Fairmont Church reaches upward, forward to serve Christ in extended ministries

Brad Bennett, pastor

Genesis UMC, Fairmont

Since the year 2001, Genesis UMC, the new church start in Whitehall near Fairmont, has managed to develop a committed congregation despite moving out of and into three different buildings. With the help of the Holy Spirit and a friend of Genesis, who is a successful businessman and has a heart for our ministry, that is about to change. Our friend is planning to build a building in our area and has offered to expand it to include 6,000 sq. ft that he will rent to the church.  We expect a groundbreaking soon.  Rev. Bennett, pastor, is pictured above.

Genesis currently is hosting The Way of the Cross, an interactive experience of the final hours of Jesus life, crucifixion, burial and resurrection.  The Way of the Cross adapts each “station” to a person’s individual feelings and actions in relation to the story through activities, prayers, and devotional readings. One hundred and seventy-seven attended last year and more are expected this year.

      We are currently in our third rented facility.  This month marks two years that we have been in our current location. Our first space had been a restaurant. After ten months, our landlord came to us and said, “Thanks so much for all the cleanup and work you did to make this property so attractive.  We now have a high-dollar long-term client we’d like to lease the space to.  You have 45 days – go.”

Our next facility was an empty bolt warehouse attached to Ted’s Auto Repair.  After significant renovation and cleanup, we officially launched in September 2004 and we were on our way. We were reaching more folks and growing.  Just after our one year anniversary, our landlord said, “Thank you so much for all the work you’ve done in fixing this place up and making it so attractive.  We now have a high-dollar long-term client we’d like to lease the space to. You’ve got 45 days. Go.”

While securing and fixing up our current location, we spent five months as a truly portable church at East Fairmont High School. Our small groups met in homes and other locations.  By Easter 2005 we moved to our current location.  The space that we meet in incorporates people sitting around tables rather than lines of chairs or pews so people can interact with each other during worship. 

A few months ago our current landlord informed us that he would be selling the property in about a year. That was the beginning of a wondrous time of prayer, which went far beyond our building concerns.

During 50 days of prayer we experienced some great answers from God. Two women who were on chemotherapy for cancer were so accelerated in their recovery that their doctors told them they didn’t need to take their final sessions of chemo treatments. They were both completely in remission.

Another man recovered very quickly from a motorcycle accident.  People received guidance and new job opportunities and financial opportunities opened up.  Four of our people have started new ministries. 

One young lady connected with Genesis through some of our young adult ministries.  While at Genesis she made her profession of faith and was baptized.  Her father began attending and was baptized a few months later.

We also connected with two young men through one of our Genesis sponsored sports teams and their Dad started helping out with our basketball team. While attending Genesis he was diagnosed with cancer.  During his battle with the disease, he gave his life to Jesus Christ and his family renewed and affirmed their faith in Christ. 

When David died last June, our whole faith community celebrated a man whose life and faith had made a tremendous impact on the whole community.  His family remains an important part of our Genesis faith community.

We know that God has a plan and we are trusting God to accomplish it. Let me say thank you to the Conference that has helped Genesis personally connect with more than 300 families and touch thousands in North Central West Virginia. 

On behalf of the 51 people who have made first time commitments to Christ, the 78 recommitments to Christ and 38 baptisms, we are eternally grateful for your prayers, support and investment in this ministry. And on behalf of our current active participants, we humbly seek your guidance and blessing as we boldly stretch forward into God’s vision for Genesis, a new reality, a new location and new opportunities to share a Genesis of hope that makes disciples of Jesus Christ and transforms the world.