Faith Chapel Christian Center
Encyclopedia
Faith Chapel Christian Center (FCCC) is a non-denominational, Christian
, megachurch
located in Ensley, Alabama
. The congregation, though largely African American
, also consists of a variety of individuals from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The church has two campuses: their dome campus in which the main services are held, and their older campus in which youth services are held and various administrative offices and resources are located. FCCC is one of the largest churches in Birmingham..
is the Faith Chapel pastor. As the executive Director, Dr. Moore heads up a committee of various FCCC Administrators. This team consists of full time employees that manage different departments and ministries within FCCC.
. The church began with four people: Dr. Moore, his wife, his mother, and a friend. The church grew and in six months moved out to Stallworth Funeral home in June 1981. After another year, the church moved to the YWCA
in downtown Birmingham.
On February 1, 1982, FCCC sealed the bids for the sale of a 3.4 acres (13,759.3 m²), 7645 square feet (710.2 m²) McDonald Chapel School and were given the right to purchase the property. On July 10, 1983, with less than 30 people, they purchased the land. Between 1990 and 1995, several staff members were hired full time. The Student Ministry, formerly Lively Stones Teen Church, was also established in 1990. In 1993, the Helps Ministry and the Evangelism Ministry were formed. In the same year, the main sanctuary was renovated, the children’s facility was completed, and the parking lot was paved. The first television broadcast aired in 1994, and in 1996 FCCC paid off $495,000 in about eight months to become debt free.
free, that is, without making use of debt financing
.
The building is a concrete, monolithic dome
. At 72 feet (21.9 m) tall, and 280 feet (85.3 m) in diameter it is the largest diameter monolithic dome designed by the Monolithic Dome Institute. Its large size makes possible a floor area of 74500 square feet (6,921.3 m²) in two levels. Designed by Lathan Associates Architects, P.C., it was constructed by Gary C. Wyatt General Contractor, LLC., out of Birmingham.
The mission of this center is to provide a safe place for youth
and adults to socialize. This $16.5 million project
is a six dome addition to FCCC's already vast property. The Groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 12, 2005. Of the six interconnected domes, two will measure 160 feet (48.8 m) in diameter and four will measure 140 feet (42.7 m) in diameter. The domes will house many amenities, including a 12 lane bowling alley, A teen dance club, a Christian adult smoke
-free and alcohol
-free nightclub
with Christian entertainers, an Indoor playground
for children, A fitness center complete with strength training
equipment, indoor track, and basketball courts, a Banquet
Facility, and a Lobby area with a centrally located climbing wall.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
located in Ensley, Alabama
Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama
Ensley is a large city neighborhood in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It was once a separate and thriving industrial city. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area.-History:...
. The congregation, though largely African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, also consists of a variety of individuals from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. The church has two campuses: their dome campus in which the main services are held, and their older campus in which youth services are held and various administrative offices and resources are located. FCCC is one of the largest churches in Birmingham..
Leadership
Dr. Michael D. MooreMichael D. Moore (evangelist)
Michael D. Moore is the Senior Pastor and Founder of the 6400-member megachurch, Faith Chapel Christian Center and Mike Moore Ministries in Birmingham, Alabama...
is the Faith Chapel pastor. As the executive Director, Dr. Moore heads up a committee of various FCCC Administrators. This team consists of full time employees that manage different departments and ministries within FCCC.
Beginnings
Faith Chapel started in April, 1981 at Dr. Moore's residence in Wylam, northwest of FairfieldFairfield, Alabama
Fairfield is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area. The population was 12,381 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the Census estimates the population to be 11,547.-History:...
. The church began with four people: Dr. Moore, his wife, his mother, and a friend. The church grew and in six months moved out to Stallworth Funeral home in June 1981. After another year, the church moved to the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
in downtown Birmingham.
On February 1, 1982, FCCC sealed the bids for the sale of a 3.4 acres (13,759.3 m²), 7645 square feet (710.2 m²) McDonald Chapel School and were given the right to purchase the property. On July 10, 1983, with less than 30 people, they purchased the land. Between 1990 and 1995, several staff members were hired full time. The Student Ministry, formerly Lively Stones Teen Church, was also established in 1990. In 1993, the Helps Ministry and the Evangelism Ministry were formed. In the same year, the main sanctuary was renovated, the children’s facility was completed, and the parking lot was paved. The first television broadcast aired in 1994, and in 1996 FCCC paid off $495,000 in about eight months to become debt free.
The Word Dome
On April 29, 1999, FCCC purchased 37.6 acres (152,161.9 m²) of land for $237,000. This was the beginning of the multi-million dollar "Word Dome" building project. On December 19, 1999, Faith Chapel broke ground on the new Dome facility. Construction was completed and use of the facility began on December 15, 2002. Of the $15 million cost, over 98% of the funds came from the within the church via its members. Faith Chapel never had to take out a loan to finance construction of the facility and it was completed entirely debtDebt
A debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
free, that is, without making use of debt financing
Debt
A debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
.
The building is a concrete, monolithic dome
Monolithic dome
A monolithic dome is a structure cast in a one-piece form. The form may be permanent or temporary and may or may not remain part of the finished structure....
. At 72 feet (21.9 m) tall, and 280 feet (85.3 m) in diameter it is the largest diameter monolithic dome designed by the Monolithic Dome Institute. Its large size makes possible a floor area of 74500 square feet (6,921.3 m²) in two levels. Designed by Lathan Associates Architects, P.C., it was constructed by Gary C. Wyatt General Contractor, LLC., out of Birmingham.
Present Day
Today, Faith Chapel has a membership of over 6400 members and is embarking on another multi-million dollar project, their Family Activity Center.The mission of this center is to provide a safe place for youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
and adults to socialize. This $16.5 million project
is a six dome addition to FCCC's already vast property. The Groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 12, 2005. Of the six interconnected domes, two will measure 160 feet (48.8 m) in diameter and four will measure 140 feet (42.7 m) in diameter. The domes will house many amenities, including a 12 lane bowling alley, A teen dance club, a Christian adult smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
-free and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
-free nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
with Christian entertainers, an Indoor playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
for children, A fitness center complete with strength training
Strength training
Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common being the use of gravity or elastic/hydraulic forces to oppose muscle contraction...
equipment, indoor track, and basketball courts, a Banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
Facility, and a Lobby area with a centrally located climbing wall.