The Orchard Group

In 1953 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Faust moved from Salineville, Ohio to Hicksville, New York to begin a ten year ministry with the Hicksville Church of Christ. They brought their two young daughters with them, and soon had two more. The Fausts also brought creativity, energy, and laughter that would serve them well through the next forty years of service in the Northeastern United States.

In 1968, after successful ministries in Hicksville and West Islip, Long Island, Charles Faust was called to serve as the second director in the history of the "Go Ye" Chapel Mission. He informed the Board of Directors of the Mission that he could not physically build church buildings as Mr. Kile had done, but that he was more than willing to get healthy new churches underway. He then closed his ministry in West Islip, and devoted his full time to the ministry of the "Go Ye" Chapel Mission.

The Fausts quickly got to work planting new churches, and bringing the Mission its first focus on the newly arriving immigrant populations moving into New York City. The Fausts planted a church in Jamaica, Queens, focused primarily on the West Indian population in the region. Working closely together as husband and wife, they built the church from scratch and helped it grow into a healthy congregation with its own full-time minister. But the Fausts didn't just plant churches. With enthusiasm Charles and Penny entertained people visiting New York, traveled several times a week into New York City to lead Bible studies and counsel church members, traveled throughout the United States to raise money for the Mission, and actively recruited workers to the New York City area. They encouraged those who were in ministry in the region. They served as ambassadors for the needs of New York, and they worked together to conduct several "Sing Out for Christ" musical tours that utilized teens from New York in an inspirational program. While Charles served as director of the Mission, Penny served as secretary.

Sixteen churches were planted during the years in which Charles Faust served as the Mission director. During those years the focus of the ministry was on New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and the northern suburbs of New York. Several of the churches started during this time period were focused on newly arriving immigrant populations.

During the summer of 1989 the Fausts moved from their administrative work with the "Go Ye" Chapel Mission to serve a final ministry in New York with the Staten Island Church of Christ. After several years of effective ministry in Staten Island, the Fausts retired to Louisville, Kentucky, where they remain active in several volunteer ministries.

Charles Faust brought the Mission from a ground breaking first phase, into a phase of growth and stability that not only planted effective churches, but also helped prepare the "Go Ye" Chapel Mission for a strong and growing future.