ON THIS PAGE: 1) OUR HISTORY  2)WHAT WE BELIEVE

HISTORY OF FATHER’S ARMS FELLOWSHIP- SCOTT CITY

Father’s Arms Fellowship started in a shop building-garage at 405 N. Lincoln.  Kenny Strong, born and raised in Scott City, received a call from the Lord to start a church in his home town.

He had gone to Bible school, ordained years before in 1984 by pastors Roger and Arnell Carbaugh of Christian Faith Fellowship in Illmo Missouri. His experience as pastor in Baptist, Mennonite, Charismatic/Pentecostal, and Non-denominational churches can be felt in that church with the motto “the church with open arms.”

The first service was August 21^st, 1994 in the little 40×30 garage that Michael Stewart Sr. and son had helped beautify with carpet, air conditioning and months later a bathroom.  The church facilities, children’s room and nursery were all next door at the Strong’s home and In the basement of the house, Mary Rogers and Carol Stewart would record the offerings on an old computer in the makeshift office.  Dianne Stephens Baugher led the singing, Ken on the piano, Nancy singing backup with Jerri Moore on the drums while 78 years old Miss Lilian Little was clapping and lifting her hands. Ken says “Miss Lillian may be the reason we were here because after our first service she told me, ‘The Lord showed me years ago you were supposed to start this church, you’re a little late but you’re here now”.  Ken believed Lillian’s prayers initiated the ministry.

At first, the church didn’t have pews or even good chairs. They used donated couches, lawn chairs, folding chairs and whatever was available to sit on.  What the church didn’t have in material conveniences they made up for in love.  They used a horse watering troth to baptize people and one Sunday they baptized 3 males age 8, 48, and 88 – including Eugene Baker who was the oldest of the trio.

Right from the beginning, FAF always emphasized hospitality with a continental breakfast before service.  Eventually, a special area was created for when a restroom and sink were added.

We grew from 17 people the first service to about 35 in that garage church, according to the pastor. One fall day, they were having an indoor yard sale for the needy at Christmastime down the street at 1400 Main.  It was in the building owned by John Paul Ham.  The building had previously been a crafter’s mall, Western Auto, Gym, Pizza Hang out and other things.  Pastor Ken said he was walking through the building that day when the Lord spoke to him saying “buy this building” Later they did just that and 2 years later added 3,000 sq feet more in the back for a children’s and teen center.

In August 2019, FAF celebrated their 25^th year in Scott City and Ken and Nancy their 35^th year in ministry with the building fully paid off 2 years prior.  It was a great celebration of the start of an outreach ministry that Ken believes will be a legacy that continues after he graduates to heaven or Jesus’ return.

Father’s Arms has become known as a refuge for hurting souls.  Many hundreds have been converted and baptized in this building over the years. Wedding ceremonies, funerals, revivals, gospel singings of all types, youth and children’s crusades, recovery programs and other outreaches continue every year. Our emphasis is to be a lighthouse to ships lost at sea and a hospital to the hurting of humanity.

OUR VISION:

Our Vision “To See the Earth Filled With the Glory of the Lord” will happen as we earnestly seek the Lord in prayer and fellowship in His Word. As we endeavor to be so filled with His Glory personally that we will take His “Glory” to everyone we come in contact with. The lost will be found, the sick will be healed, the broken will be mended, the tormented will be delivered by the Glory of the Lord coming to the earth through us individually and corporately.  As we earnestly pray, we are believing to see God’s Spirit poured out upon all flesh. We’re in the Latter Days and we won’t take no for an answer… We will see the Glory of the Lord in all the earth!!  (Hab. 2:14)

1) To SEEK the Lost:  (Luke 10:19  Luke 14:23)  “For the Son of man came to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost.”  “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
2) To TRAIN the Found:  (2 Timothy 2:2)  “And the instructions you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust (as a deposit) to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also.”
3) To SEND the TRAINED: (Mark 16:15-18)  “And he said to them, GO into all the world and PREACH and PUBLISH the good news Gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages:  they will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.

OUR BELIEFS: 

THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

THE GODHEAD
Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being coequal (Deut. 6:4;Phil. 2:6). God the Father is greater than all; the Sender of the Word (Logos) and the Begetter (John 14:28; John 16:28; John 1:14). The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, and has existed with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1; John 1:18; John 1:14). The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal (John 14:16;John 15:26).

VIRGIN BIRTH
Jesus Christ was conceived by God the Father, through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity) in the virgin Mary’s womb; therefore, He is the Son of God (see Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18,23-25; Luke 1:27-35).

MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION
Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. The Bible says “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “…There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Rom. 3:10; 3:23). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. (Rom. 5:14; 1 John 3:8).
Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God (Eph. 2:8-10).

ETERNAL LIFE AND THE NEW BIRTH
Man’s first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life (2 Cor. 7:10; John 3:3-5; 1 John 5:12).

WATER BAPTISM
Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12; Acts 8:36-39).
The following recommendation regarding the water baptismal formula is adopted; to wit: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST
The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance.
(Matt. 3:11; John 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38,39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:1-4).

SANCTIFICATION
The Bible teaches that without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ’s return.
(Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30).

DIVINE HEALING
Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today. (James 5:14,15; Mark 16:18; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24).

GOD’S WILL FOR PROVISION
It is the Father’s will for believers to become whole, healthy and successful in all areas of life. But because of the fall, many may not receive the full benefits of God’s will while on earth. That fact, though, should never prevent all believers from seeking the full benefits of Christ’s provision in order to serve others.

Spiritual (see John 3:3-11; Rom. 10:9,10; 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
Mental and emotional (see Isa. 26:3; Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:7,8; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2:11).
Physical (see Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24).
Financial (see Deut. 28:1-14; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 34:10; 84:11; Mal. 3:10,11; Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6-10; Phil. 4:19).

RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD
The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…” (Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16,17).
Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords, and together with His saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Rev. 5:10;20:6).

HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION
The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or repenting. The lake of fire is literal. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting,” used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in denoting the duration of joy and ecstasy of saints in the Presence of God. (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 19:20).

MARRIAGE SEXUALITY AND THE FAMILY
We believe that God set His pattern, image and design for sexuality and the family in the beginning of creation. The words of Jesus and witness of the Epistles echo this truth. God’s pattern of the Bride and Groom in heaven complete this chain of truth: Genesis 2:24-25, Matthew 19:3-9, Eph 5:28-31, Rev. 19:7
This pattern of the union between one man and one woman bring the completion of God’s image. We consider other sexual expressions as a broken image of God’s design and should be rejected and his pattern sought. It is our desire to love and embrace all people while still holding to God’s design. Believers should shun hatred or prejudice while encouraging each other to conform to God’s image! We recognize this may be a process. Love and patience for those with differing views should be shown, while holding to God’s standards of truth and behavior.

WOMEN IN MINISTRY
In the Kingdom of God there is neither male nor female but we are one in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit bore witness all throughout the old and new testaments that women were to speak forth his word by the Holy Spirit. Many of the Apostle Paul’s leaders were women and thus the whole controversy about women in ministry is set straight by God’s consistent action of anointing women throughout the entire Bible. Consistant practices of women in the new testament prophesying and the prophecy of Joel concerning women speaking the word in the last days all are evidenced in the following scriptures: (Galatians 3:28,Joel 2:28-29,Acts 21:9, Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, 2 Kings 22:14, Acts 2:17) Pastor Ken Teaches on Women in Ministry at this link below (listen or download)