About Us

Beliefs

In the name of God we declare and confess before all men, that we believe in the only true God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; that these three are one the Father in the Son, and Son in the Father, and the Holy Ghost equal in essence or being with both; that this triune God created the heavens and the earth and all that in them is, visible as well as invisible, and furthermore sustains, governs, protects and supports the same.

We believe in Jesus Christ; that He is very God and man; that He became incarnate by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Virgin Mary and was born of her; that He is the Savior and Mediator of the whole human race, if they with full faith in Him accept the grace proffered in Jesus; that this Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us, was buried, arose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God to intercede for us; and that He shall come again at the last day to judge the quick and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Ghost; that He is equal in being with the Father and the Son, and that He comforts the faithful, and guides them into all truth.

We believe in a Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

We believe that the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God; that it contains the only true way to our salvation; that every true Christian is bound to acknowledge and receive it with the influence of the Spirit of God as the only rule and guide; and that without faith in Jesus Christ, true repentance, forgiveness of sins and following after Christ, no one can be a true Christian.

We also believe that what is contained in the Holy Scriptures, to-wit: The fall in Adam and redemption through Jesus Christ, shall be preached throughout the world. We believe that the ordinances: Repentance, Baptism and Communion (the remembrance of the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ), are to be in use and practiced by all Christian societies; and that it is the duty and obligation of all the children of God to practice them. The like figure where unto even baptism doth also now save us (Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (I Peter 3:21)

Church History

1953 – Founded by Pastor Dean Overholt and his wife, Almah as part of the United Brethren Church, first meeting in the current Old Time Methodist Church building

1954 – Purchased current property on Whitneyville and began meeting in the neighbor’s basement while raising funds to build

1964 – Completed construction on the church building

1973 – Left the United Brethren Conference and incorporated as Whitneyville Church of Jesus Christ

1973 – Pastor Dean Overholt became paralyzed from cancer, so layman Ed Douse and local preacher Brian Shook helped with preaching duties

1974 – James Groendyke Sr. and Richard Ford, both laymen of the church, assumed preaching duties

1974 – Pastor Dean Overholt died, and James Groendyke Sr. took over as leader of the church, along with his wife Judy

2002 – Church name was changed to Whitneyville Fellowship Church, to avoid confusion with the Church of the Later Day Saints

2004 – Began construction on the Fellowship Hall located behind the church

2005 – Phase I of the Fellowship Hall construction was completed and the building was dedicated to the Lord

2005 – Pastor James Groendyke, Sr. passed away suddenly

2006 – Search began for a new pastor to lead and grow the church

2007 – In April, Don Crawford was chosen by the congregation to serve as our new pastor, along with his wife Sue

2017 – In March, Ed Carpenter was chosen by the congregation to serve as our new pastor, along with his wife Jackie