history

a people thirsty for God, living the gospel together

dcf was founded in 1995 with the mission of connecting with young adults studying at nearby Clemson University. Many students in their late teens and early twenties step away from their faith, and our hope was to offer the message of Jesus through living out the gospel together in practical ways, creating a safe space where those who felt distant from God could connect with Him and His people.

Over time, leaders felt called to grow a culture that was about more than upbeat music and entertainment, a place where God’s love was clearly demonstrated. After prayerful consideration, dcf became a “gathering” of house churches that fostered depth and intimacy. These days, we’re a much smaller body, but those values remain the same.

Core values guide our vision and culture in three main ways: worship, family and kingdom. We seek to live God-centered lives, where God’s glory is our deepest desire. We seek to live connected lives, immersed in the context of deep relationships. And we seek to live bold lives, committed to joining God’s work on the earth, invading the darkness and living the story of the Gospel.

House churches continue to meet regularly, maintaining the intimacy, integrity, and autonomy of each individual house church. Sunday morning gatherings have grown to include families and individuals beyond those house churches.

Our diversity has continued to grow, with a greater number of families and older individuals balancing out the student population. We celebrate the richness that people of all ages and stages have added to our body.

During this season of change during the COVID-19 pandemic, the dcf leadership is reshaping how dcf will gather and do ministry in the coming months and years. We continue to see God’s hand in our past, present and future.

To learn more information about what a dcf gathering is like, click here!

To learn more about how to connect to a dcf house church, click here!