About Fairview
Our History
In 1946 a church was begun and organized with only 31 charter members in a small vacant grocery store on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta, South Carolina. A suitcase on a Coca-Cola stand was the pulpit, an old breakfast table covered with a linen cloth was the communion table, five nail kegs used for flower stands and 24 wooden, slatted kitchen chairs served as pews for the small congregation on that first Sunday.
Property was donated to begin a permanent sanctuary on the corner of Carolina and Butler Avenues. There were two stipulations - that the name be Fairview Presbyterian Church and that a building be constructed within 5 years. Within three months this dedicated few had adopted plans for the new church, which would cost $30,000. The church has since been through several building projects, scores of officers, teachers, leaders, and members. The history of Fairview is the history of the people.
The original sanctuary became the Fellowship Hall. The church moved into the basement prior to the completion of the sanctuary.
Sensing the need for more Sunday school space and a larger sanctuary, the church built the present sanctuary and connected it to the old building in 1961.
In 1970, the church built another educational building and a new chapel. This also houses our Fairview Early Childhood Center (FECC). In the late 80's additional property was purchased and parking space was enlarged.
In 1988, a large crowd watched the removal of the old steeple. Many members had the opportunity to write their names on the new steeple and watch as the crane lifted it atop the church. A beautiful sight reaching towards heaven!
Many exciting events occurred in the 1990's at Fairview. Among these were the replacement of the church steeple, expansion of the FECC program to include kindergarten, full day childcare, and after school care, installation of the Moller pipe organ, establishment of the Campbell Youth House, and the addition of the beautiful stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
In 2002 a task force was formed to determine the future focus of Fairview Presbyterian Church. While the current buildings where built to provide for the ongoing needs of the ministries of the church, the task force reported three reasons to begin a building campaign expressed by the acronym PAR: Purpose, Accessibility, and Renewal. The church began the Capital Campaign in 2004. In May 2005 the congregation was presented reports from the Building Committee Report outlining the Phase I plan and the Financial Sub-committee outlined the plan to borrow up to $3 million dollars to complete the project. There was unanimous approval from the congregation for the funding and commencement of the Phase I building project.
We praise God for the many blessing upon Fairview, and we seek to do His will, and serve Him in our church, our community and through our missions around the world. Fairview is on a new spiritual journey. We may not know all of the Lord's plans for us, but we must have confidence that God wants to use us.
For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Connecting People to People and People to Christ
There is something special about Fairview-but it's hard to describe. We use works like "faith", "love", "friendship" and "family" to try and express it, but our words never seem to say enough. Maybe the best way to describe it is to quote the words of an old hymn:
"There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face,
and I know I feel the presence of the Lord."
We are called to share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ and the "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" with the lost, lonely and broken people of our community. The mission of our church is to connect people to people and people to Christ. When people visit Fairview, they notice that it is a friendly place and that there is something for everyone. Here, young couples, singles, families, youth, seniors and all those in between find a comfortable connection with others and a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ. Fairview is a congregation that loves to be together; therefore we have had a very active fellowship life. We love to pray together, and play together. Whether we are getting together in people's homes, going to baseball games, going bowling, playing softball, camping at the lake or getting together for the Fourth of July pig-pickin', fellowship is a big part of what we do. In these relaxed situations, we share our concerns, our joys and our love.
Fairview has carried on its mission in North Augusta since 1946. Our desire is to help men, women, children, and youth to become active followers of Jesus Christ. This is a place where you and your questions are taken seriously. Throughout the week, the Fairview family enjoys many regularly scheduled activities as well as special opportunities for worship, learning, fellowship and service. Fairview has been known for our emphasis on missions. We have always had a part in the overseas effort and currently support 17 missionaries at home and abroad. In the community, Fairview has been known for our continued support and leadership in social action. Fairview participated in the beginning of COMONA, the Community Ministry of North Augusta. We participate in GAP, Greater Augusta Presbyterians, which serves the homeless in downtown Augusta. Fairview has participated in inner city Vacation Bible Schools, Christian Youth in Action (a ministry to children) and The Master's Table soup kitchen. For years we have served as a congregant meal site for Meals-On-Wheels and host Narcotics and Gamblers Anonymous.
Since its founding, the members of Fairview have taken seriously Christ's call to be salt and light to the world: to live sanctified lives of contagious faith. Through its history, Fairview members have held public office, served as community leaders, public servants, scientists, engineers, physicians and educators. We have carried the gospel into the business community, the military, and the home. Fairview trains disciples who have a deep and growing relationship with Christ, a commitment to evangelism and a working knowledge of the Word of God.
As a church, everything we do comes together in worship. The strength of our church comes from a commitment to strong Biblical teaching and is expressed in enthusiastic, faithful worship. For Fairview, worship is a time to learn, to visit, to pray, to laugh, to sing and to think. For many it is a time to heal and to hope. It is a moment of rest or revival and a chance to touch holiness. Set between two ranks of Stained glass and filled with the music of the choir, our spirits are lifted and our vision inspired.
I hope that you will allow us to make a connection with you and share the vision and joy the Lord provides.
Mission Statement
The beginning of this present age, our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ, gave His people, the church, both a Great
Commandment and a Great Commission. In the first, He commands us to
respond to His love for us by loving each other in a way that is in
itself a witness to the world. In the second, He calls us to let
that love overflow the bounds of the church, reaching out to all the
world. We are to seek to enlarge His church, leading others to faith
in Him and then nurturing them to maturity. In Fairview, we see this
as the mission not just of the organization, or its committees, but
as the corporate and individual mission of all of our members - to
love one another, building one another up, encouraging one another
and enlarging this circle of love as we meet the spiritual, physical
and emotional needs of those people He puts in our path.
Adopted by the Session
October 15, 1989
GREAT COMMANDMENT
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so
you must love one another. All men will know that you are my
disciples if you love one another."
John 13:34-35 (NIV)
GREAT COMMISSION
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and
earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end
of the world."
Matthew 28:18-20