MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Faith, Hope & Victory Christian Church is to transform the lives of individuals by teaching them how to begin and maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and apply the Bible to their everyday living.
We strive to accomplish the above mission by exemplifying the life, the Word and the teachings of Jesus Christ and by providing worship experiences, Bible studies and programming which ministers to situations and circumstances in our communities and environments that we live, work and play in.
History of the Church
Establishment & Logistical Efforts
Faith, Hope & Victory Christian Church was established and founded by Rev. AnThony E. Pelham, a native of Lancaster South Carolina. The church held its first worship service on Sunday, November 1, 1998 in the chapel of McCray’s Funeral Home at 101 Camp Drive in Lancaster SC with three members and approximately seventy (70) visitors. Sunday services were held each Sunday in the chapel until resources were sufficient to ascertain another place of worship. Bible studies were initially held at the pastors’ home on 101 Marion Street in Lancaster SC.
On April 1, 2001 the church relocated to a 1,800 square feet storefront location at 206 North Park Square in order to accommodate its growth and allow for the expansion of ministries. In December 2001 Rev. Fannie Tate joined the ministerial staff as the Associate Pastor. The following individuals have become a part of the ministerial team: Julia Truesdale (August 3, 2003) and Aaron Massey (April 4, 2004), Diane Barnes (Oct. 2, 2005), Juwaun Seegars (August 15, 2004), Joel Harris (January 2007), Leon Wright (December 25, 2010) and the late Dianne Robertson in (February 2004).
Because of continued growth the church relocated to a 2,387square foot building on 202 S. Gregory Street and began its worship services there on Sunday, April 4, 2004. The location can accommodate up to 150 persons in its sanctuary and has two (2) classrooms, an office and pastors study. The location is within one half of a mile of where the future sanctuary is to be built which affords the church the opportunity to serve the members of the community that it originally desired to serve and reach out to once the new sanctuary was built.
Since its establishment the church has grown from its original three (3) members to approximately three hundred (300) members and regular attendees on the church roster. On September 19, 2010 an 8 a.m. worship service was added to accommodate growth and attract individuals who preferred an early morning service. Presently within the Lancaster area is a large population of individuals who belong to established churches but are not spiritually satisfied with them. They seek a place to worship however due to family tradition fear leaving to officially join another ministry. Our 8 a.m. service provides them with an option to participate in a satisfying worship experience while remaining connected to their family or ‘home’ church. Combined Sunday worship services average Sunday Worship services currently average two hundred fifty seven (257) worshipers and continue to increase weekly. The church continues to be frequented by new guests searching for a spiritual church home or a special encounter with God.
Presently the church is preparing to build its new 25,000 square feet Worship Center which will have a 500 seat sanctuary, classroom space, fellowship hall with commercial kitchen and a child development center. This worship Center will enable us to expand our ministries and do a greater work within our community.
On September 1, 2003 approximately one and a half acres of property were donated to the church by two anonymous donors in order that the church could further its evangelistic efforts by building a new sanctuary. On April 2009 Herbert McCray donated property located at 100 Marion Street to the church. An agreement was made with William & Douglas Rucker to exchange this property for properties owned by them at 605 Glenwood Ave. This property was connected with the property currently owned by the church and was needed to obtain the needed acreage for the new sanctuary. On June 16, 2011 the church purchased property located at 706 Chesterfield Avenue from Collins Realty in order to have the acreage needed to begin the building process. The total combined property acreage is 2.357.
August 6, 2009 FHV Christian Church Contracted with Seven Lakes Engineering Services to design & develop the plans for the new facility. Cost of the project was $39,000. Plans have been completed and Development & Construction LLC. has been selected to construct the building.
Church Ministries & Outreach Efforts
In 1999 the Church established the Rosetta Seegars, Henry Pelham Sr. & Hester Wade Memorial Scholarship Fund which strives each year to award up to twelve (12) $1,000 scholarships to six (6) individuals belonging to the church and (6) throughout the Lancaster County Community who have the desire but lack the financial means to attend college. Since its inception the church has awarded $96,000 in college scholarships.
The church ministries have grown from one (1) Bible Study held at the Pastors home on Marion Street in 1999 to twenty-two (22) active ministries which are as follows: Evening Adult and Youth Bible Study, Tuesday Morning Community Bible Study, Adult, Children & Young Adult Sunday-School, Maximized Manhood, FHV Dancers for Christ, Seeds of Abraham and Son’s of Thunder Men’s Interpretive Dance Ministry, Butterfly Club, Women’s Empowerment, Rev.’s Book Club, Couples and Singles Ministries, The Community Powerhouse Literacy Project, Adult and Children’s choir’s, Shepherds Care Outreach ministry, Usher Board, Children’s Nursery, Healthy & Whole & the Hospitality ministry.
The church has remained committed to making a difference for Jesus Christ. The church has participated in many events throughout the Lancaster Community such as Habitat for Humanity, Unity in The Community, World Aids Day and the annual Juneteenth Celebration. The church collaborates with the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Catawba Regional AIDS Network and the Lancaster Fatherhood Project. The church continues to pour back into its community through financial assistance and in-kind contributions to families and persons in need. The Pastor and members are dedicated and committed to making a difference in the community in which God has called them to serve.
