HISTORY AND CORE BELIEFS

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A.W. Tozer

OUR HISTORY

Our church started with a small group of fervent believers in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ who had moved to the Burke County area from Caldwell County’s Berea Advent Christian Church in Collettesville.

In 1897, six families came to Burke County from this church and founded Catawba Valley Advent Christian Church, located just off Highway 181 near where the current WMNC radio station currently stands.

In 1911, the Catawba Valley Advent Christian Church building was moved to a newly purchased lot located at 215 Erwin Street and was re-­erected there. The church’s name was changed to First Advent Christian Church. In 1938, this building was remodeled inside and rock-­veneered outside.

In 1963, the congregation erected a new brick church at 211 Lenoir Road to accommodate a marked growth in membership.
In 2009, the First Advent Christian Church family celebrated the dedication of our new multi-­purpose addition to our 211 Lenoir Road location. It serves as an extension to our Christian Education ministry as a new Fellowship Hall, as a gymnasium for our youth, and as a facility for various community outreach events.

In 2025, after prayerful discernment, we chose to change our church’s name as a way to express growth, renewal, and clarity in our mission. This change honors our history while looking forward to the future God is shaping among us. Our beliefs, values, and heart for ministry remain unchanged; the new name simply reflects our desire to reach people more effectively and share God’s love in meaningful ways.

History is made each day as all of us at FCC seek to live the abundant life that only God can give through Christ, and to share with others our love and joy as followers of Him. Foothills Christian Church exists to love God, live the Word, and lift up others.

OUR Core Beliefs

The following are the core beliefs of First Advent Christian Church based on the foundational truths taught in the Bible.
 All of our teaching and ministry is rooted in and flows out of these biblical doctrines.
God
There is one eternally existing God who has three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is the creator of all that exists, both visible and invisible, and is therefore worthy of all glory and praise.  God is perfect in love, power, holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom,  justice, and mercy. He is unchangeable and therefore is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Revelation
God has revealed himself to us through his son, Jesus Christ, who is the visible image of the invisible God, the holy scriptures, and through all of creation itself.
Mankind
Humans, both male and female, were created in God's image for His glory. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created without sin and appointed as caretakers of the rest of God's creations.
The Fall
When Adam and Eve chose not to obey God, they ceased to be what they were made to be and became distorted images of God. This caused them to fall out of fellowship with God, and fractured all of creation ever since that time.
Salvation
Jesus Christ came to reconcile us with God. He lived a life without sin and willingly died on the cross to pay the penalty for our transgressions. God raised him from the dead and now, by grace, offers as a free gift eternal life to all who follow Christ, by faith, as their Lord and Savior. That is why salvation can be found in Christ alone.
The Church
The Church is meant to be the visible body of Christ, sent into the world to glorify God and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Resurrection
Jesus Christ is returning one day to judge both the living and the dead and to usher in the fullness of God's kingdom on earth.