{"id":6976,"date":"2021-02-03T16:20:15","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T00:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/?page_id=6976"},"modified":"2021-02-03T16:20:15","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T00:20:15","slug":"history-of-the-fount-church","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/history-of-the-fount-church\/","title":{"rendered":"History of The Fount Church"},"content":{"rendered":"

History of The Fount Church<\/strong><\/p>\n

Formerly known as Fountain Valley United Methodist Church (FVUMC),<\/p>\n

formerly known as the First United Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FUMCFV),<\/p>\n

or the First Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FMCFV)<\/p>\n

or the \u201cLittle Tan Church on Bushard\u201d(LTCB)*<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Dennis Olson, Charter Member<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The city of Fountain Valley was incorporated in 1957.\u00a0 Before that time it was known as Talbert and also known as \u201cGospel Swamp\u201d.\u00a0 In the early 1960\u2019s the landscape of \u201cGospel Swamp\u201d was changing from bean fields, truck crops and orange groves to tract after tract of houses \u2013 a bedroom community for those who could commute to work in the Los Angeles area.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On July 1, 1964, Rev. Lewis Currie was appointed by the Southern California Arizona Annual Conference of the Methodist Church to start a new church in the city of Fountain Valley.\u00a0 Rev. Currie began knocking on doors to recruit members. Many of the contacts he made were based upon information supplied by the Methodist church that tracked when people moved from a Methodist church to another location. \u00a0\u00a0After Rev. Curry contacted a good-sized group he gathered them together and began meeting in the Fountain Valley elementary school on Bushard Street on September 13, 1964.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There were a number of the people that Rev. Currie had contacted who were very interested in music so a choir was formed and sang at the very first service. Bob West, also a charter member, used his pick-up truck to transport the Hammond Spinet organ owned by Dennis and Karen Olson for use at the first worship service. Bob continued to do this faithfully each Sunday until buildings were erected on the current site on Bushard where the first worship service was held November 5, 1966.The Lyddon family also loaned a spinet organ to the church for Sunday worship.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Methodist Church was booming in California in the early 60\u2019s so when the original members chose a name, they settled on First United Methodist Church of Fountain Valley.\u00a0 The thinking was that as Fountain Valley grew it was likely that there would be more than one Methodist Church in the city and the name should reflect that this church was \u201cthe first\u201d, not the \u201cthe second\u201d or \u201cthe third\u201d Methodist Church in Fountain Valley. \u00a0The founding members officially joined the Methodist Church on November 22,1964 \u2013 many by transfer of membership from Methodist Churches where they had been members.\u00a0 The First Methodist Church of Fountain Valley was officially incorporated on July 20, 1965.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The founding group with the aid of the Southern California-Arizona Annual Conference managed to purchase five acres a short distance from the Fountain Valley Elementary school and built the first two buildings a sanctuary and Sunday school classrooms. (later converted to a lounge and church offices).\u00a0 Culver Heaton was the architect.\u00a0 Several years later the original 5-acre lot was reduced to about 3 acres by selling the South and West sides for street access and houses.\u00a0 A single-story house to be used as the church parsonage was also purchased nearby the church campus.\u00a0 It is still the parsonage but was remodeled in the 90\u2019s when a second-story addition was made.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The first services in the new buildings were held November 6, 1966.\u00a0 The education building was also used as a fellowship hall.\u00a0 An innovative feature of its design was that the wooden panel partitions between rooms could be taken down and the partitions used as tables, which was commonly done when church bazaars and mother-daughter banquets were held.\u00a0 Bill and Claire Drozda were also hired in 1966.\u00a0 Claire was the church office secretary and Bill was chancel choir.\u00a0 They continued in those positions until 1980.<\/p>\n

Consecration Sunday for the new facilities was January 22, 1967.\u00a0 The first sunrise Easter service was held that same year on a large earth mound with wooden cross and benches located about the middle of present south parking lot location. Also in 1967, the preschool with Elaine Erickson as director was formed with three teachers and 36 students.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On April 23, 1968, the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church and became known as The United Methodist Church and subsequently the First Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FMCFV) became the First United Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FUMCFV).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On July 1, 1968, Rev. Ken McMillan was appointed senior pastor of FUMCFV.\u00a0 Shortly after his appointment, on October 2, 1968 the Women\u2019s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) was chartered at FUMCFV.\u00a0 \u00a0The WSCS later became United Methodist Women (UMW).\u00a0 In 1970, an old 1890’s Estey pipe organ was donated by Spurgeon United Methodist Church of Santa Ana. The organ was stored in \u201cRed\u201d Moore\u2019s\u201d garage for a long time before installation in the church sanctuary (now the East Chapel). The organ was not electric and had a mechanical interface to the pipes.\u00a0 It became quite a challenge to maintain the organ.\u00a0 Much of the maintenance was performed by Bill Drozda.\u00a0 Some thought he used bubble gum and tin foil to keep it going.\u00a0 The organ was also particularly susceptible to wet weather-probably due to a leaky roof.\u00a0 One Christmas morning was very trying for organist Ann Olmstead because only one rank of pipes was totally working.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Occasionally Dennis Olson would be a substitute organist for Ann Olmstead.\u00a0 One Sunday morning when Dennis was playing, a world\u2019s record may have been set for the fastest singing of the hymn \u201cHoly, Holy, Holy\u201d during a worship service.\u00a0 Dottie McCall was the choir director at the time.\u00a0 As Dennis was completing playing the first verse of the hymn, Dottie thought the tempo should be a little slower and gave a hand gesture to Dennis to slow down.\u00a0 Dennis however thought the hand gesture was requesting to speed up the tempo so he did.\u00a0 Dottie continued to make her hand gestures more frantically and Dennis speeded up even more.\u00a0 With the feedback loop obviously out of control, the choir and congregation were out of breath at the conclusion of the hymn.\u00a0 From then on Dennis and Dottie got their hand signals coordinated much to the relief of the choir and congregation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rev. Ford Miller was appointed Senior Pastor on July 1, 1971.\u00a0 Rev. Miller was known for his ability to raise funds and build new church facilities.\u00a0 He had recently been instrumental in building new church facilities at La Palma UMC.\u00a0 Not long after he came to FUMCFV a building fund was established to construct a Sanctuary\/Fellowship Hall and a second education building.\u00a0\u00a0 On Palm Sunday 1975, the first Sunday service was held in the new sanctuary, which is the current sanctuary.\u00a0 On July 1, 1976 \u00a0<\/strong>– ground breaking was begun for a new educational wing addition to the West end of the second Education Building. The addition was completed on August 16, 1977. The old sanctuary was converted into a lounge conference room and church offices.\u00a0 Rev. Ford Miller\u2019s wife Carol had a passion for music and loved directing the Cherub Choir and being in the Chancel Choir that Bill Drozda directed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rev. Dr. Carroll Word was appointed Senior Pastor on July 1, 1979.\u00a0 During his tenure there was a lot of diversity because the Nozomi (Japanese), Jewish B\u2019nai Tzedek, Calvary Apostolic and Korean Presbyterian congregations were meeting and worshiping on the campus. Bill and Pearl Vincent spearheaded a great outreach of the church at the time as the congregation supported Vietnamese refugees including Thong Vang and 6 children. \u00a0Shirley Clemans was hired as preschool director in 1973.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rev. Jim Hadley was appointed senior pastor on July 1, 1983.\u00a0 While his predecessor Dr. Word was at FUMCFV some theological issues developed that resulted in a split in the congregation and a number of the congregation leaving.\u00a0 Rev. Hadley had a great passion to care for the ill and was just what was needed to help heal a congregation.\u00a0 His wife Polly brought great leadership to the Sunday School program.\u00a0 Rev. Hadley was skilled in black and white photography sort of an \u201cAnsel\u201d Hadley. With the loss of membership, the church was in some financial difficulties but the congregation wanted to get a new organ. An organ committee was formed to determine what organ to purchase and to raise funds for the purchase.\u00a0 On November 30, 1986 a new Allen Digital organ was dedicated by Bishop Jack Tuell.\u00a0 The organists at that time were Irene Gregg and Betty Virgo.\u00a0 Another outreach program at that time was supporting a Kenya water project led by Rev. Hadley\u2019s son-in-law, also a United Methodist pastor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rev. John McFarland was appointed senior pastor on July 1, 1988 and remained in that position for 26 years.\u00a0 Early in John\u2019s ministry, a set of handbells was dedicated in memory of Frank Gregg in 1988 and a handbell choir was formed shortly thereafter.\u00a0 Bill Castle was added to the staff and was handbell director for many years.\u00a0 In October, following Pastor John\u2019s appointment an all church planning conference was held.\u00a0 It was at that time the church adopted \u201cA Bible Teaching Church for All Ages\u201d as the vision statement that is still part of the church\u2019s DNA today.\u00a0 Some key staff additions were made in the early part of Pastor John\u2019s tenure.\u00a0 Klea Walin became secretary in October of 1989 and remained secretary for 15 years.\u00a0 Lela Satterfield became Director of Music in 1991, Shelly Peters (nee Scholten) organist in 1992, and Richard Heyduck as Youth Pastor in 1992. When Rev. Richard Heyduck moved on in 1994, Tim Peters was hired to fill the Youth Pastor position. That same year, Pastor John began working on his doctorate and in 1999 received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1992\u00a0Pastor John\u2019s wife Kathleen saw the need for adult & children\u2019s education beyond Sunday morning.\u00a0The church implemented her vision for Academy Classes.\u00a0 Many of these classes were held early Sunday evenings with several classes taught simultaneously.\u00a0 Each class was a small group averaging about 10 people per class.\u00a0 Academy classes were for about 10 weeks and held in the fall and early spring each year.\u00a0 Pastors and laypersons taught a wide variety of subjects.\u00a0 Subjects included finance, Bible 101, Prayer 101, \u201cExperiencing God\u201d, etc.\u00a0 Each class provided their own refreshments.\u00a0 Childcare was provided for children but many times the children were learning their roles and music as part of the many musicals that were produced under the leadership of Lela Satterfield and the assistance of keyboard specialist, Shelly Peters. Lela wrote some of the productions and adapted a number of musicals for FUMCFV use.\u00a0 Some of the productions included:\u00a0 \u2018A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Through the Bible\u201d, \u201cThe Best Christmas Ever\u201d, \u201cSanta\u2019s Last Christmas\u201d, \u201cMerry Christmas Scrooge\u201d, \u201cCountry Mouse Christmas\u201d, \u201cJoseph From the Pit to the Palace\u201d and \u201cPilgrim\u2019s Progress\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The United Methodist Men (UMM) also got a big boost after Pastor John came to Fountain Valley.\u00a0 Willie Smith, a long term Methodist, can be thanked for keeping the UMM active, but a big boost really came when Pastor John pushed to have a men\u2019s weekend mountain retreat for about a dozen men led by Will Wyatt, a good friend of Pastor John and his wife Kathleen.\u00a0 The theme of the retreat was based on Romans 12:1-2NASB that includes \u201c . . . to present your bodies, a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.\u201d<\/em>.\u00a0 Ever since that beginning the UMM have held annual retreats that renew the spirits of the men and dedication of themselves to God\u2019s work. \u00a0The men\u2019s retreats were designed to enhance discipleship and many men\u00a0accepted Christ during the weekend retreats.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 1995, the mortgage was paid in full and a symbolic \u201cmortgage-burning\u201d celebration was held. \u00a0With a good financial condition and growth in the congregation, it was a good time to expand the campus facilities. \u00a0In 1997 additions were made to all four corners of the sanctuary (present sanctuary).\u00a0 These included showers, bathroom upgrades (a crying\/bride room), a prayer closet, and storage room.\u00a0 This was a great help for the S.H.I.P. (Self Help Interfaith Program) outreach since volunteers no longer had to take the guests elsewhere to shower.\u00a0 In 1999 the Welcome Home Ministry, an idea of Debra Davis, began and continues today.\u00a0 About 60-70 Welcome Home guests attend every Saturday to be fed breakfast as well as God\u2019s Word. The guests take advantage of the showers and other service such washing\/drying clothes, free haircuts and free donated clothes.\u00a0 The church continued to grow and there was a need for a new two-story Administration and classroom wing that was added in 1999.\u00a0 The building could have been completed without an elevator, but the building committee at that time felt that it was needed to make the upper story easily accessible for people with disabilities.\u00a0 It was a costly decision but the committee knew it was the right one.\u00a0 The original sanctuary building that contained the office as well became a place for the youth after the office was moved to the new administration\/classroom building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Hispanic Assembly under the leadership of their Pastor Ernesto Ramirez began meeting on campus in 1999.\u00a0 The ministry was embraced by the FUMCV Council of Servant Leaders and by the Administrative Board.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After 24 years as Preschool Director, Shirley Clemans retired in 2003 and Donna McInteer became director.\u00a0 On Easter Sunday that same year, a new service was launched called the “The Connection<\/em>\u201d.\u00a0 It was targeted for people under 30 years old and included music from a praise band. Geoff Wilson who grew up in the church led the Connection<\/em> while completing his Master of Divinity degree at Talbot School of Theology. Pastor Dan Nehrbass was hired as Administrative Pastor in February of 2005.\u00a0 Pastor Dan and his twin brother Ken Nehrbass also grew up at FUMCFV. They came to the church because on their 10th<\/sup> birthday, their parents asked them what they wanted for their birthday and they said they wanted to go to church.\u00a0 After Pastor Geoff left to join the staff of the Calvary Refuge Church in Huntington Beach, Pastor Dan led The Connection service.\u00a0 Some people say the target age of the Connection was revised when Pastor Dan reached 30.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ken Nerhbass married Mendy Stone also a member of the church.\u00a0 Ken became a pastor and Mendy became a nurse and also toured the country playing the cello for an evangelistic praise music group known as the Celebrant Singers.<\/em>\u00a0 Pastor Ken and Mendy were called to the missionary field as part of the Wycliffe Bible Translators organization.\u00a0 They served for a number of years in Vanuatu.\u00a0 While there, Pastor Ken translated the New Testament into the local language and now New Testament Bibles are available to Vanuatu residents.\u00a0 They and their family have since returned to the United States where Pastor Ken is teaching at Biola University.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Julie Green is a missionary for the Wycliffe Bible Translators.\u00a0 Julie is the daughter of Bob and Carol Green who were early members of the church.\u00a0 Julie spent most of her time as a missionary in Thailand.\u00a0 Julie is currently residing in Huntington Beach, but expects to be back in the active mission field soon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 2005 an all church planning day was held to revisit the vision of the church.\u00a0 This was the beginning of the \u201cGoing and Growing Disciple \u2013 Makers\u201d vision for the church. This was aimed at not only learning the Bible, but to go one step further by also raising up Disciples who in turn would make other disciples.\u00a0 Additional emphasis was put on outreach i.e. going and doing something more than just learning about the Bible that was emphasized by \u00a0\u201cA Bible Teaching Church for All Ages\u201d.\u00a0 Dr. Eveline Eng was hired as Director of Music Ministry in December of 2005.\u00a0 Shortly thereafter in 2006, Charlotte Hsieh joined the staff as Keyboard\/Collaborative\/Artist to meet organ, piano and keyboard music. After Eveline left, Charlotte also assumed the duties of choir director.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A gazebo with memorial benches was added in the patio area between the East Chapel, and the sanctuary.\u00a0 A baptismal fount was added to the South patio area between the Multi-Purpose room and the Sanctuary.\u00a0 Many baptisms have been performed there including one time when a man was immersed with his shoes on.\u00a0 The main kitchen located on the north side of the sanctuary building was remodeled with new granite countertops and cabinets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In 2009, Pastor John was appointed Senior Pastor to a two point charge of consisting of FVUMC and First United Methodist Church of Huntington Beach (FUMCHB).\u00a0 [Note:\u00a0 Over the years the name of First United Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FUMCV) was generally shortened to Fountain Valley United Methodist Church (FVUMC) the name the church is currently known by. Dropping of the word First from the name was not important because it is the only UMC in Fountain Valley.] Later, FUMCHB changed their name to Surf City UMC.\u00a0 Also in 2009, the choirs of both churches merged in order to have a larger choir and sing at both churches.\u00a0 Pastor Don Boger who was already employed at FUMCHB was hired as Worship Pastor at FVUMC and served both churches. Later Don Boger\u2019s brother, Pastor Anthony Boger, was added to the FVUMC staff as associate pastor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After 8 years of service Donna McInteer retired as preschool director in 2011.\u00a0 Coleen Kaae was then hired and remains as Preschool Director.\u00a0 The preschool currently has a staff of 7 and an enrollment nearing 60 students.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Near the end of 2013, a Spanish Ministry under the leadership of Pastor Al Ramirez asked FVUMC if they could temporarily meet on our campus.\u00a0 They were welcomed by FVUMC and the temporary relationship blossomed in 2014 and has been a very positive experience.\u00a0 This Spanish Ministry is now called La Cima and continues to be led by Pastor Al.\u00a0 La Cima and FVUMC occasionally have combined worship services but generally Sunday worship services are separate.\u00a0 Children\u2019s Sunday School for FVUMC and La Cima have been successfully combined, resulting in strengthening each other\u2019s worship and ministry.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On July 1, 2014 a new era was begun at FVUMC.\u00a0 God called Pastor Glen Haworth to be the Lead Pastor while Pastor John McFarland who had served as senior pastor FVUMC for 26 years was appointed to Orangethorpe UMC in Fullerton.\u00a0 Simultaneously with the appointments, the two-point charge of FVUMC and Surf City UMC was dissolved.\u00a0 The chancel choir under the leadership of Pastor Don Boger still rehearse together and sing one Sunday at Surf City and one Sunday at FV each month. Early after Pastor Glen was appointed, Pat Stoaks was hired as Administrative Assistant.\u00a0 Recently Ric Seaver has been added to the church staff to lead Family\/Children\u2019s ministry and Ted McFarland was hired to lead Youth Ministry. Pastor Anthony Boger continues to stay in relationship with the church, especially with the Welcome Home ministry, but he was appointed by the UMC Cal-Pac Conference to a \u00be time position as Senior Pastor at Surf City UMC.\u00a0 Under the leadership of Pastor Glen, the Church Council has gone through a re-visioning process including an off campus retreat to listen to God and shape a new vision for FVUMC.\u00a0 Through prayer and discernment, a new vision statement emerged from this process. The church leadership envisioned that we are \u201cA Biblical Family of Joyful Servants, Sharing the Love of God in a Broken World.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of the results of that visioning was the decision to change the name of the church to The Fount. Conjuring images of the \u201cFount of Every Blessing\u201d (i.e. Jesus), the church continues to move forward proclaiming the Gospel and inviting people to come to faith in Jesus the Fount. So while the church maintains its relationship with The United Methodist Church worldwide, it finds its local mission to reach those for whom the church has become a foreign land, a welcoming place where all God\u2019s children find the refreshing, deep living waters of Jesus Christ Himself!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Early in 2016, The Fount hired Jonathan Kupper to be its new Director of Music Ministries and Choir Director. Jonathan has brought back an adult choir ministry and is working to renew and expand music ministries of all kinds. Ted McFarland, and his new wife, Katrina, have moved to Kansas to begin their lives together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The \u201cGospel Swamp\u201d area has been richly blessed indeed by The Fount Church.\u00a0 This church that started 52 years ago has carried the Word to the ends of the earth and impacted many thousands of people by the relationships of all those believers who attended here.\u00a0 One can only imagine what God has in store for the next 50+ years.<\/p>\n

* Bill Drozda and his mother Esther composed a song titled \u201cThe Little Tan Church on Bushard\u201d for one of the early skits at the church.\u00a0 The lyrics for the song shown below were sung to the tune of \u201cThe Church in the Wildwood\u201d written by Dr. William S. Pitts in 1857.<\/p>\n

The Little Tan Church on Bushard<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Verse 1<\/u>:<\/p>\n

The church in Fountain Valley that is Methodist,<\/p>\n

a greater bunch of people can\u2019t be found.<\/p>\n

We come and get together to worship<\/p>\n

and a good, good spirit is around.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n

Verse 2<\/u>:<\/p>\n

We have old-timers here in Fountain Valley<\/p>\n

and of course we have new-timers too.<\/p>\n

Today we celebrate our fellowship<\/p>\n

as we gather together me and you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chorus<\/u>:<\/p>\n

Oh come, come, come, come,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Final Note:<\/u>\u00a0 This history document is meant to be a living document.\u00a0 Please submit any suggested changes, anecdotes and additions to the author or to The Fount church office for incorporation into the next edition.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

come to the church in the valley.<\/p>\n

Oh come to the church on Bushard,<\/p>\n

We all work together for God\u2019s purpose<\/p>\n

and it\u2019s better than working in the yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

History of The Fount Church Formerly known as Fountain Valley United Methodist Church (FVUMC), formerly known as the First United Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FUMCFV), or the First Methodist Church of Fountain Valley (FMCFV) or the \u201cLittle Tan Church on Bushard\u201d(LTCB)*   By Dennis Olson, Charter Member     The city of Fountain Valley […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6976","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6976"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6977,"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6976\/revisions\/6977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefount.church\/church\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}