Like a tiny seed planted in fertile soil, a Wesleyan Methodist Church was planted in spiritually fertile soil at Newport, Indiana (present day Fountain City).

This pioneer church, the first one planted west of the Allegheny Mountains by the Wesleyan Methodist Connection, found the spiritual soil of the Fountain City area ready for the message of holiness of heart. Thus in the year of 1843, the Fountain City Wesleyan Church (hereafter referred to as F.C.W.C.) was planted. These early church pioneers purchased land and erected a house of worship in Newport on the present site of the Northeastern Wayne School Administration Building.

FOUNTAIN CITY WESLEYAN IN 1843 (pictured)

A seed needs both sunshine and rain in order that it may become a seedling and eventually a tree. Early church journals penned by Rev. Orange Scott, one of the original leaders of Wesleyan Methodism, tell of sunny days in the beginning life of this church. He wrote the following when the $1200 house of worship was dedicated, "The conference in this place has excited an interest which I have never witnessed before. The house in which we met was filled with spectators. There were present at our love feast Sunday morning not less than 500 persons."

These early church planters enjoyed the sunny days and stoically endured the challenges of their time. They traveled to church by wagon over narrow, muddy, rough roads. Worship services began at 4:00 P.M. and were quite lengthy. When darkness fell, candles were the source of light. In 1860, to the relief of many, the church installed lamps. Songs for the worship services were written in poetic form and a leader would line each song. The leader would sing a phrase or a line of the song, and the congregation would repeat the phrase. This process was repeated until the song was completed. Monthly meetings concerning the business matters of the church took place on Sunday afternoon. Each head of the family was asked to give an account of the spiritual condition of their family members. The following are some of the questions they were asked. "Are you attending to family devotions? Are you diligently overseeing the spiritual development of your children by taking them to Sunday school and to the house of worship?"
As rain precedes a rainbow, dark days often precede days of blessing. So the dark storm clouds of discouragement began to gather over this fledgling congregation. Many of the 500 persons present for the dedication of the Newport Wesleyan Methodist Church proved to be fair weather spectators. Church membership dwindled, and money was scarce.

It was necessary for the church in Newport to become part of a circuit. The F.C.W.C., at one time or another, was on a circuit with the following churches: Bryant, Bethel, Mount Vernon, Sparrow Creek, Economy, White Chapel, Milton, Buena Vista, Carlos City, and from 1925-1934 Clarks Chapel. These churches shared a pastor who traveled from church to church caring for the needs of the different congregations. It was difficult for stable growth to occur. For years, the church had quite a succession of short term pastors, both men and women.
Occasionally the sun would break through the clouds, and a soul would be freed from the bonds of sin.

Dorothy Kenworthy Fulks, was a little girl during this period of time. She recalls occasions when Fanny Benson, a former slave, would lift her hands heavenward and walk the aisles of the church joyfully praising the Lord for this glorious freedom!

Journals of the church tell of a period of time when there were more storms than sunshine, and more winds of discouragement than triumphant faith. By the early 1920's the church was eighty years old, and attendance records indicate that the church had a dwindling congregation which consisted of a small handful of widows, maiden ladies, and elderly couples. They were few in number, and money was scarce. The future of the church was bleak. Closure seemed inevitable.

God, however, had a plan for this body of believers. Jeremiah 29:11 became a sustaining promise for that generation and for the generations that would follow. It reads: " I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
As the little group prayed earnestly and specifically, their roots of faith grew stronger. They desperately needed families to join them in reaching souls for the Lord and in helping with the financial needs of the church.

At the same time there were five families in the community who were seeking a deeper walk with the Lord. While attending a camp meeting, they had heard the message of holiness of heart and wanted to worship where they could learn more about this biblical truth. They prayed. God heard their prayers, and the answer came in one of God's unique ways.

Dorothy Kenworthy Fulks was the daughter of one of the families praying for directives from God. She needed a special dress for her eighth grade graduation. Mrs. Kenworthy, her mother, was directed to a widowed lady named Maggie Dalby, a fine seamstress who was an active member of the little Wesleyan Church. Mrs. Dalby invited Mrs. Kenworthy who then invited four of her friends: Elmer Hodgkin, Will Kenworthy, Percy Durbin, and Floyd Snyder and their families to attend revival services with her. They attended the services and found this to be the church for which they had been praying. They stayed and helped strengthen the church as it began to grow. This event became a definite turning point in the life of the Fountain City Wesleyan Church.

Opportunities to share the love of Jesus increased as the congregation grew. Time after time they found ways to encourage, support, and care for the families of those walking through the dark valleys of illness and death.

Growth is not always obvious and during this period, the numerical and financial growth in the life of the church appeared to be nonexistent. It was a season of doubt and of drought for the church; however, one by one seeking souls became followers of the Lord. They matured in the Lord and began to fill positions of service in the church. They were channels through which God's love could flow. The spiritual fruit and gifts of the Spirit were evident as new believers began to mature in their walk with God. The following story illustrates the effect that the gift of encouragement had on one family.

John Ozbun was invited to church by his neighbors, the Fulks. John became a Christian, matured in his spiritual walk, and became the teacher of the adult Sunday School class. His life was a model of love in overalls. Melbourne Petry remembers: "In 'those days' life was hard! John, our Sunday school teacher, would come to our farm to encourage us. As we plowed our fields, he would walk with us, pray with us, and reassure us that we could depend on the promises of God. 'You can make it' he would say." His students followed his example. They wept with those in sorrow, rejoiced with those who were celebrating, encouraged believers, and prayed with those needing God.

The following story affirms the impact of this loving encouragement in the life of another family of the church.
Don Kenworthy, the son of one of those early church families, passed away leaving his wife Leah and six sons.. four of whom were still at home. How was she going to care for her sons? It was summer, the sweet corn needed to be frozen. Grief had sapped her strength, distorted her thinking, and drained her energy. She was overwhelmed! Leah prayed and God answered via fellow believers. Zula Scott and her children came to visit Leah and her sons. By the time the Scotts left, the sweet corn had been picked, frozen, and Leah was encouraged. In time, Leah shared with others the same loving care and encouragement which she had received during this period of sorrow.
The growth of this church during this historical period, if examined, would reveal alternating periods of growth and of loss both numerically and financially. It was during this period that the church encountered a storm which threatened to destroy it.
The original church building in which the congregation worshipped was 118 years old and in need of repairs. According to Floyd Fulks, it had bats in the belfry, bee and wasp nests beneath the siding, and had been condemned. Clouds of discouragement gathered. The high school, which was adjacent to the church property, needed to enlarge their facility. The church building and grounds were purchased by the Fountain City School System. Doubt and defeat tried to eat away their faith. The town buzzed with rumors. " The Wesleyan Church is folding up. Closing its doors." The little church, however, had roots of faith in a sovereign God who knew the answer to their problem and in His time, He would provide!

For a few months, the congregation worshipped in the unheated auditorium/gym at The Fountain City High School. Mary McQuiston related, "I remember those first few months. There weren't many of us in attendance, and the high school gymnasium was so-o-o cold. But God met with us and as we worshipped the Lord, our hearts were touched, our fears lifted, and our faith increased."

Pastor Bob Conley and the F.C.W.C. body of believers prayed earnestly for guidance from the Lord.
Property, at the comer of what is now Hartley and Green streets, was purchased as the site for a new church. The men of the church decided to build the place of worship themselves; thus evenings, Saturdays, and every possible moment they worked. Those work sessions must have been interesting. Ben Kenworthy remembers special occasions when he was allowed to accompany his dad, Melbourne Petry, and Floyd Fulks to the building site. Furthermore, he recalls the "itchy feeling" one gets from playing around fiberglass insulation. Laughter is good for both the body and the soul. An occasional practical joke made the work load lighter. Melbourne Petry shares one of those occasions:

"One evening when we were pouring the cement for the basement, some of the wet concrete "just happened to find it's way" into pastor Conley's boot. When he put the boot on, one of the men quipped, "We really appreciate our pastor. He sticks to his job"

During this period of time, those attending the "Basement Church" were laughingly nicknamed "Wesleyan Moles." The winds of opposition assailed this body of believers, but their roots of faith in a sovereign God held them steady.
In 1961, the men of the church built a sanctuary which was above the ground. This addition provided more space for worship, and the basement was used for Sunday school classes and youth activities.

FOUNTAIN CITY WESLEYAN IN 1961 (pictured)

Rev. Darrell Woodruff, pastor at the time of the dedication, described the new building as "a beautiful, commodious structure with a seating capacity of 230." The newstructure was completed, but it was not the time to stop. There were still people who needed the Lord.

By the year 1969 additional classrooms were necessary. Rev.Duaine Snyder, pastor at the time, partitioned off a section of the sanctuary thus providing two additional classrooms.

Believing that active involvement in the Lord's work encouraged spiritual growth, Pastor Snyder and the congregation helped new converts find places of ministry in the church. Darrell Shepherd recalls the time Ray McQuiston asked him to assist with the offering. When Darrell was tempted to sleep in on Sunday morning, he would remember his commitment and think, "If I don't go to church today, who will take up the offering?"

The church grew as members of the congregation invited their family, friends, and neighbors. The following account relates some of the far reaching effects of those invitations.
Jane Fulks Hewson, Floyd and Dorothy Fulk's daughter, came home from school one day and asked her mother if they could visit the Sexton family. During the ensuing visit, Mrs. Sexton gave her consent for their children to attend The Wesleyan Church. As a result of that visit and the faithfulness of God's people, the mother and part of the family eventually became Christians. Patty Sexton Bray, one of the daughters, became the enthusiastic leader of the youth group and led her good friend, Marsha Moody Shepherd, to her best friend - Jesus, the Christ. Today all three girls are actively involved in leading others to Christ and then assisting them as they grow in the Lord.
Dorothy Fulks worked with the children in the area of WKFM (Wesleyan Kids for Missions). She taught them how to pray for the different mission fields and their missionaries. The children also were encouraged to give an offering for missions ... one penny per week.

During the 1960's and 1970's Pastors Jesse and Vivian Jackson, Duaine and Lynn Snyder, and George and Mary Ann Troyer, provided faithful leadership to the body of believers. The impeccable character and integrity of these leaders set an example for the church that was to hold it in good stead as new challenges were faced.

Another turning point in the life of the church was reached in 1979 when Jeff and Beth Fussner, newly married and recent graduates of Asbury Seminary, came to pastor the little church in Fountain City. The Holy Spirit worked through the Fussners to take soul winning, discipleship, and mentioning of new believers to a new level. God honored their work, and the first year, the church attendance grew from an average of 50 in morning worship to an average of 74. The Lord was beginning to put His plan for F.C.W.C. into place.

In 1981, the church board met to consider and to discuss issues related to the growth of the congregation and expansion of the church facility. A plan to construct additional classrooms and a fellowship hall on the west side of the church was recommended by the church board and it was unanimously approved by congregational vote.

Those visionaries expected the addition to accommodate the needs of the church through the year 2000 A.D, but God had other plans for the F.C.W.C.

The current need was the fellowship hall addition. How would the project be financed? God had prepared the hearts of a very grateful couple to be the channels through which He could perform a three step miracle: First Step: A personal loan to the church at a reduced rate of interest. A praise point! Later, a second step: Repay the principal owed and pay no more interest on the loan. A celebration point!! A few years later, a third step: The remainder of the loan declared Paid in Full! A shouting point!!! This couple had been the recipients of a mighty miracle in their family. Their only daughter, a college student, had been in the path of a deadly tornado, with her life hanging in the balance for several days. She was literally scalped. The Lord miraculously touched her, brought healing to her body and restored to her a normal life. This couple was one of many individuals and couples through whom the Lord has worked, and is still working to build this body of believers and provide them with a place of worship.

After four years of ministry in Fountain City, the Holy Spirit renewed the Fussner's call to full time mission work: Eventually answering that call, led them to Indonesia. The Lord was extending the influence of the church to other parts of the world.
Curtis and Linda Wells were the pastors during the 1983-1984 conference year. It was a year of growing, learning, and preparing for the next phase in the life of this body of believers.

The year 1984 found another young Asbury Seminary couple, David and Jill Anderson, accepting the pastorate of the F.C.W.C. That March day as The Andersons met with the board, mingled with the approximately 90 people attending church that Sunday, and helped The Fulks celebrate their 50th Anniversary, neither the people nor their soon - to - be pastor had the faintest idea of the plans God had in store for them.

Throughout the next few years, the congregation experienced a steady growth, both numerically and spiritually. The Lord was preparing this body of faithful believers for what would prove to be some of the most exciting, challenging, and toughest times of their lives. The roots of the faithful, however, were grounded in The Word, some new growth had appeared, and fruit (in many stages) was evident. Knowing the plans He had for the F.C.W.C. and the personnel necessary to carry out those plans, God began preparing some of His servants for a big change in their lives. In many cases those were souls whom God trusted F.C.W.C. to lead to Him. In other cases God sent in people from other local churches. Leaving their body of believers to move to another church was difficult, and their assent to this directive of the Lord only came after much prayer and fasting .... along with strong nudges by the Holy Spirit. The Lord had called mature believers who could aid those persons already helping with the work of developing mature Christians.

By the last week of September 1990, the little church at the comer of Hartley and Green Streets was beginning to burst at the seams, and they began an early worship service. During the winter months, when church attendance usually declines, the church experienced continual growth. Isaiah 43:18-19 were the words of the Lord for that time. "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" God definitely was doing "new things."

"Easter is coming, Where will we seat the group of people that is very likely to attend?" Pastor Dave and the church board took a big step of faith and planned three -services for Easter Sunday in 1992. Faith became a reality and praise became the order of the day. Three hundred persons attended those services! What was God going to do next?

A spirit of joyful expectation permeated the services. The Lord was adding to the church weekly (sometimes daily) those that would be saved. The winds of change and adjustment were blowing. Meanwhile the Lord was putting together a body of believers with spiritual gifts as varied as the needs of the congregation. God was also preparing the believers for a mighty battle with the forces of the enemy. This battle would be followed by blessings from God that would be more awesome than either the pastor or the people could imagine.

It was during a DAG (Day alone with God) that God revealed to Pastor Dave the plan He had for the Fountain City/Greater Richmond area. The Lord's directives were clear. He, the Lord, wanted a church, between Fountain City and Richmond, along highway US 27. A church that would impact the community for the Lord. Accepting the challenge would require prayer, hard work, sacrifice, and a willingness to change . . to leave one's comfort zone. The Lord was looking for a man and a body of believers through whom He could work - a pastor and a congregation who would give God the glory for everything that He did. Would he be that man? Would F.C.W.C. be that body of believers? After much prayer and fasting by Pastor Dave and the church board, their answer was, "Yes, Lord, we are willing." The Lord seemed to begin putting His plan into action immediately. More souls gave their hearts to the Lord. Attendance continued to grow.

Consultants advised, "You must consider ways to expand your seating capacity." The church prayed and then pursued the only viable option. The Northeastern High School had the largest facility in the area. Could the cafetorium at the high school be rented as a place in which the congregation could worship each Sunday morning?
In the following weeks one miracle after another occurred. The Superintendent of Schools and the school board unanimously approved the request. It was a watershed moment. Confirmation of the plan by the local church came in an unusual manner.

The board gave a unanimous vote of approval - with one reservation. Mary McQuiston privately asked, "Pastor, what would we do for a sound system?" There was no ready answer. The next day, a member of the congregation approached the pastor with the same question but they offered a solution. "Our family will purchase the sound system." What a confirmation from the Lord!!

The Lord was preparing this body of believers to "enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your curtains wide, do not hold back, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left." Isaiah 54:2-3a.

In August 1992, the congregation voted on the move to Northeastern High School for Sunday morning worship services. This decision called for much prayer. People were coming to the church, giving their hearts to the Lord, then bringing their family and friends to the church. Space was rapidly becoming a prime necessity. On the other hand, this building had been the site of precious memories. There had also been sweet times of reviving with the presence of the Lord.

The church was at a crossroads. Would the church be content to minister only to those that the present facilities could accommodate and live in the memories of the past, or thank the Lord for their precious heritage and accept the challenge of ministering to an even larger constituency in the present and in the future?

When the vote was counted, there were one hundred voting "yea" and fifteen "nay." Later it was learned that the "nay" votes had been cast by some teens who did not look fondly on spending a sixth day each week in the school building.

The move to the high school in September 1992, became another turning point for the church. This was the beginning of "The Long Move" which lasted for three years and three months.
Weekly preparation of the school building for Sunday school and for worship services was no easy task. It required genuine, long-term commitment by many volunteers. The following routine became a habit for those volunteers.
Very early on Sunday morning John Shepherd would arrive at the school with his converted trailer and its precious cargo: the sound system, hymnals, Sunday school materials, items to use in the nursery and in Toddler Church. The contents of the trailer would be unloaded and then set up for use in their designated area. When the services were over, everything which had been brought In and used, was dismantled, and the trailer repacked. There was a place for everything, and everything had to be in its place. John Shepherd and Darrell Shepherd shared this responsibility. One would bring the trailer to the school, and the other one would take it back to John's home where it was stored.

The Lord continued to build the F.C.W.C. . . one day, one soul, and one miracle at a time. He worked through people of all ages, races, church affiliation, and socioeconomic persuasions to provide what was needed for the on-going of the church.

As the number of people attending the worship services increased, traditional programs, customs, and methods were assessed. Those that were retained were brought to a new level of performance and interaction.
For example: The Sunday school picnic, primarily attended by the church families, was expanded and became a means of outreach. A new format was planned, activities were added, and each family unit was encouraged to bring someone with them. This event was labeled Summer Fest! It was a day filled with FUN! FOOD!! and FELLOWSHIP!!!

"Friend Day," Advent services and Lenten services became special opportunities to reach out and bring others to the church and then to the Lord. Joyous excitement permeated every aspect of the church life.

The Lord's work was growing! In homes, the pastor's study, work places, and at the church's altar souls were being saved. The Lord was adding to the church weekly those who wanted to be saved.

"Change" was more than a term, it was affecting the traditions and customs with which the congregation was familiar. Some people made the changes while others did not feel comfortable with the changes and found other places to use their gifts and talents.

The church was making an impact in the community. The following story illustrates the impact these excited believers were making in their work places. Heidi Thurston, then the Northeastern High School band director, led Greg Adams, one of her students, to the Lord. Kenny Wilson and Michael Tegeler, fellow believers and fellow students, invited him to church and then discipled Greg. All three young men are now involved in Christian Ministry. This basic story, with different persons and places, was repeated over and over as the Lord continued to build the F.C.W.C. body of believers.
Two worship services were offered, and both services grew. Pastor Dave and the church board knew the high school cafetorium was not a permanent solution to the space problem, but what was the solution?
God had a plan! Several years before this, the Lord had impressed Mary McQuiston with the strong belief that the day would come when the church would outgrow their place of worship in Fountain City. Acquiring land for a new facility would be a necessity. Mary prayed, thought, consulted with her sons, and received their approval to offer five acres of her farm to the church, should they ever need to relocate and build a larger place of worship. At a later date, Mary generously gave the church an additional ten acres of land fronting US 27. After Mary's home- going, the church purchased 19 additional acreage making a total of 34 acres to be used as God directs.
Pastor Dave, along with the church board, wanted to be sure that the McQuiston property was the best location for the new church. Fifteen different sites along US 27 were investigated and checked. The McQuiston property was the only property which met all of the necessary qualifications. It was no accident that the land was already zoned "commercial." The Lord had prepared and provided. What a mighty God we serve!
During this period of time, the church had a birthday bash. The church was 150 memorable years young and still at work going and growing - to the amazement of experts in the field of church growth.

Then came 1994! A year when the roots of the church would be tested, the fruit would be shaken, and the tree itself would be assailed. The church would need a faith that does not depend upon feeling.
The first Stewardship Campaign was exciting! The theme emphasized "Equal sacrifice not equal giving." And did people sacrifice! Senior citizens who had helped build two other churches sacrificially gave again. Children saved their money and bought a tree to plant at the new church. Many others gave sacrificially of their time, talents, abilities, and money in order that the work of the Lord would progress.. Miracles occurred as people prayed and obeyed; however, those same joy-filled days brought some of the toughest challenges many of the believers had ever faced. Challenges which drove them to their knees.
Shortly after the successful Stewardship Campaign, four of the church's six church board members suffered severe tragedy in either their lives or the lives of their families. Pastor Dave's own word to describe his feeling at that time was "terrified!" He prayed and questioned, "Is it worth it?" "Lord, is this what You want?" The Lord simply asked, "Are eternity bound souls worth it?"

Reassurance that the church was doing His work as He had directed was needed. It came from unexpected sources and in unexpected ways, but always just when it was needed.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the proposed site of the new church in August 1994, and then began. . . THE DELAYS!!! A tangle of paperwork, permits, ordinances, etc., etc., etc. brought a long winter of frustration! It was Holy Week of 1995 before construction of the new church actually began.
A company was hired to construct the building. People volunteered their time, abilities, and physical strength to help with building God's house. As Spring slipped into Summer and Summer into Fall, the new church structure slowly emerged.

The Advent season of 1995 was a season to remember! The first service in the new church was a glorious celebration as joyful anticipation became a jubilant reality!

FOUNTAIN CITY WESLEYAN IN 1995 (pictured)

The three years and three months of setting up and taking down were over! During the "high school cafetorium period", the average Sunday morning attendance had risen from 126 to 327.

In December 1995, the first month in the new building, the average attendance was 392. The new church was already filling up! Two services were offered, in order to accommodate the worshippers and to provide a choice of time to worship. Believers of all spiritual ages invited and brought their friends, family members, and co-workers. Every Lord's Day became "Friend Day."

Average attendance for the 1995-1996 conference year was the highest the church had experienced thus far. The Lord continued to add to the church both seekers and mature workers who would help care for the new believers. The lack of space was once again the pressing challenge. And in the autumn of 1997 a third Sunday morning service was added, and it began to grow.

Adult Bible Fellowship classes, home groups, and discipleship (groups and individually) became opportunities for believers of all spiritual ages to grow and mature in their walk with God.
Caring for the needs of a growing church and the initiation of necessary programs resulted in hiring additional staff members who would put their God-given gifts and abilities to work fulfilling His plan.

The first staff addition was Bob and Susie Gray (1992), followed by "Father" Bob and Ruth Anderson (1993), Rob and Mary Muldoon (1995), Joel and Marlene Heron (1997), John and Lori Sheehan (1997), and Steve and Linda Mathews (1998).

At the 1998 Annual Local Church Conference the reports provided ample reasons for celebration.: Average attendance for Morning Worship was 583. Christian discipleship involved 369 people, 73 people asked Jesus to come into their heart, 44 believers were baptized, and 46 new members were added. The Grays became another extension of the church as they committed themselves to full time mission service on a foreign field. For the first time in the history of this church over 1,000 persons worshipped the Risen Lord during the four Easter services.
At the close of the Annual Local Church Conference, Pastor Dave challenged the F.C.W.C. to prayerfully consider and apply to themselves the words of Mordecai to Esther. Is the Lord telling us that (we are here) …"for such a time as this." (Paraphrased Esther 4:14)

Once again space for classrooms and for worship services is tight. Three facilities (the church on US 27, the C.E. building, and the Northeastern Elementary School) are involved in providing for the needs of the F.C.W.C.)

In the fall of 1999, a Saturday evening worship service was started to meet the worship needs of those who were not able to attend a Sunday morning worship option. The church continued to grow in all four of her services, and once again, the need for additional worship space was needed. On November 4, 2001, Sunday services were again moved to Northeastern High School, but this time we used the gymnasium. The church continues to reach out to the whole family with the hope of Jesus, as God leads. On October 27, 2003 we celebrated our 160th birthday, and concluded our “Imagine…” building campaign. Architects were hired, and plans begun for the next chapter in this great adventure.

That little seed (church) planted in Newport, Indiana in 1843 has experienced sunshine and rain, harvest and drought, growth and stalemate. By faith it has seen God's rainbow and the Lord is causing the church to grow and to bear more fruit.