Fairfield Christian Church sells northern campus

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP – A Lancaster church with two campuses is no more. Fairfield Christian Church has sold its northern campus on Ohio 204 to another church.

“We’ve been in Baltimore for a number of years, more than 10, and we’ve supported each other,” said Fairfield Christian Church executive pastor Ken Mulpas. “They’ve just grown to a point where they can strike out on their own.”

The new church, which traces its lineage back to the Midway Christian Church, now is called The Grove Community Christian Church. Its senior pastor is Derek Lauer. Lauer was brought in to grow the church and to make it independent a little more than a year ago.

“Our goal is to continue to grow and make a difference in our community here in Baltimore, Pickerington and beyond,” Lauer said. “It’s been a long, arduous process getting all the legal and financial arrangements worked out.”

According to the Fairfield County Auditor’s office, the sale from Fairfield Christian Church to Midway Christian Church Inc., was for $2.01 million.

Lauer noted the original Midway Church was formed in 1974 and at its most populous had around 180 to 190 members, but by around 2000 church membership had fallen to 40 or 50 members and it needed help.

“Fairfield Christian Church stepped in and helped out,” Lauer said.

Fairfield Christian Church provided leadership and staffing along with money, including constructing a building.

The site at 3420 Blacklick Eastern Road, Baltimore, became known as the North Campus of Fairfield Christian Church, which is based at 1965 N. Columbus St., Lancaster.

“It’s very difficult to run multi-site churches,” said Mulpas. “This will be better for both churches.”

Lauer said within the last couple of years the goal was to make the northern campus an independent church again.

“Right now we have between 250 and 300 members meeting at the northern campus and we can be on our own,” Lauer said.

Mulpas said the division was a good thing for both churches and the communities they serve.

Fairfield Christian Church, whose average attendance is between 800 and 850, is taking the money from the sale to use for debt reduction, Mulpas said.

cburnett@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @CarlBurnettJr