A church on Kenwood Road, The Community Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, has the distinction of being a part of the oldest denomination to have its roots begun on American soil.

It was born of a frontier movement that began in the throws of the American Revolution. The word “liberty” was very important then and continues to be important. The members are free to study the scriptures and form their own opinions.

There are 4,000 Disciple congregations in the United States and Canada.
“It’s important,” said its pastor of one year, the Rev. Dean Phelps, “that this church is a place where people can grow in their faith, find their particular ministerial talents and find a place to use them.”

This particular congregation originally was begun as the West End Christian Church in Atlanta in 1896 and moved to its current location in 1988.

The building is host to “Women After God’s Own Heart,” a Bible study group led by Donella Cranford. It is made up of women from various church backgrounds.
One of the church’s members, Ailsa Guardiola, is serving a mission year in Honduras. A number of churches have been sending members to assist in rebuilding churches after Hurricane Mitch did its damage. She coordinates these comings and goings and directs the workers in the various projects.

The church supports the Fayette Samaritans and the Clayton Samaritans. It recently sent 26 volunteers to an Hispanic church in Clayton County and, along with 200 other volunteers, repaired and refurbished the church as well as feeding everyone.

Phelps was born and reared in Maysville, Ky. He attended the University of Kentucky, interested in music education, and later was graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in math.

The first years of his working career were in data processing with L’Eggs Company. Even though he felt the pull of the ministry from the age of 17, it wasn’t until 1994 that he entered Candler Theological Seminary at Emory University. He was graduated in 1997 and served two years in Cherry Log, at a church in the north Georgia mountains, and a year ago came to Fayetteville.

He and his wife, Debbie, met and married 11 years ago. She teaches in a high school.

The church is at 349 Kenwood Road and can be reached at 770-460-9745.
Sunday Schools is at 10 a.m. and worship is at 11 a.m. Bible studies are Sunday evening at 6 p.m. and a prayer group meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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