Faith Presbyterian Church stands at the southeast corner of Airport Road and Whitesburg Drive in southeast Huntsville, Alabama, and has gathered there since 1958. The congregation is known for a Sunday worship gathering at 10:00 a.m. that pairs traditional hymns and choral music with contemporary songs, for a music program built on a sanctuary choir, a praise team and a handbell choir, and for a long habit of putting faith into action through feeding ministries, care partnerships and mission work that reaches far beyond the city.
From Cambron's Nightclub Bar to a Church on Ten Acres
In the spring of 1958, a small group of Presbyterians from First Presbyterian Church shared a vision for a new Presbyterian church in southeast Huntsville. Under the leadership of Mr. Bruce Whitfield, they began meeting in the homes of prospective members. Soon the founding members reached an agreement with the owner of Cambron's Night Club on Whitesburg Drive: the fledgling congregation would hold Sunday worship in the club's "bar," and in return its members would clean the club early on Sunday morning and make the space ready for worship.
With a faithful crew of dedicated members, worship and Sunday School classes were held each Sunday morning, and it was not long before the church agreed to purchase the building along with the 10-acre tract of land around it. On October 28, 1958, those 28 founding members were officially chartered as a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
One of the neighborhood's most dramatic moments touched the property directly. On November 15, 1989, a devastating F4 tornado made its way east along Airport Road and destroyed a Huntsville Utilities substation that stood at the northwest corner of the church's land, near where the public Tornado Memorial now stands. Faith's Fellowship Hall was rebuilt where the previous one had been destroyed.
Faith remains a member congregation of the North Alabama Presbytery. The church describes itself as a community of imperfect people called by God to share and bear witness to the love and grace God has provided in and through Jesus Christ, and it aims to put faith into action through tangible acts of love and service while gathering regularly for worship, prayer and study. The welcome is broad: everyone who desires to be in relationship with Jesus Christ, wherever they are on that quest, is invited.
Sunday Worship at Ten in the Sanctuary
Faith gathers for worship each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at 5003 Whitesburg Drive, and worship is livestreamed for those who cannot be in the room. The service seeks to engage the mind, heart and spirit through Scripture, prayer, music and thoughtful reflection. Rooted in the Reformed tradition and open to God's ongoing work in the world, the church aims for worship that is meaningful, welcoming and authentic.
Children are always welcome in worship, and a nursery is available for children under five, cared for by a nursery coordinator and a group of volunteers. Faith says lifelong Presbyterians, people who are new to faith and those simply exploring spiritual questions all have a place there. Visitors who want to follow up after a service can note their interest in worship, membership, volunteering, Bible study or the preschool through the church's worship contact form, and someone from the church will reach out.
Services are livestreamed through Faith's Facebook account and on Vimeo, and recordings of recent services are available through the church's recorded services, including a YouTube video archive of services from 2017 through 2021.
Hymns, Choral Music and Five Octaves of Bells
Music is central to life at Faith, and the church puts it plainly: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord!" A Sanctuary Choir and a Praise Team are integral to Sunday worship, and the only stated requirement for joining is a love of music and a desire to make a joyful noise. The Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, while the Praise Team, which leads the more contemporary music, rehearses periodically.
The Handbell Choir rings throughout the year at both services with a five-octave set of bells that leaves room for many ringers. Reading music is a plus, but beginning ringers are welcome. Volunteer Handbell Director Sally Priester, a member of the congregation who also sings as a vocalist and belongs to the Huntsville Chorale and Theater, directs the bells. Several instrumental musicians contribute to worship as well, and Music Director Stephen Sivley invites players who would like to share their gifts.
Sivley grew up accompanying choirs, becoming an organist and children's choir accompanist at 14, and studied church music at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He works as staff pianist and choral teaching assistant at Austin High School in Decatur, collaborates with singers, choirs and arts organizations around the area, served as collaborative pianist for Huntsville Summer Choir from 2017 to 2019, played piano for Opera Huntsville's production of Mozart's Così Fan Tutte in 2020, and was organist and middle school choir director at Asbury UMC from 2019 to 2021.
Children Learning and Leading in an Intergenerational Church
Faith calls itself an intergenerational church and values the interaction between its children and its older adults. The children who worship there are treated as full members of the congregation, and they take part in everything from Sunday worship to mission projects to helping lead worship itself.
Infants and preschoolers are invited to attend worship with their families or to visit the nursery during worship times. A special preschool class meets during the Sunday School hour, from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m., and uses the "God Loves Me" series of storybooks, which tell the story of the Bible with simple illustrations, words and follow-up activities. Elementary children are invited to worship with their families, and older elementary students are often asked to read scripture, take up the offering and take part in special drama presentations. During that same Sunday School time, elementary children engage with God's Story through rotation-style learning, visiting one of several rooms each week for art, drama, storytelling and more.
Children are also encouraged to put their faith into action with their families and their own age group through mission projects such as packing food boxes, creating health kits and assembling summer fun buckets.
Weekday Preschool and a Place for PALS
Faith Presbyterian Preschool was founded in 1988 and has built a legacy of dedicated teachers who walk alongside children with love and care. Classes begin with children 6 months to 4 years of age, and the halls are alive with children from August through May, Monday through Friday. The preschool shares the church's campus and is led by Director Cheryl Adams, and Faith provides scholarships for children in that age range as one of its family mission partnerships.
The church also opens its building to PALS, the Positive Adult Learning Support program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. PALS meets Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in rooms 202 and 204, with specialized activities that help students develop self-help and vocation skills, continue their scholastic learning, explore art and music, build physical fitness through recreation, and receive social support in a Bible-based learning environment. The program is led by Kay Crook, and scholarship support is welcome. Details are available at PALS Ministry.
Bible Study on Sunday Mornings and Through the Week
Adults have a full set of study and fellowship options. On Sunday mornings, Faith is blessed with three classes: Faith Followers, a video-based Bible study on the main level, and Seekers 2.0, which meets in the parlor for a variety of discussions and topics related to the Bible. During the week, weekly and monthly adult Bible study small groups meet, including a Thursday morning men's Bible study at 11:00 a.m. in the church parlor, marked by lively discussion and joint leadership as it works through the Bible, and a Thursday morning women's Bible study at 9:30 a.m. in room 109, with fellowship, reflections on the Bible, various books and prayer.
Youth in Worship, in Small Groups and on Mission
Youth are described as a treasure at Faith, included in all aspects of community by loving adults who value their energy and encourage them along their daily walk of faith. Building on the biblical foundations they have been taught, they are encouraged to put their faith into action through words and actions as disciples of Christ. Opportunities for growth include being welcomed in worship as both participants and leaders, joining small group Bible study during the Sunday School time, gathering for fellowship, and serving as the hands of Christ through mission projects. Faith's support for summer camps at Camp Maranatha in Scottsboro and for year-round conferences in Montreat extends that formation beyond the church walls.
Putting Faith Into Action: Food, Families and Health
Faith partners with local, regional and global agencies to share the love of Christ in tangible ways for healing, restoration and rebuilding of lives. The mission partnerships fall into clear groups.
Feeding ministries
- The Elderly Mission Project provides monthly food boxes for senior adult households living with food insecurity.
- First Stop encounters people who are homeless where they are, connects them to critical services and support, and empowers them toward independent, sustainable living.
- The Food Bank of North Alabama collects and distributes food to the community.
- Heifer International supports providing livestock to families in need.
- A Little Free Pantry in Faith's parking lot holds and distributes staple food items for those in need.
- Operation Hungry partners with area churches and the No. AL Coalition for the Homeless to provide a summer picnic and a Christmas banquet for people who are homeless.
- Society of St. Andrew hosts crop drops and makes produce bags from gleaned produce.
Family ministries
- Camp Maranatha in Scottsboro, supporting summer camps and year-round conferences.
- Faith Presbyterian Preschool, providing scholarships for children 6 months to 4 years.
- Huntsville Assn for Pastoral Care, supporting hospital chaplains and grief groups.
- Interfaith Mission Service, strengthening congregations' ability to meet human needs and promote religious, racial and cultural harmony.
- PALS, the Positive Adult Learning Support program for young adults with learning disabilities.
- Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega, caring for children and families.
- Second Mile Development, providing a "hand up" to those living in low-income housing.
- The Vine Counseling Center, providing scholarships for individuals and families in need of counseling.
Health and wellness ministries
- Enable builds ramps for homebound seniors and hosts a Christmas Angel Tree.
- Huntsville Assistance Program & Clearing House provides utilities and rent support.
- Living Waters for the World installs clean drinking water treatment systems around the world.
- Medical Benevolence Foundation supports medical missions around the world.
- Faith provides lodging and mission opportunities for youth and adult mission teams as a hosting site.
Through an annual Easter offering, Faith also supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which provides care and supplies during natural disasters and crises, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People, which provides grants to small businesses and entrepreneurs working to end cycles of poverty. The church's patron relationship with Montreat supports year-round conferences in Montreat, North Carolina, and its connection to the North Alabama Presbytery supports work with the 24 churches of North Alabama.
Matthew 25: Congregational Vitality, Poverty and Racism
Faith is among the first 100 congregations to join the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Matthew 25 initiative, and it is actively working to promote the initiative's three emphases: building congregational vitality, eradicating systemic poverty and dismantling structural racism. More detail is available at Matthew 25 Congregation.
The Ministry Team and the Session
Senior Pastor Dr. Michael Bowe is Faith's fifth pastor, and his ministry is rooted in the belief that God's love can transform any life because it transformed his own. His messages are grace-filled and hope-driven, and he preaches in a conversational, down-to-earth style. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Bible from Amridge University in Montgomery, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from Liberty University in Lynchburg, and a Doctor of Ministry from Memphis Theological Seminary. He is the author of "Getting Out: A Restorative Approach to Prison Ministry" and "Holy Disruptions: An Advent Devotional for a Restless Church," and he has pastored churches in Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Dr. Beth Cape, Director of Evangelism, works with the church's Mission and Discipleship Committees to plan and develop programs for discipleship and mission involvement, shaping both its discipleship work and its evangelism and outreach efforts. She holds a Masters and a Doctorate of Education Ministries from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and her background includes public school teaching, directing preschools and children's ministries, youth ministry and missionary service in Japan. She is also an artist whose illustrations appear in two books, "Words for a Woman's Heart."
Clara Reed Lee serves as Director of Christian Education, Cheryl Adams as Preschool Director, Sally Priester as Volunteer Handbell Director and Kay Crook directs the PALS program. The church is also served by elected elders and deacons who serve in three-year classes, along with a set of trustees.
Finding Your Way to Whitesburg Drive
Faith Presbyterian Church is at 5003 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, Alabama 35802, on the southeast corner of Airport Road and Whitesburg Drive. The church office can be reached at (256) 881-4811 or fpc@presby.org, and online giving is available through the church's donate option. Sunday worship is at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary, the nursery is open for children under five, and Sunday School classes for children and adults run from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. From the Food Bank of North Alabama to a pantry box in its own parking lot, Faith's mission partners show how a congregation chartered in 1958 has kept its focus on mission and service for more than six decades.