A church on Kenwood Road, The Community Christian Church, Disciples of

Christ, has the distinction of being a part of the oldest denomination

to have its roots begun on American soil.

It was born of a frontier movement that began in the throws of the American

Revolution. The word "liberty" was very important then and continues

to be important. The members are free to study the scriptures and form

their own opinions.

There are 4,000 Disciple congregations in the United States and Canada.

"It's important," said its pastor of one year, the Rev.

Dean Phelps, "that this church is a place where people can grow in

their faith, find their particular ministerial talents and find a place

to use them."

This particular congregation originally was begun as the West End Christian

Church in Atlanta in 1896 and moved to its current location in 1988.

The building is host to "Women After God's Own Heart,"

a Bible study group led by Donella Cranford. It is made up of women from

various church backgrounds.

One of the church's members, Ailsa Guardiola, is serving a mission

year in Honduras. A number of churches have been sending members to assist

in rebuilding churches after Hurricane Mitch did its damage. She coordinates

these comings and goings and directs the workers in the various projects.

The church supports the Fayette Samaritans and the Clayton Samaritans.

It recently sent 26 volunteers to an Hispanic church in Clayton County

and, along with 200 other volunteers, repaired and refurbished the church

as well as feeding everyone.

Phelps was born and reared in Maysville, Ky. He attended the University

of Kentucky, interested in music education, and later was graduated from

Kennesaw State University with a degree in math.

The first years of his working career were in data processing with L'Eggs

Company. Even though he felt the pull of the ministry from the age of

17, it wasn't until 1994 that he entered Candler Theological Seminary

at Emory University. He was graduated in 1997 and served two years in

Cherry Log, at a church in the north Georgia mountains, and a year ago

came to Fayetteville.

He and his wife, Debbie, met and married 11 years ago. She teaches in

a high school.

The church is at 349 Kenwood Road and can be reached at 770-460-9745.

Sunday Schools is at 10 a.m. and worship is at 11 a.m. Bible studies are

Sunday evening at 6 p.m. and a prayer group meets each Tuesday at 7 p.m.