Faith Church has many things happening as one can see above. However, there are other things that happen on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. You may contact the office at any time regarding these happenings!
Weekly, besides our weekly services, there are bible studies, prayer groups, and our quilter groups meet every Saturday - the calendar of events is shown above.
Monthly, we celebrate communion, most first Sunday's of the month.
Yearly, we have our Holy week services during the Easter season. We also celebrate Advent, which starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving, ending Christmas Eve, December 24th every year.
Just a reminder on our procedures for inclement weather: Level 1 - use your own judgement Level 2 or 3 - Stay home - Stay safe!
The History of Faith Church - October 21, 1894 - present
We hold to the historical precedence of orthodox Christianity. Contemporary reasoning does not negate the historical aspect of the Christian Faith.
Our church had its beginnings in a storeroom at the corner of East Main and Buena Vista Streets in 1894 under the leadership of Dr. T. J. Sanders, president and professor at Otterbein College.
Our church’s history stretches back to the late 19th Century. In 1894, Rena Gamble and her husband George, moved to Newark from Perrysville, Ohio and were dismayed to find there was no United Brethren Church in Newark. That led to the “birth” of what is now Faith United Methodist Church on October 8, 1894. Mrs. Gamble gathered a small group of people who met each Sunday in a storeroom at the corner of East Main and Buena Vista streets just West of the present church building.
The first church building was erected at the corner of Arch and East Main Streets, West of the present building, in 1898 under the leadership of Rev. O. C. Wright. An addition was added to this first unit in 1914 under the leadership of Rev. A. B. Cox and dedicated by Bishop Mathews. With the assistance of the theology department at Westerville’s Otterbein College, pastors were sent and the congregation began to grow at the East Main Street United Brethren Church. Eventually, property was obtained at the corner of Arch and East Main streets and a church building was constructed in 1898. That building stood until 1924. With the church membership, approaching 1,000 a larger facility was constructed on the same spot. We worship in this building today. A dedication service was held on November 23, 1924. During construction, worshipers met in another building located East of the present structure. In 1962, we added our Educational Unit. In 1963 we finished construction on the educational unit on the west side of our church, as well as a parking area. This was done under the leadership of Rev. Rex C. Smith, pastor, at a cost of $101,495.63. Dedication and open house for the new unit was held on February 24, 1963.
The present church building (pictured above) was erected in 1924 under the leadership of Rev. P. E. Wright at a cost of $58,000, and dedicated November 23, by Bishop A.R. Clippinger. This church has been active in the organization and development of other United Methodist Churches in the area: Christ - Christian Endeavor - Wright Memorial - Cox Memorial - Marne - and Pleasant View on the Newark Circuit. A few of these are no longer congregations and or a part of the UM Movement.
In May of 1960, Mrs. Eura Felumlee deeded her farm to this church. It is now known as Vesper Hills and is, and has been, the hub of much activity involving ministry of various types. In 1963 we built a lodge facility which was dedicated by Conference Superintendent, Dr. C. F. Lutz on June 9, 1963. Many beautification projects have been undertaken over the years and it is a very lovely facility today, and enjoyed by all of us, and others. This parcel of land will soon be a hub of events, please be aware and keep watching for more updates and information to come.
Because of the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Church in 1968, we lost our United Brethren affiliation and became Faith United Methodist Church. As a United Methodist Church (according to the World Almanac 2001) we were affiliated with the third largest denomination in the United States. We are theologically conservative, and evangelical in purpose. As of June 1, 2023 Faith UM Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church and became an Independant Church so named as Newark Faith Church.
We are committed to the authority of the Holy Scripture, the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. We are committed to The Lord Jesus Christ as the only way of salvation. There are many religions, but there is only one way of salvation. We are committed to the persistent presence of The Holy Spirit with us indwelling in us as revealed in Scripture. We believe in ONE God, revealed in THREE persons, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Do we fully understand the above mystery? The FACT that there can be three persons, yet only one God? No! But we apprehend and affirm this Divine Truth and Worship this ONE true God! We affirm that all people are separated from this Righteous and Holy God due to our own selfishness and sin, and that there is ONLY one way to be reconciled to The Father - Through Jesus Christ the Savior! Not by any good works that we may do, but by Faith alone, in Christ alone - TRUSTING in HIM to save us by HIS substitutional sacrifice of His body on the Cross over 2000 years ago. We deserve to die for our own sins, but he died for us as a substitute. Jesus' death was the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins! All who come to The Father do so through The Son and this is the work of God, the Holy Spirit - drawing people to Christ and convicting them of their own SIN, and giving them the FAITH to put their FULL TRUST in Jesus for SALVATION. This is NOT an academic belief or acceptance of who Jesus Christ is, but a believing in the heart that Jesus CAN and will FORGIVE us of our sins and reconcile us to God. This is the "born-again" experience that makes you a Christian. Have you ever asked God to show you The TRUTH, and been willing to follow Him when He answers your prayer? You can Know for SURE that you are forgiven and reconciled to God!
We have added many improvements over the years, including the Chimes in 1986, the Elevator in 1998, redecorating many areas of the church, putting a new roof on the entire building - and have even allowed our facility to be used as a school for many years, as well as a meeting location for service organizations, as well as other churches to use temporarily. We are greatly indebted today to all who have labored in the past to bring about all that this church has been able to do - never forgetting that the ultimate thanks go to our Wonderful God who made it all possible. May He continue to guide and direct us and bless us for His Glory.