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About Friend Church
A Place for Friends (story of Friend Church)
Nearly ten years ago, Friend Church began with a small group of about 12 people known as Lakewood Church of Irmo. Our founding pastor, Greg Dowey , has served as Senior Pastor from the very beginning and continues in this role today. We met in a local high school (Dutch Fork) in  the late 1990's, moved to an elementary school in 2002 (River Springs) and are currently meeting in an approximately 18,000 square foot warehouse that has undergone a cutting edge renovation on the inside. In mid 2006, Pastor Greg led Lakewood Church to re-launch as Friend Church . Our vision was to appeal to more people moving into the community and to renew our commitment to knowing God by reaching upward, inward, and outward. Some renovations have been done to the current meeting site and we have added a Student Center that ministers to teenagers every day of the week in an atmosphere that is unrivaled in the entire state. The appeal of Friend Church is that we are striving to be creative and innovative in the presentation of the Message while continuously seeking to show people how to be true friends with each other and true friends of God!
Find a Friend (a community of caring friends)
Friend Church is where long lasting, meaningful relationships begin. As the capital city of South Carolina continues its' rapid growth, we see more and more people move into our community. We seek to connect folks to God and to help them connect with authentic friends that care for them. Our strategy is to involve people in our Home Groups. These are small groups that usually meet in homes for Bible Study, Prayer time, and they often just share in fellowship time and growing their friendship. We also believe that every person at Friend Church should be involved in a ministry serving God that matches their God given gifts, talents, and personality.  We love to connect people to Sunday morning ministry and in ministry throughout the week. We have active Children's Ministry and Student Ministry. Our Men's Ministry and Women's Ministry (Starfish) are involved in a myriad of different activities as well as in mission activities on their own. Our missions team reaches out locally and globally supporting mission agencies and missionaries. There is a place for every one yet you do not have to fit a certain mold that has been preset!
Be a Friend ( how to belong to FC)
Our dress is casual, our approach to ministry is creative, and we take membership seriously. WE want to be a church where folks know that they belong. Once a month, usually over coffee and dessert, Greg and the church staff get together on a Monday evening presenting the vision and purpose of Friend Church and also talking about our leadership model and our philosophy of ministry. After that meeting, you can join with us at Friend Church and become a member. The different ministries will be discussed and how you can be involved. At Friend Church , from the top to the bottom, we want you to be yourself-but to be your best self with God-and have friends to help you along the way!
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