Church History
Faith Christian Center is a ministry extension of Word of Faith International Christian Center, Southfield, MI under the leadership of its founders, Bishop Keith A. Butler with his lovely wife and Ministerial Assistant, Pastor Deborah L. Butler.
1993
Faith Christian Center was founded on Saturday, August 7, 1993, in Fayetteville, Georgia and opened its doors for the first Worship Service on Sunday, August 8, 1993. The first message on Sunday, August 8th was called “What We Believe”. The Opening Day Service had an attendance of over 350 people. The following Sunday, August 15, 1993, showed the real attendance consisting of only 60 people including Nursery and Children’s Church. On that Sunday, Membership Class began. Six months later, the attendance grew to over 326 persons per Sunday. Each month, the attendance increased at an astounding rate.
In September 1993, the following Ministry of Helps and Auxiliaries were established: Altar Guild, Communications/Sound Department, Faith Food Bookstore, Hostesses/Ushers, Kitchen Department, Men of Valor, Music Ministry, Outreach Department, Parking Lot, Ride Providers, Social Events Department, Singles Ministry, Women of Virtue, Youth Ministry and Layman’s Bible School. During the Summer of 1994, Faith Christian Center held its first church picnic and Singles Summit with a record high attendance of 904 people on Sunday, August 21st. In the Fall of 1994, Covenant Partners Ministry for married persons, Holy Spirit Classes, and the Sunday School Department were established.
1996
Faith Christian Center outgrew its Fayetteville location and on October 15, 1996, moved to College Park, Georgia at 1773 Hawthorne Avenue. At this location, the first Word of Faith Convention-South and the Ministerial Leadership Association Conference were held. The following ministries were added The School Of Ministry, Touch Group Ministry, and Home Visitations. Bishop Butler desire was to have his Staff Ministers visit every church member twice a year.
1998
Experiencing significant growth within two years, Faith Christian Center had again outgrown its College Park location and God revealed to Bishop Butler to move to the North Atlanta area. And so, on September 1, 1998, Faith Christian Center moved to its present location at 3059 S. Cobb Drive, Smyrna, Georgia 30080.
2001
In September 2001, Bishop Butler installed his son Rev. Keith Andre Butler II as the Head Pastor of Faith Christian Center, Smyrna, GA. Pastor Butler’s Ministerial Assistant was his lovely wife Minister Tiffany N. Butler. At that time, there were two Sunday morning Worship Services and a new Saturday evening Worship Service was added to accommodate the rapidly growing Smyrna congregation, with attendance topping over 1900 persons every Sunday.
Under Pastor Andre Butler’s leadership, Faith Christian Center expanded into radio with The Living Word Radio Ministry in October 2001. Other special Ministry of Helps added were the Glory Phi God Campus Ministry, Glory Phi God Entheos Singles Ministry (Ages 18-29), and the Spanish Interpretation Department. In addition, the following Touch Groups were added: Eagle Saints, Men of Valor, Women of Virtue, Entheos, Youth, Spanish, Covenant Partners, and Business Touch Groups. In January 2003, Kingdom Business Institute and Kingdom Business Association were established.
2004
In September 2004, to encourage persons on the path to leadership, PEP (Pre-Encounter/Membership, Encounter, Post-Encounter) was added to the Ministry. Layperson’s Bible School I & II was changed to School of Jesus Year I and School of the Bible Year II. That same year, FCC added the following Ministry of Helps: The Medical Guild, Prayer Technicians, and The Vessels of Power Prayer Team.
2005
In September 2005, to further encourage members to get recharged with the Word of God, the Leader’s Encounter was added. In January 2006, FCC expanded into television with Living Life To The Full, which formed the new Media Department.
2007
September 2007- Advancing forward and enriching others with in-depth biblical teaching, Pastor Butler re-established the Faith School of Ministry. FSOM was a one year ministerial training center. Pastor Butler’s desire was for every member to become a leader of 12, to become a church home for all people of every race, creed, or national origin, and to reach the entire Greater Atlanta area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2009
August 23, 2009, Pastor Andre Butler was promoted to full Assistant Pastor at Word of Faith International Christian Center under the leadership of his father, Bishop Keith A. Butler. Pastor Andre & Minister Tiffany Butler along with their three beautiful girls were relocated back to Michigan. On December 31, 2009, Bishop Butler installed Pastor Andre Butler as Pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center, Southfield, MI.
On August 31, 2009, Pastor Joel E. Gregory was promoted to Senior Pastor of Faith Christian Center, Smyrna, GA. Through Pastor Gregory’s biblical teaching, Goal Focus Living Groups launched in January 2011. Pastor Joel E. Gregory serves with his beautiful, adoring wife, Minister Patricia E. Gregory. They have two lovely children, Joelle and Joel Gregory and reside in Acworth, GA.