About Faith Fellowship

Our vision and mission is to share and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Our Mission & Vision

Our vision and mission is to help connect people to faith

At Faith Fellowship, our mission is to help people connect with Jesus Christ, grow in their faith, and share the Gospel with others, in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. As 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”

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We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and the foundation for our faith and practice. As 2 Peter 1:21 states, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Our statement of faith outlines our beliefs in the one true God, existing eternally as three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as well as the deity and pre-existence of Jesus Christ, as John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

We believe that our purpose as a church is to be a light in the world, sharing the hope and truth of the Gospel with those around us. As Matthew 5:16 states, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Through our outreach efforts, we seek to serve our community and meet the needs of those who are hurting or in need. We also believe in the importance of discipleship, and strive to equip individuals to live out their faith in their daily lives, as Ephesians 4:11-16 states, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Our History

It is the church’s fervent prayer we may be a strong light for Christ to our new neighborhood, the Village of Minerva, and the surrounding area

Faith Fellowship Church had its humble beginning in 2006, when Pastor Chet Howse moved from New England to pastor several families in a private home.

As the church grew, the congregation moved to the Bayard Grange, and then to the Minerva Senior Center.

In 2011, Faith Fellowship moved into their long-time meeting facility at the old West Elementary school in East Rochester. Prayers and plans began immediately to find a “permanent” home for the church.

The Lord answered the congregation’s prayers and in His good timing and pleasure, He rewarded their patience when a former church building was made available for purchase. In March 2023, Faith Fellowship moved into their new church home at 22797 Ellsworth Avenue in Minerva, with the first service held March 19.

It is the church’s fervent prayer we may be a strong light for Christ to our new neighborhood, the Village of Minerva, and the surrounding area.

A “grand opening” celebration is planned for May 2023.

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Statement of Faith

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Faith Fellowship

Purpose Statment

Statement of Faith

We of Faith Fellowship, believing the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible to be our infallible rule of faith and practice, and feeling our responsibility to make known the divine message of the Bible, present the following articles as a statement of those basic truths taught in the Bible which are common to our Christian faith and practice.

The Bible

The Word of God, all sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired in all parts and therefore wholly without error as originally given by God.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

The One True God

existing eternally as three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture: Luke 3:22; Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14

The Lord Jesus Christ

His pre-existence and deity (John 1:1-3), incarnation by virgin birth (John 1:14; Matthew 1:18-23), sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), substitutionary death (2 Corinthians 5:21), bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43), His ascension into heaven and present ministry (Hebrews 4:14-16) and coming again (Acts 1:11).

The Holy Spirit

His personality (John 16:7-15) and deity (Acts 5:3-4), His work in each believer, baptism and indwelling at the moment of regeneration (1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9), and filling (Ephesians 5:18) to empower for Christian life and service (Ephesians 3:16; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:22-23).

Man

God’s direct creation made in His image (Genesis 1:26-28), his (man’s) subsequent fall into sin resulting in spiritual death (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12), and the necessity of the new birth for his (man’s) salvation (John 3:3-5).

Salvation

a complete and eternal salvation by God’s grace alone, received as a gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Church

One true Church, the body and bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-32), composed of all true believers of the present age (1 Corinthians 12:12-13); for worship, for edification of believers, and for worldwide Gospel witness (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Christian Life

a life of righteousness, good works, and separation unto God from the evil ways of the world (Romans 12:1-2), manifested by speaking the truth (James 5:12), maintaining the sanctity of the home (Ephesians 5:22-6:4), settling differences between Christians in accordance with the Word of God (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Matthew 18:15-17), not engaging in carnal strife but showing a Christlike attitude toward all men (Romans 12:17-21), exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and maintaining a life of prayer (Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6), including the privilege—when sick—of calling for the elders of the Church to pray and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:13-18).

Satan

his existence and personality as the great adversary of God and His people (Revelation 12:1-10), his judgment (John 12:31), and his final doom (Revelation 20:10).

Second Coming

the personal, visible, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Future Life

the conscious existence of the dead (Philippians 1:21-23; Luke 16:19-31) and resurrection of the body (John 5:28-29), the judgment and condemnation of unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15), the eternal life of the saved (John 3:16), and the eternal punishment of the lost (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15).

“You don’t try to be a Christian. You are a Christian when you personally trust in the gracious Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

– Pastor Chet Howes

Who We Are

Our Team & Leadership

Get to know the staff members of Faith Fellowship, including our Senior Pastor and ministry leaders, who are passionate about serving and equipping our church community to grow in their faith and share the Gospel.

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Pastor Chet Howes

Senior Pastor

Senior Pastor Chet Howse was born and raised in Ashtabula, Ohio. He was saved at a Billy Graham Crusade and graduated from what was then called the Ontario Theological Seminary (now the Tyndale Seminary). Chet has pastored churches in three states (Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio) spanning over forty years He is married to Christine and they have four adult children and seven grandchildren.

Staff

Stephen A Baker

Associate Pastor

Stephen A Baker is a graduate of the University of Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio) and is a student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves Faith Fellowship as associate pastor, Sunday School teacher, Prayer ministry leader, and as the author of various ministry/theological papers.

Stephen and his wife, Lisa, live and minister in Minerva.

Barb Burchett

Secretary

Elders

Al Rhiel

Elder

Bill Ellis

Elder