Beginning
"Have you any good news?"
Paramount Church began historically in 2008 as a small Bible study in a den with a handful of couples who desired to be a part of a church where the gospel was central (i.e., Paramount!) in all aspects of its life and ministry.
The true origin of the church, however, was birthed out of a period of intense pain and suffering. In 2000, three otolaryngologists at The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC diagnosed John Fonville with a debilitating "incurable," neurological vocal disorder known as spasmodic dysphonia.
Having been told he would never speak again, John, for nearly seven years, experienced a time of severe trial. Yet, it was during these dark and difficult years that the Lord began slowly awakening John to the centrality and glories of the gospel.
The initial turning point came in December of 2000 when John read John Stott's classic work, The Cross of Christ. In a chapter entitled "Suffering and glory" John Stott writes,
“We have to learn to climb the hill called Calvary, and from that vantage-ground survey all life’s tragedies. The cross does not solve the problem of suffering, but it supplies the essential perspective from which to look at it,” (p. 329).
Upon reading this paragraph, the Holy Spirit graciously opened John's spiritual eyes (cf. Eph. 1:17-18) and set him on a gospel-awakening journey. John's voice began to slowly return as the Lord opened the eyes of his heart and enabled him to grow in a greater understanding of the gospel.
Unlike many church plants, Paramount Church has been greatly blessed by not having to move from place to place. In 2009, the Lord provided a new 23-acre school campus for Paramount Church's new home, The Foundation Academy.
Since our humble beginnings, by the grace of God we have continued to build upon our mission to make the gospel paramount in all things for sinner's joy and the Savior's glory.
