In the fall of 1968, Don Wheeler (then an elder at Pine Hills Christian Church) sought the blessing of beginning a new Christian church in the Bear Lake area.
In January of 1969, 14 people met together in the home of Grant and Jean Mueller. The following week, 28 people met for prayer, worship, and biblical teaching at the Mueller home. This enthusiastic group saw the need to seek for a building site as their attendance doubled to 56 people in the third week.
On April 20, 1969, the first Sunday worship service was held at the Seventh Day Adventist building on State Road 436. Herbert Owens became the first lead pastor of the newly named Lakeview Christian Church.
In March 1971, Jack Fawley became the lead pastor of Lakeview Christian Church. In August 1975, Bill Twaddell became the lead pastor followed by Bob Work in 1981. In June 1984, Steve Liming was the lead pastor.
Lakeview Christian Church launched its second worship service in 1987. In November 1989, Dan Donaldson became the lead pastor. After decades of growth, Lakeview Christian Church purchased 30 acres of land on 441/S. Orange Blossom Trail.
In July 2002, Lakeview Christian Church was renamed Journey Christian Church and officially opened in Apopka. In 2008, Mitch McKinney became the lead pastor.
John Hampton became the lead pastor of Journey Christian Church in March of 2010. At the start of 2014, the Mount Dora campus officially opened, and in September 2018, a permanent facility was purchased for this campus in Lake County.
On January 1, 2023, Pastor John Hampton retired after a successful leadership transition to Pastor Dustin Aagaard. For the full story of the succession,
click here.
