Fairhaven Church, with campuses across the Dayton, Ohio region and a global missions footprint, has built its identity around a single phrase: helping people find hope. Four physical locations (Beavercreek, Centerville, Northmont, and Springboro) plus an online campus make up what the church calls "one church, many locations." The multisite strategy is intentional. Pastors describe Fairhaven as a community church, not a commuter church, so that wherever you are in the southern Dayton suburbs, you can attend, serve, and reach out right where you live. Every Sunday those congregations gather around the same mission: leading people to take their next right step toward Jesus.
The Six Essentials
At the center of the mission are six practices the church calls its essentials. They shape every ministry, from Sunday services to short-term mission trips. The first is to seek God daily through everyday spiritual practices. The second is to build deep relationships, developing Christ-centered community for growth and support. The third is to live generously, giving resources joyfully and sacrificially. The fourth is to serve others, using time and talents to display God's love. The fifth is to make God known, sharing who He is and what He has done. The sixth is to worship God, living a lifestyle of growing affection for Him. These are not programs but rhythms, and they appear in the structure of every ministry at Fairhaven.
What Fairhaven Believes
Fairhaven belongs to the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an international family of Christ-followers from many walks of life who are passionate about reaching their neighborhoods and world with the hope of Jesus. The church affirms a statement of faith that runs from Genesis to Revelation. There is one God, infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is both true God and true man, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died upon the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified by His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures and will come again to establish His kingdom.
The Holy Spirit indwells, guides, teaches, and empowers believers. The Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by God and are the inerrant, complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. Human beings are made in the image of God, created for fellowship with Him but separated by sin. Salvation comes through the atoning work of Jesus Christ: those who repent and believe are born again, receive eternal life, and become children of God. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change, and at Fairhaven, baptism follows the New Testament example of full immersion. The local church exists for the worship of God, prayer, fellowship, and the proclamation of the Gospel, and the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent, personal, visible, and premillennial.
Sunday at Fairhaven
Services on Sundays run about an hour and feature live, high-energy worship music followed by a Bible-based message from one of the pastors. There is no dress code; people come in shorts and t-shirts, in jeans, and in suits. The Centerville campus offers two worship styles each Sunday, with modern services at 9:00, 10:30, and 12:00, and classic services at 9:00 and 10:30. The Springboro campus meets at 9:00 and 10:30 AM. The Beavercreek and Northmont campuses each have one Sunday gathering at 10:30 AM. The Online campus livestreams the Centerville services at 9:00, 10:30, and 12:00, where viewers can chat with other attendees, take sermon notes, and request live prayer during the broadcast.
First-time visitors can pre-register their family online, look for "New Here" reserved parking in convenient spots, and stop by a "New Here" kiosk when they arrive to check in, ask questions, and pick up a small gift. The Beavercreek campus currently meets at Beavercreek High School on Dayton Xenia Rd., a temporary arrangement that reflects the church's continuing expansion in that part of the region. The Centerville campus at 637 E. Whipp Rd. is the main hub, and the Northmont campus at 5001 W. National Rd. in Clayton and the Springboro campus at 875 W. Central Ave. round out the four physical locations.
The Pastors Who Lead Fairhaven
Dr. David Smith serves as lead pastor. He is supported by an executive team that includes Ryan Adams (Director of Operations), Paul Clark (Senior Associate Pastor, who also serves as Northmont Campus Pastor), Christin Adams (Family Ministry Director), Joshua Dufford (Communications Director), Justen Hyland (Springboro Campus Pastor), Kelly Carraher (Adult Ministry Pastor), Levi Smith (Beavercreek Campus Pastor), Rob Schumann (Lead Worship Pastor), and Sharon VanVlymen (Outreach Pastor). Together they oversee staff and ministries across all campuses.
Each campus also has a small team dedicated to its own context. The Centerville campus staff includes Kids Pastor Todd Weir, Students Pastor Caleb Cottrell, Pastoral Care Pastor Dave Ringhiser, Guest Services Director Katy Bingaman, Early Childhood Director Becca Hnatiuk, and Adult Ministry Pastor Kelly Carraher. Beavercreek is led by Worship Pastor Jaden Martin and Kids Pastor Johnny McGuire. Springboro's team includes Students Pastor Nathan Mitchell, Kids Director Lauren Robison, and Campus Operations Specialist Megan Staley. Northmont's team includes Worship Director Elijah Engle and Kids Director Haley Engle. A larger staff handles Communications, Executive Team, Facilities, Finance, Information Services, and Team Development in support of all campuses. The church was certified as a "Best Christian Workplace" in 2021.
Kids Ministry at Every Campus
Nursery, preschool, and elementary programs are offered during every Sunday service at every campus. The focus is on reaching kids and empowering families, with the goal of helping each child develop a growing relationship with the God who loves them. Parents can drop off infants through elementary students in the nursery and kids wings, and the same weekly curriculum is taught at each campus so families experience the same content regardless of location.
A current sermon series for kids walks through the Old Testament story of God's people returning from exile. Each week connects to a Big Idea, a Key Verse from Lamentations 3:22-23 ("The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning."), and a family reading plan from Ezra and Nehemiah. Parents who want to continue the conversation at home can listen to the church's "Parent Talks" podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, or sign up for a free RightNow Media account, which gives access to thousands of Bible-teaching videos for children.
Baptism classes are held for kids who want to follow Jesus, and Child Dedication services are offered twice a year at each campus for parents who want to publicly commit to raising their child to know Christ. Child Dedication is not the same as infant baptism. Family devotionals (such as The Ology, Wonderfull: Ancient Psalms Ever New, and The New City Catechism for Kids) and recommended books (such as the Case for Christ for Kids series) round out the support offered to families.
Student Ministry
Middle school and high school students (grades 6-12) gather through a mix of weekly meetings and special events at each campus. At Beavercreek, students meet at the campus office (3255 Seajay Dr.) on Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:00 PM for Student Sundays, with the first Sunday of each month being a special PLUS Night with a theme, extra food, and activities. At Centerville and Springboro, the structure is similar, with High School Sundays meeting Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:00 and Middle School Wednesdays meeting Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 at both campuses. A typical night includes dinner and hangout time at 6:00 PM, live worship and a Bible-based message around 6:30, small groups, and a large group game, ending at 8:00 PM.
Students also follow a parallel sermon series to the adults. The current series, "God in the Restoration," walks through the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah, and Esther over seven weeks, with a Reading Guide and Parent Guide available online. Highlights of the student ministry calendar include a high school fall retreat, a spring break mission trip, and a regular rotation of outreach and service projects. Students alternate between international trips (such as Ecuador) and partnership trips within the United States. Each campus has its own Instagram account to keep students and parents connected throughout the week.
Adult Discipleship Through Small Groups
Small groups are the backbone of adult life at Fairhaven. Groups of 8 to 12 people meet in homes during the week to discuss the sermon, share prayer requests, and build friendships. Anyone can host a group, and the church provides discussion questions and support. Each fall, a new sermon series sparks a wave of new groups forming across all campuses. On-campus short-term groups are also offered during sermon series, and an online group meets via Zoom. The H-O-S-T acronym captures what it takes: Have a heart for people, Open a space for the group to meet, Serve a snack, and Talk about the sermon.
Groups exist for men and for women, alongside coed groups. The Conquer Series is a men's study that uses video lessons and group discussion to address sexual purity; it includes a journal and workbooks and meets several times a year at various times and locations. Women of Hope offers confidential support and resources for women whose husbands have struggled with pornography or sexual addiction. The church also offers SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) pre-marital assessments for engaged couples, marriage enrichment resources for married couples, and a Family Life ministry for parents at every life stage. A free RightNow Media subscription is available to anyone in the church, giving access to a large library of biblical teaching videos for adults.
Care, Counseling, and Recovery
Pastoral care is a major emphasis. The Pastoral Care Team includes Pastors Dave Ringhiser, Jett Hone, and Dr. Jim Futrell, along with specialists like Renda Alexander, Annie Coleman, and Megan DelGrosso. They coordinate hospital visits, home communion (provided three times a year to those who can't leave home), and benevolence assistance for church members facing unexpected financial hardship. Memorial services for deceased members and their families are also arranged through the team at no cost.
Stephen Ministers are laypeople trained for fifty hours in one-on-one Christian care. They meet weekly with care receivers facing crisis, loss, or difficulty, providing confidential, Christ-centered support at no cost. Applications to become a Stephen Minister are accepted each summer, with training held Thursdays from 9:00-11:30 AM at the Centerville campus. Eldercare volunteers visit residents of local care facilities and lead worship services there.
For those struggling with specific hurts, habits, or hang-ups, Fairhaven hosts several ongoing groups at the Centerville campus. Celebrate Recovery meets Monday evenings (6:30 PM doors open, 7:00 PM program) and is open to anyone 18 and older, following the eight principles based on the Beatitudes and the Christ-centered 12 steps, with childcare available. DivorceCare meets Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 PM, a 13-week video-based support group for those who have gone through separation or divorce, with childcare for ages 6 weeks through kindergarten available by advance registration. GriefShare meets Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 PM, a weekly support group for those who have lost a spouse, child, family member, or friend. A Service of Healing Prayer is held monthly in Schwalm Chapel at the Centerville campus, including quiet contemplation, Scripture readings, prayers for healing, and an opportunity to be anointed with oil by elders and prayer team members. A monthly blood drive is also hosted at the Centerville campus gym in partnership with the Community Blood Center.
For professional counseling, the church refers to New Creation Counseling Center, whose licensed counselors share a Christian faith and apply biblical principles to their work.
Local Outreach in the Dayton Region
Local outreach ministries are organized around an ACTS framework: Awareness, Compassion, Transformation, and Support. Through CarePortal, a digital platform connecting churches with child-serving agencies, the church has contributed more than $90,000 over the previous twelve months in monetary and in-kind donations, helping more than 200 children stay with their families and out of the foster care system. CarePortal needs focus on beds and bedding and rent and utility payments.
The church also partners with a wide network of local ministries. Backpack Food for Friends partners with Community Table, Northmont City Schools, and other community businesses to relieve food insecurity for Northmont-area families. Feed the Creek provides weekend food bags and holiday meal boxes for Beavercreek families. Feeding Friends Food Pantry is a partnership with other local churches running a food pantry in Kettering at 5737 Bigger Rd. Hannah's Treasure Chest provides clothing, books, safety equipment, and hygiene items (including diapers) for children. Planting Seeds delivers home furnishings to under-served families. Shoes 4 the Shoeless provides new, correctly fitting gym shoes and socks to Dayton-area children in need. Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds beds for kids in need, with Fairhaven participating in Build Days with the Lebanon chapter. Springboro Community Assistance Center is a nonprofit assisting families in the Springboro area with food and other services. Victory Project is a faith-based after-school mentoring program for young men.
Thrive Together is a faith-based community that walks alongside individuals moving from surviving to thriving through mentoring, life skills, and a supportive network. Outreach specialists and campus pastors coordinate local serving across each campus, and there are opportunities for mentoring, hospitality, and short-term projects throughout the year.
Global Outreach Around the World
Global outreach is a long-standing part of Fairhaven's identity. The church sends short-term teams annually to several locations, often in partnership with C&MA International Workers on the ground.
- Manchester, England is a hub for university students, new immigrants, and industry. The team partners with Envision Manchester through café ministries, TESOL, and church partnerships. Future trip: September 27-October 4, 2026; cost around $2,700.
- Eastern Kentucky teams partner with the Christian Appalachian Project each fall for home repairs, building handicap ramps, painting, and cleaning in under-resourced communities. The trip is open to ages 16 and up, with no language barriers or international travel required.
- Senegal teams partner with Envision Senegal to support Keur Nepp, which is constructing a home for vulnerable boys. Opportunities include construction, soccer outreach, and medical support.
- Quito, Ecuador is a long-standing partnership begun in 2003 with Cumbaya Church. Teams provide medical care to under-served children, teens, and adults, seeing nearly 2,000 patients per trip. The trip is especially suited for doctors, dentists, and nurses.
- San Lucas, Guatemala is a 25-year partnership with Pleasantville Church and Galilea Church. The annual construction team has helped build nine churches, a pastor's home, and two Christian schools that serve 300 children. Individual or family trips can be arranged outside the annual construction trip.
- Dominican Republic teams partner with Envision DR for work projects and children's ministries in Santo Domingo.
- West Africa teams partner with C&MA International Workers to lead business seminars throughout the region. Over thirteen years, the church has sent fifty business teams to seven cities in six countries, teaching finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic leadership principles paired with spiritual principles.
- Gabon teams partner with Bongolo Hospital to provide physical and spiritual care and to train African doctors to become surgeons. Medical specialists (often one or two surgeons) travel multiple times a year.
- Southeast Asia partners with C&MA International Workers, beginning in 2009, to provide English resources for seekers. Volunteers can help from home through the "English Corner," a Zoom program with weekly sessions.
Students alternate between international trips and partnership trips within the United States. Anyone interested can contact the church through a missions interest form.
First Step, Membership, Baptism, Child Dedication
First Step is the entry point for anyone new to Fairhaven or wanting to learn more about who the church is and what it believes. The two-hour small-group experience covers the church's mission, values, the C&MA denomination, and serving opportunities, and is offered at each campus several times a year. Covenant membership is open to any Christ-follower who regularly attends Fairhaven. The process includes First Step and then a meeting with an elder to share your spiritual journey. Members affirm the church's beliefs and commit to its mission.
Baptism is offered the second Sunday of each month, January through November, during Sunday morning worship services at each campus. Online registration is requested in advance. The church practices baptism by full immersion as an outward symbol of an inward change. Reasons people get baptized include wanting to take the next step after trusting Christ, making a public declaration of faith, returning after a season of straying, moving from infant to believer's baptism, or growing to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.
Child Dedication services are offered twice per year at each campus. Parents publicly commit to raising their child to know Christ and to provide an environment in which that can happen. Extended family, friends, and community group members are invited to take part in supporting the dedication. Child Dedication is not the same as infant baptism.
Giving and Serving
Generosity is one of the six essentials. Online giving is available, with options to give online, by text (text "give" plus the amount to 32000), by mail (sent to your campus address), in person (using the giving box as you leave the service), through stock gifts, or through crypto. Planned giving is also offered for those wanting to give strategically or reduce taxes. The previous year, the church reported more than 500 decisions for Christ, seventy-two staff members serving worldwide, and 222 children served through CarePortal.
Serving is central to the church's life. A wide range of teams are available across all campuses: Kids, Students, Special Needs, Worship, Guest Services, Production, Group Life, Facilities, Local Outreach, Global Outreach, and Eldercare. Each team has an online sign-up and a coordinator. The Centerville campus has a Common Ground Café open Sunday 8:00 AM-1:30 PM and Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-3:00 PM (closed Friday and Saturday), serving smoothies, lattes, and fresh brewed coffee. The campus also has an indoor children's play area (ages 0-6) open to the public Monday-Thursday 12:00-3:00 PM with online reservations required, and weddings can be hosted at the campus by contacting the events team.
A free Fairhaven app keeps everyone in touch with sermons, events, giving, and sign-ups. There is also a small online shop with church-branded merchandise.
Sixty Years of Mission
For sixty years, Fairhaven Church has served the Dayton area. The current lead pastor, Dr. David Smith, continues that legacy alongside a large staff and volunteer team. The church is governed by a board of covenant members who provide oversight, accountability, and counsel in strategic planning, financial management, personnel, and legal matters. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time, looking for a church home in the Dayton suburbs, or wanting to send a team across the world, Fairhaven Church keeps the same invitation: take your next right step and find hope in Jesus.