How it all started...
In the mid-2000s, Pastor Chuck Towersey entered into a powerful and extended season of seeking God, during which his understanding of the Church began to shift. Rather than viewing the Church primarily as a self-contained institution within four walls, he began to see it through a missional lens—a living body called to reach beyond itself and serve the needs of the surrounding community. During this time, Pastor Chuck, his wife Susan, and their children, Katie and Collin, became deeply aware of the profound spiritual, emotional, and practical needs among individuals and families in Benzie County and the surrounding region. They recognized that these needs could only be truly met through the love, grace, and transforming power of Jesus Christ. More than just recognizing the need for a church willing to break free from tradition and status quo, they felt a clear calling from God to establish a Christ-centered, scripture-rooted community that would serve as His hands and feet to a broken and hurting world.
In the spring of 2008, following God's leading, Pastor Chuck and his family stepped away from a long history of denominational ministry and established Fresh Wind Christian Community—a Bible-based, Spirit-filled, non-denominational church with a heart for Benzie County and beyond. The first worship service was held on April 13, 2008, in the Benzie Central High School Auditorium. Pastor Chuck’s office and the church’s food pantry were initially housed in a small space on US-31 in Beulah. Soon after, the Fresh Wind Ministry Center opened in a former restaurant and gift shop near the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theater in Honor.
In 2014, Fresh Wind purchased the former All Animal Veterinary Clinic on US-31, about six miles west of Interlochen, and began renovations. By May 2015, the congregation held its first worship service in the newly completed sanctuary. That same year, in September, a long-envisioned Christian school supported by Fresh Wind officially opened. New Covenant Christian Academy began in the front half of the "Red Barn," educating kindergarten through sixth grade students in a Christ-centered, safe, and loving environment. The academy has since expanded to serve students through 12th grade, with continued plans for growth.
Throughout this journey, Fresh Wind Christian Community has grown to include individuals and families from across a five-county area. Yet more important than numerical growth has been the deepening of the church’s missional focus. Outreach ministries have flourished, including the food and baby pantry, jail ministry at the Benzie County Jail, vibrant children and youth ministries, and a compassionate care ministry offering counseling for those seeking healing and freedom in Christ. Spiritual growth has also been nurtured through neighborhood Life Groups and a renewed commitment among many to live beyond themselves and fully for Christ.
As we look to the future, Fresh Wind Christian Community remains deeply committed to our mission of living out the Gospel with authenticity, compassion, and purpose. We believe God is calling us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, raising up disciples, strengthening families, and equipping the next generation of leaders. We are prayerfully pursuing new opportunities for outreach, leadership development, and campus growth, while continuing to invest in vibrant worship, biblical teaching, and Spirit-led ministry. Our heart is to be a church that not only gathers in worship but goes out in love, bringing hope, healing, and the presence of Jesus to every corner of our region and beyond. We believe the best is yet to come, and we are excited to step boldly into all that God has in store.
In the spring of 2008, following God's leading, Pastor Chuck and his family stepped away from a long history of denominational ministry and established Fresh Wind Christian Community—a Bible-based, Spirit-filled, non-denominational church with a heart for Benzie County and beyond. The first worship service was held on April 13, 2008, in the Benzie Central High School Auditorium. Pastor Chuck’s office and the church’s food pantry were initially housed in a small space on US-31 in Beulah. Soon after, the Fresh Wind Ministry Center opened in a former restaurant and gift shop near the Cherry Bowl Drive-In Theater in Honor.
In 2014, Fresh Wind purchased the former All Animal Veterinary Clinic on US-31, about six miles west of Interlochen, and began renovations. By May 2015, the congregation held its first worship service in the newly completed sanctuary. That same year, in September, a long-envisioned Christian school supported by Fresh Wind officially opened. New Covenant Christian Academy began in the front half of the "Red Barn," educating kindergarten through sixth grade students in a Christ-centered, safe, and loving environment. The academy has since expanded to serve students through 12th grade, with continued plans for growth.
Throughout this journey, Fresh Wind Christian Community has grown to include individuals and families from across a five-county area. Yet more important than numerical growth has been the deepening of the church’s missional focus. Outreach ministries have flourished, including the food and baby pantry, jail ministry at the Benzie County Jail, vibrant children and youth ministries, and a compassionate care ministry offering counseling for those seeking healing and freedom in Christ. Spiritual growth has also been nurtured through neighborhood Life Groups and a renewed commitment among many to live beyond themselves and fully for Christ.
As we look to the future, Fresh Wind Christian Community remains deeply committed to our mission of living out the Gospel with authenticity, compassion, and purpose. We believe God is calling us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, raising up disciples, strengthening families, and equipping the next generation of leaders. We are prayerfully pursuing new opportunities for outreach, leadership development, and campus growth, while continuing to invest in vibrant worship, biblical teaching, and Spirit-led ministry. Our heart is to be a church that not only gathers in worship but goes out in love, bringing hope, healing, and the presence of Jesus to every corner of our region and beyond. We believe the best is yet to come, and we are excited to step boldly into all that God has in store.
