensville, Indiana. We met to share about Jesus and to study His Word. From the home meetings and other week-by-week locations, we began to meet in an old shoe shop where “soles” were repaired in Cynthiana, Indiana. Soon, we began to be known as Fair Haven Christ Fellowship. In May of 1986, Fair Haven moved from the “shoe shop” to the Nazarene Church building on Church Street in Cynthiana, Indiana, where we would remain until 2010.
Although we had no pastor during the early years, we had a spiritual leader who was gifted in teaching the Word of God, Helen Dunigan, and a spiritual mentor, Dr. Loran Helm. In the Fall of 1985, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Daniel Light was called to leave Muskegon Christ Fellowship in Michigan and become the pastor at Fair Haven. During his time at Fair Haven, Pastor Dan had a radio ministry called Fair Haven Focus. He served as pastor from 1985 until April 1998, when he felt that God had led him to accept a position at a church in Florida.
From 1989 to 2002, Fair Haven hosted Fellowship Youth Camp each summer for junior and senior high school youths. These campers came from as far as Utah, West Virginia, Florida, and even Mexico. There were approximately 250 campers each week. Pastor Dan began this camp, and was Camp Director until 1998. Pastor Mike Douglas assumed that responsibility when Pastor Light left and continued as director until the last camp was held in 2002.
In Nov of 1998, Mike Douglas became the pastor of Fair Haven. Although land had been purchased for a new building near Evansville, the Lord touched Pastor Mike’s heart that we were to remain in Cynthiana. The land was sold and the old Cynthiana School building was purchased. Thus began the building project. God’s house - built by faith. On August 28, 2010, exactly 27 years after the first home meeting, the first Sunday services were held in the new building.
Fair Haven has a heart for missions. We support Dr. Narendra Singh and his ministry in India, John Russell and Street Cry Ministries in Russia, and Oralia Parker in south Texas, whose ministry is in feeding the desperately poor people of Reynosa, Mexico. From 2002 until 2007 we took groups of people to Reynosa to feed them warm meals and help distribute food and other necessities to them. From 2005 to 2007, we were able to take over 7,000-10,000 pounds of food and commodities once a month to be distributed to these needy people. Because of the violence in Reynosa and the source of our food being depleted, we have not been able to go since Feb. of 2007. In addition, Fair Haven has had an outreach to disaster victims in the past. We were able to go to flood and tornado victims and feed them in their time of need.
On the home front, we currently have a Wednesday night meal before service open to everyone in the community. We have a food pantry, and future plans of a clothing bank, as well as more opportunities to feed the people locally. Since 2007 , we have hosted a “Fair Haven Family Fair” each fall for the community, which include free food, games, prizes, music, and fellowship.
Fair Haven Christ Fellowship is a congregation of people from all backgrounds who love Jesus and are endeavoring to obey God. Having the Bible-God's Word-as our foundation, our desire continues to be to reach out and touch people with the love of Jesus.
Although we had no pastor during the early years, we had a spiritual leader who was gifted in teaching the Word of God, Helen Dunigan, and a spiritual mentor, Dr. Loran Helm. In the Fall of 1985, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Rev. Daniel Light was called to leave Muskegon Christ Fellowship in Michigan and become the pastor at Fair Haven. During his time at Fair Haven, Pastor Dan had a radio ministry called Fair Haven Focus. He served as pastor from 1985 until April 1998, when he felt that God had led him to accept a position at a church in Florida.
From 1989 to 2002, Fair Haven hosted Fellowship Youth Camp each summer for junior and senior high school youths. These campers came from as far as Utah, West Virginia, Florida, and even Mexico. There were approximately 250 campers each week. Pastor Dan began this camp, and was Camp Director until 1998. Pastor Mike Douglas assumed that responsibility when Pastor Light left and continued as director until the last camp was held in 2002.
In Nov of 1998, Mike Douglas became the pastor of Fair Haven. Although land had been purchased for a new building near Evansville, the Lord touched Pastor Mike’s heart that we were to remain in Cynthiana. The land was sold and the old Cynthiana School building was purchased. Thus began the building project. God’s house - built by faith. On August 28, 2010, exactly 27 years after the first home meeting, the first Sunday services were held in the new building.
Fair Haven has a heart for missions. We support Dr. Narendra Singh and his ministry in India, John Russell and Street Cry Ministries in Russia, and Oralia Parker in south Texas, whose ministry is in feeding the desperately poor people of Reynosa, Mexico. From 2002 until 2007 we took groups of people to Reynosa to feed them warm meals and help distribute food and other necessities to them. From 2005 to 2007, we were able to take over 7,000-10,000 pounds of food and commodities once a month to be distributed to these needy people. Because of the violence in Reynosa and the source of our food being depleted, we have not been able to go since Feb. of 2007. In addition, Fair Haven has had an outreach to disaster victims in the past. We were able to go to flood and tornado victims and feed them in their time of need.
On the home front, we currently have a Wednesday night meal before service open to everyone in the community. We have a food pantry, and future plans of a clothing bank, as well as more opportunities to feed the people locally. Since 2007 , we have hosted a “Fair Haven Family Fair” each fall for the community, which include free food, games, prizes, music, and fellowship.
Fair Haven Christ Fellowship is a congregation of people from all backgrounds who love Jesus and are endeavoring to obey God. Having the Bible-God's Word-as our foundation, our desire continues to be to reach out and touch people with the love of Jesus.
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