A Brief History of Faith Church

50th Anniversary

Celebrating the Treasures of Faith

Faith Church of the Nazarene, Jacksonville NC

Faith Church of the Nazarene was organized on July 27, 1958.  Our church was planted as a mission outreach to Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune.  Early on the church met in a home at 403 Johnson Blvd.  Reports from that time indicate that the house didn’t have any heat!  Some of the folk decided to look for better facilities.  They found an empty church building, just off Court Street, formerly used by the Episcopal church, which was being used by the owner, Mrs. Anne Price, a florist, for storage.  This building was leased from 1959 until 1965.

In September of 1961 Rev. Larry Smith began pastoring the church while he was serving in the Army in Fayetteville.  He would drive to Jacksonville on the weekends.

In the early years our church struggled to recover from the military transfers and deployments of key leaders.  In 1965 the district sent Rev. William Sessoms to Jacksonville to determine whether the church was viable.  Rev. Sessoms looked at Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune and said, “There will be Nazarene parents sending their children into the Marine Corps and will be praying that there will be a Nazarene church in Jacksonville to minister to their children while they are stationed here.”  He decided that the church needed to be kept open to be the answer to those prayers! 

In July of 1965, 2.12 acres and 2 connected buildings on Piney Green road were purchased from R.E. Swain for a total of $94,000.  This was paid off in July of 1990. In May of 1990, 1.77 acres was purchased from Viking Homes, adding the corner lot on Walnut Creek ($20,000).  This was paid in full in December of 1992.

In 1974 the church purchased a parsonage at 105 Princeton Drive.  Rev. Donald Schlough was the pastor at that time. 

In November of 1990, the church borrowed $100,000 from the Nazarene Church Loan Fund to begin building the new sanctuary.  This project was completed with much help from the district and local volunteer labor.  The existing two buildings were remodeled with a new roof which extended over both buildings and was tied into the roof of the new sanctuary.  This project was completed despite the fact that the first Gulf War resulted in the deployment of many of the folk involved in this project.  The dedication service was scheduled after their return from deployment.

In about 1999 the church began to work on paying off the existing mortgage early.  The debt was refinanced at a lower interest rate, and on November 24, 2002, the church celebrated the retirement of all debt!  This effort saved over $11,000 in interest!

In the early hours of March 18, 2004, a short in the electrical wires in the attic sparked a fire which destroyed the church building.  In the month that followed, the church met in a tent on the property.  On Easter Sunday, 2004, we began meeting at Hunters Creek Middle School. 

As the board considered our church’s mission and its response to the fire, the board decided to begin a relocation project so that we could have room to grow the church for the next 50 years.  On December 12, 2005, we sold our old property.  We are currently pursuing leads on any property which offers us 10-20 acres of usable land which will help us to be visible and accessible to the community.

God has called us to Reach the World and Teach the Word with Passion for Christ and Compassion for All.  We have been called to be a lamp placed on a lampstand, not under a basket.  We are continuing to live and minister with faith that God will provide a “Promised Land” for Faith Church of the Nazarene!

Our thanks go out to all who have labored, investing time, energy, money and effort to make it possible for us to continue ministry to the people of Onslow County and the world!  Each of you will share in the rewards of this ministry!

Pastors

Bill Lancaster                 9/18/1958 – 10/10/1960

Larry D. Smith                9/21/1961 – 7/19/1963

Lowell T. Clyburn            9/19/1963 – 9/17/1964

William T. Sessoms       5/13/1965 – 12/14/1966

C. Eugene Broach          9/14/1967 – 8/15/1969

Carroll Edge     1969 - 1970 (Supply)

Raymond E. Dean Sr.     9/9/1970 – 8/24/1972

Donald J. Schlough         2/14/1973 – 1/2/1976

John W. Holsenback       9/3/1976 – 5/12/1980

William M. Mack             12/1/1981 – 8/22/1986

Harold L. Davis Jr.          8/3/1986 – 6/18/1995

Bill R. Crane                    8/13/1995 – present

  Associate: Chris Futrelle 6/11/2004 – 9/4/2005