An Introduction to our Pastor and How We Began

 
                                                Pastor Mark and Donna

In the early eighties, Donna and I bean a spiritual journey with God. At the beginning, I had veered far from the path of the Lord and Donna had yet to encounter Jesus and experience his redeeming grace. However, I returned to the Lord and made him the Lord of my life. In due time, Donna followed me and surrendered her life to Christ. Together, we attended a humble Methodist church in Greenville, IN, where our fervor for the Lord was unmatched. 

Pastor Mode Powell took notice of our unbridled passion for Christ and asked us to help in various positions, including Sunday school. Naturally, we were thrilled at the opportunity to be of service in God’s name. In every way we could, we devoted our time to studying the Bible and deepening our understanding of God’s wor

                                               Leading the Young People.

Recognizing the need for a youth group in our son David’s life, we shared our concerns with the pastor. To our surprise, he urged us to establish a group of our own. Despite feeling apprehensive about our abilities, we agreed to take on the challenge. On a balmy Sunday afternoon in 1986, we gathered on our deck with our son and a handful of other young people. We permitted them to cool off in the water before attempting to sing praises to Jesus a cappella. The songs we chose – “This Is The Day,” “Power in the Blood,” and “Jesus Loves Me” – were accompanied by a compelling message: Jesus died and loves us all, and we have the power to choose our eternal destiny. Our persuasive words, backed by scriptural evidence, were effective in leading countless young people to Christ. 

       From that day onward, we held weekly Sunday afternoon meetings, grilling cheeseburgers and hotdogs for refreshments. While we continued to attend regular church services, our fondest desire was to nurture these young souls. Lock-ins, concerts, and trips to Kings Island were all geared toward our mission of saving souls and discipling young people.

      As the young people under our care transitioned into young adulthood, we recognized the importance of continuing to provide them with guidance and mentorship. Thus, we established an adult youth group on Friday nights. During these meetings, we glorified the Lord, delved into biblical teachings, offered prayers of intercession for one another, and shared meals in one another’s company. Although we hailed from different churches, our common bond was our love and devotion to Jesus.

                                          Founding of the Barn Church

The youth group and Friday meetings continued for several years, until a few of us realized that certain decisions made by the denominations we belonged to were not aligned with the Word of God. We felt called to establish our own church that upheld the teachings of Scripture. On November 1, 1991, we held our inaugural church service in the woods behind our home. For a while, we met in various homes, but I had a vision of transforming our old barn loft into a church. I shared my vision with my friend Mike Mosier, and we prayed together in the loft one chilly Friday night, believing that God would help us accomplish this task. Our dream was born. 

      Over time, with the tireless efforts of many different individuals (special thanks to Ted Blatz), we successfully converted the simple pre-civil war era barn loft into a fully functional church. On a brisk Easter Sunday morning, we held our first service in the renovated location. That day, seven individuals were moved to accept Jesus into their hearts and to walk alongside us in our faith journey.  

                                  The Great Revival and Faith Harvest.

The barn proved to be a sanctuary of countless amazing encounters with God. Our worship was filled with so much passion and our teaching was uncompromising- we never strayed from the truth of Scripture. Our constant prayer for revival was answered in 1996 when we visited the great Revival in Pensacola, Florida. We received a fresh anointing and an unquenchable thirst for the ever-increasing presence of God. 

        The move of God blessed us immensely, but not everyone was on board. Some chose a different path and parted ways. But even though we lost a few people, our hearts were more committed to Jesus than ever before. There was no going back; we were forever changed by the divine encounter. 

         We became commonly known as the “Barn Church”, although our original name was Greenville Community Church. However, with the dawning of new hope and promise, we elected to rename ourselves Faith Harvest Assembly, signifying the abundant blessings that only God could provide for us.

                                               Where We Are Now

Our journey has not been devoid of hardships. On June 26, 2003, our church building was reduced to ashes in a catastrophic fire. However, the faith and love of the people (the church) endured unscathed. Miraculously, God led us to a magnificent facility located on eighteen acres at 6310 Buttontown Road.

Even though we are no longer in a barn, our dedication to spreading the gospel, saving souls, and pursuing revival has not altered. We have encountered our fair share of trials and tribulations, but our determination for spiritual treasure remains unwavering. We strive towards igniting the Third Great Awakening.

I wish I could recount all the miraculous details that attest to God’s faithfulness and delight in our unwavering endurance. Despite our many struggles, we hold steadfast to our resolve, and we hope to continue to inspire others by our principled perseverance.



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One thought on “About Us

  1. Hello! My name is Courtney and have been the music/choral director for Park Christian Church for 15 years and I am feeling like God is leading me and my family somewhere else. I live in Greenville and I am just looking around for any musical opportunities to where I can use my gift of leading. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.

    In Christ,
    Courtney Siefring

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