Pastor Chris Faylor
Pastor Chris Faylor has served as Lead Pastor at Big Spring Heights Church of God since October 2014. His ministry journey has taken him to congregations in Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, West Virginia, and Georgia. A graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, TN (B.A. in Pastoral Ministry, 2000), Pastor Chris spent many years investing in children and youth before stepping into the lead pastorate. He continues to carry a heart for the next generation, serving on the Youth and Discipleship Board for the Pennsylvania Church of God. Locally, he is active in the Newville community serving on the Big Spring Inter-Church Council and as Board Chairman for the Big Spring Area Food Bank. Chris married Sarah on November 4, 2017.
Sarah holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and serves as a Hospice Social Worker. She is known for her compassion, wisdom, and encouragement—both to the church family and her own home. Together, the Faylors lean on the promise of Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (NKJV).
Pastor Chris loves preaching, teaching, and singing, but what he values most is people. God has placed in his heart a clear calling: that he and Big Spring Heights Church exist to be #ForNewville—for spiritual health and growth, for strong families, and for a caring, connected community.
When he’s not serving the church or community, or hanging out with the family, Pastor Chris cheers passionately for Michigan Wolverines football, plays fantasy football with friends, and finds joy in gardening and working in the yard.
Pastor Chris warmly invites you to join the growing faith family at Big Spring Heights Church of God and discover the hope, strength, and purpose found in Jesus Christ..
Email: cfaylor@bigspringheights.org
Youth Pastor Nathan Ross
Nathan Ross grew up attending Bethel Assembly of God in Chambersburg, where he developed a deep love for God and His church. As a young adult, he served as a youth leader for four years, during which he felt a clear call to youth ministry. He completed an internship with Master’s Commission and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry through West Coast Bible College. Nathan married Rosi on July 7, 2023. Rosi is studying nursing and partners with Nathan in serving the youth at Big Spring Heights. Together, they bring energy, warmth, and a genuine love for students. Nathan and Rosi are passionate about helping teenagers grow in their faith, discover their identity in Christ, and build lasting friendships. They truly enjoy being with young people—and it shows!
CHRISTIAN
The Church of God was founded in 1886 upon the principles of Christ as they are revealed in the Bible, the Word of God. It has its foundation of faith and practice in the Scriptures and the vital experience of its constituents is scripturally oriented.
PROTESTANT
The Church of God is founded upon the principles of Protestantism, although it is not a traditional follower of any specific leader of the Protestant Reformation. The denomination stands firmly for justification by faith, the priesthood of believers, the authority of the Bible, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. It stands against abuses and extravagance of ecclesiastical ritualism and dogmatism.
FOUNDATIONAL
The Church of God subscribes to the following five foundational Christian doctrines:
- The inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
- The virgin birth and complete deity of Jesus Christ
- The atoning sacrifice of Christ’s death for the sins of the world
- The literal resurrection of the body and Christ’s second coming in bodily form to the earth
EVANGELICAL
Evangelical is the term used to describe those who affirm the primary doctrines revealed in the Scriptures. These doctrines include the inspiration and authority of the Word of God; the Trinity; the deity and virgin birth of Jesus Christ; salvation by faith in the atoning death of Christ; His bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father; the ministry of the Holy Spirit; the second coming of Christ; and the spiritual unity of believers in Jesus Christ.
PENTECOSTAL
In 1896, many members of the Church of God experienced a spiritual outpouring they identified as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Because it was so similar to the experience of the early Christians on the day of Pentecost, it came to be called a Pentecostal experience, an enrichment of the Christian life through the power of the Holy Spirit that empowered believers to be effective witnesses of Christ. The principle distinctive of the Church of God as a Pentecostal organization is its belief in speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance and that this is the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
CHARISMATIC
The charismata (Gk.) or gifts of the Spirit appeared early in the life and ministry of the Church of God. The gifts can be divided into three categories: the gifts of revelation, the gifts of power and the gifts of utterance or inspiration. The gifts of revelation are the gifts of the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge and the discerning of spirits. The gifts of power are faith, miracles, and gifts of healing. The gifts of utterance and inspiration are prophecy, tongues and interpretation. The Holy Spirit bestows these gifts and those who accept the validity of these gifts are called charismatic.
EVANGELISTIC
From its inception the Church of God has been a revival movement. Evangelism has been in the forefront of all its activities. The church has maintained an aggressive effort to take the message of Christ throughout the world by all means and methods. Every program of the church reflects an evangelistic attitude: revivalism, conferences, worship services, teaching, preaching and its missionary efforts.
ORGANIZED
The magnitude of the Great Commission requires a united effort. This united endeavor is efficiently served by guidance, support, resources and leadership from a common center. The Church of God is centrally organized. Centralized church government is administration from the international, state or territorial and local levels. It helps facilitate the fulfillment of the mission of the church.
The control of the Church of God rests with the laity and ministers, who jointly form a governing body called the General Assembly which meets biennially.
Church of God International Offices are located in Cleveland, TN. More information about the Church of God can be found by visiting the website linked here.
Declaration of Faith
We Believe
- In the verbal inspiration of the Bible.
- In one god eternally existent in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the Intercessor.
- That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins.
- That justification, regeneration, and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
- In sanctification subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through the Word, and by the Holy Ghost. Holiness to be God’s standard of living for His people.
- In the baptism with the Holy Ghost subsequent to a clean heart.
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
- In water baptism by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
- Divine healing is provided for all in the atonement.
- In the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet.
- In the premillennial second coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand years.
- In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for the wicked.
Big Spring Heights Church of God has its roots in a small group of believers who were hungry for a move of God. They first gathered for prayer and bible study at the Cloverdale Farm in Newville. Soon after, they rented a small building and held revival services with Sister Margaret Hellman. Out of that revival, the Church of God in Newville was born, officially organizing in 1936 with eight charter members. Among them were the first pastors, Rev. Edward Sullivan and his wife Elsie, along with Paul and Loretta Reath, Oren and Elsie Shenk, Donald Shenk, and Mary Shenk.
The church’s first location was on Vine Street, which today serves as a meeting place for the local Boy Scouts. As the congregation grew, the owners of the building asked the church to vacate. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burkholder again opened their home to host services, where the membership grew to 29.
Needing more space, the church purchased and renovated the old soap factory on Broad Street in 1937, transforming it into a sanctuary and parsonage. God blessed the work, and the church continued to grow.
In the late 1950s, the congregation stepped out in faith to purchase property on Mt. Rock Road in the Heights community of Newville. With that move, the church became known as Big Spring Heights Church of God.
By 1958, worship began in a brand-new facility, built under the leadership of a young 19-year-old pastor, Rev. James Caldwell. A few years later, Rev. Lloyd Bier oversaw the purchase of the home next door to serve as the church parsonage for many years to come.
In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Pastor Milton Herring, a pavilion was constructed behind the church. In the 1990s, that space was enclosed and transformed into a wonderful fellowship hall, providing room for teaching, training, and meaningful connections within the church family.
From those humble beginnings to today, Big Spring Heights has been a community shaped by prayer, faith, and a deep desire to see God move in the lives of people.
Email: nross@bigspringheights.org