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.

Jack Fawley became the lead pastor in March 1971, followed by Bill Twaddell in August 1975, Bob Work in 1981, and Steve Liming in June 1984.

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.

Mitch McKinney became the lead pastor in 2008, followed by John Hampton in March 2010, Dustin Aagaard in January 2023, and Harvey Carpenter in June 2025.

There is power in your story. We want to celebrate every story we receive, and we are always looking for opportunities to share what God is doing in the lives of people at Journey!