About

Fairway Christian Church was birthed from a shared vision among the ministers of four Lake County congregations in the summer of 1998. United by a common mission, they invited Bill Twaddell to shepherd this new venture as its founding minister.

In December 1998, weekly gatherings began, and by February 1999, the Lord guided this group of faith-filled pioneers to acquire an 8.5-acre tract of land from The Villages. On Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999, the first worship service was held at the La Hacienda Center, with 157 believers in attendance. As the congregation flourished, services transitioned to the Savannah Center in October 2001. Just over a year later, on December 1, 2002, Fairway celebrated the joyous occasion of moving into its first dedicated church building.

From its inception, Fairway experienced remarkable growth. As new members were welcomed, worship attendance surged from 277 in 2005 to 519 in 2010. On April 1, 2010, after years of faithful service, Bill Twaddell retired, entrusting the ministry to his successor, Preaching Minister Mark Fessler.

By 2012, Fairway’s influence had expanded significantly, with worship attendance averaging 741 across five services. In February 2013, the congregation moved into its current worship center, where a record 1,363 worshippers gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday. The following year, 2014, saw the transformation of the original building into a vibrant Fellowship Hall, complete with a modern kitchen and additional classrooms.

In October 2020, Fairway welcomed Butch Gastfield as its third preaching minister. Under his leadership, the church continued to thrive, expanding its ministry and administrative teams to support the ever-growing congregation.

By 2022, the vision for Fairway’s future took shape with plans to expand the existing campus and establish a new church south of the Florida Turnpike. In February 2023, the FORWARD initiative was launched, challenging the congregation to step boldly into their mission. The call to GO into the community—both locally and globally—was clear, with a focus on reaching more lives than ever before. The church was urged to SOW the seeds of the Gospel, praying for God to bring growth as they planted in fertile hearts. Furthermore, the congregation was inspired to GROW disciples who would become world-changers, fully devoted followers of Jesus committed to making more disciples.

The FORWARD expansion project will include a spacious new gathering area, a versatile chapel, additional classrooms, cutting-edge technology enhancements, and expanded administrative offices. On Sunday, April 7, 2024, the church celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of a 15-month journey of construction and growth.

As Fairway Christian Church continues to build upon its rich history, the congregation remains steadfast in its commitment to God’s mission. The FORWARD initiative is more than just a physical expansion; it’s a spiritual one, as well. With eyes fixed on the future, Fairway is poised to be a beacon of hope and a source of transformation in the community for generations to come. Together, empowered by faith and driven by love, the church is ready to step boldly into the next chapter of its journey, trusting that the best is yet to come.