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Mennonites Come to Reading
The Mennonites long had an interest in Reading as they sold their farm products at the local farmers markets for many years. In 1919, while studying the book of Acts, they came to realize that Reading was the place where God was calling them to share His message of salvation. They officially opened a church at 13th and Douglass Streets – later to become 12th and Windsor Mennonite Church - in Reading in 1922.
Fairview Mennonite Church Opens
Fairview Mennonite Church began in 1932 when 12th & Windsor Mennonite Church, located in northern Reading and having operated for 10 years, conducted a tent meeting on a vacant lot in East Reading. 15 people came to Christ as a result of the tent meetings. It was decided that a church should be planted in East Reading.
In 1933 a house was purchased at 1609 Fairview Street. It was used as the primary place of worship until 1956. It is still used by Fairview Mennonite Church today as a secondary place of worship, volunteer center, and for various meetings. Commonly called the “Lighthouse” because of a painting on the wall, this structure has proved invaluable to Fairview Mennonite Church for the last 87 years. They started out having just a Sunday School in 1933. It had an average attendance of 100 children. In 1937 the format was changed from an afternoon Sunday School to a Sunday morning service.
In 1956 a new church building was built adjacent to the “Lighthouse”. This building at 545 S. 16th St. served as our primary worship center until 2016.
Fairview experienced slow but study growth from the early 1980’s through 2010. With attendance reaching 200 in the first decade of 2000, something had to done to alleviate the standing room only Sunday morning church services.
In 2014, after much prayer and soul-searching, the former Reading Brewery, located at 17th and Fairview Street, and most previously occupied by Essig’s Plumbing and Heating for the last 60 years, was purchased. This large building gave us many opportunities we continue to explore. We moved in to this new building in the fall of 2016.
Ministry Team
Luke Horst was ordained in 1943 to serve the three Reading Mennonite Churches. Over time, after preaching most often at Fairview, Luke became the first preacher at Fairview Mennonite Church. Luke was ordained bishop in 1969. He served until his retirement in 1987. He passed away on January 29, 2020 after 97 years of faithful service.
Leroy Gehman was ordained deacon in 1969, minister in 1970, and bishop in 1995. He served until his retirement in 2004.
Jay Fox was ordained minister in 1976. He served until his retirement in 2010. Jay was also instrumental in starting Fairview Christian School, which still operates today with 150 students grades K-12.
Ted Steinruck was ordained minister in 1996, and bishop in 2019. He continues to serve today.
Marcus Fox was ordained deacon in 2003 and minister in 2009. He continues to serve today.
Keith Gehman was ordained minister in 2019. He continues to serve today.
Ryan Huber was ordained minister in 2021.
Besides both Leroy and Marcus serving as deacons, Fairview has been served by other faithful men:
Leon Weaver served from 1971-1985.
Leon Eberly served from 1986-2004.
Jason Fox was ordained in 2010 and continues to serve.
Ben Martin was ordained in 2015 and continues to serve.
Lester Zimmerman was ordained bishop in 2004. He served until 2019.
L-R: Jay, Leroy, Leon Eberly
Served together from 1986-1995.
L-R: Jay, Leroy, Leon Eberly
Back Row L-R: Ted, Marcus
Served together from 1996-2004.
(Marcus ordained in 2003.)
Pictures taken on November 19, 2023.
L-R: Jay, Leroy, Leon Eberly
Back Row L-R: Ted, Keith, Marcus
Served together from
2005-2010: Jay, Ted, Marcus
(Not pictured: Lester Zimmerman)
(Keith ordained minister in 2019.)
L-R: Jay, Leroy, Leon Eberly
Current Leadership Team:
Back Row L-R: Ben, Ted, Keith, Marcus, Jason
(Not pictured: Ryan Huber)
Served together from 2010-2023+.
(Jason ordained in 2010. Ben in 2015.
Keith in 2019. Ryan in 2021.)
Miscellaneous
In 1987, the Keystone Mennonite Fellowship was organized as a fellowship of church leaders who were concerned with the current trends in the Lancaster Conference. In 1999, the congregation at Fairview formally joined the fellowship as a charter member. FMC still affiliates with
the Keystone Mennonite Fellowship today.
In 2019, the Reading-Myerstown district divided due to some recent expansion. The Reading district was formed composing of Fairview Mennonite Church and Blandon Mennonite Fellowship.
Fairview continues to be active in the community in many ways. FMC runs Fairview Christian School, conducts Bible schools, Open Gate Children’s ministry, & Crossover basketball ministry. We have members in singing ministries & prison ministry. We strive to be a lighthouse where seekers can find truth in the City of Reading.