Church Life

There Goes the Neighborhood

A Florida court allows a Christian church to build in a Spiritualist town

Founded in 1875 as a center for mediums, psychics, and other Spiritualists, the community of Cassadaga, Florida, has always had a unique character. And when John Ferro tried to build a Christian church—the town’s first—residents complained it would disrupt the town’s “spiritual vibrations” and subject them to unwelcome evangelism. (Other residents said they didn’t fear the church, which has a regular attendance of 20, but worried about rumors it would offer a drug rehabilitation center.) After filing a federal lawsuit in May 2001, the church was granted approval in September, and the county agreed to pay the church $38,000 in legal fees. “I guess we don’t have any other option,” council Chairwoman Ann McFall told The Orlando Sentinel. Meanwhile, Ferro has tried to show goodwill by attending a Spiritualist service, which he described as “a little different.” “We just believe the Lord said we were going to be here,” he later told WESH-TV. “And we were moving on what he said to us.”

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere

Other coverage includes:

Christians win right to build in CassadagaOrlando Business Journal (Sept. 30, 2002)

A town of psychics didn’t want a church; they didn’t foresee a suitThe National Law Journal (September 30, 2002)

Reverend wins right to build church in Cassadaga—WESH Florida (Sept. 20, 2002)

County approves settlement, allows church right to locate—Associated Press (Sept. 16, 2002)

Church wins right to locate in spiritualist town—Liberty Counsel Press Release (May 31, 2001)

Christian church files federal lawsuit after being denied right to start a church—Liberty Counsel Press Release (May 31, 2001)

Also in this issue

Rick Warren: Just a regular guy who may be America's most influential pastor.

Cover Story

A Regular Purpose-Driven Guy

News

The Force Is Not With Them

Manhattan Ministry a Year Later

Gray Matter and the Soul

The Long View: The Enemy Within

Virtue via Vouchers

Stephen Carter's novel

Elegy for a 9/11 Hero

Righteous (and Other) Anger

Graham's Current Events

"Rich, Delighted Christians"

Guilt Good and Bad

Kitsch Watch

Prostitute Murders Spur Ministry

Keeping Their Heads Down

Restricting Faith

Option for Alienated Baptist Missionaries

Aramaic May Disappear in Four Decades

Desert Springs

New Study Answers Many Criticisms of White House's Plans

Quenching Worst-Case Scenarios

News

Go Figure

Wire Story

House: No Church Politicking

What Is Hip?

Review

Seize the Virtue

Review

Hometown Legend

Review

Tribulation Force

Civic-Minded and Heavenly Good

Killing a Pandemic

Jesus Freak

2012: A School Odyssey

Faith-Based Fight: White House moves forward with or without Senate.

Nigeria: War-weary Muslims and Christians talk peace.

Forcing Abortions

Quotation Marks

News

Entertainment: Jonah has boffo box office.

View issue

Our Latest

News

Space Force Hymn Lifts Prayer to the Heavens

Southern Baptist chaplain says God prompted him to write song for the newest branch of the US military. 

Beijing, Let My Daughter Come Home

Power Without Integrity Destroys Us

Evangelicals helped elect Trump. Can evangelicals also hold him accountable?

The Bulletin

Sultan of Swing

The Bulletin addresses the election of Donald Trump.

What Another Trump Presidency Means To Evangelicals Around the World

Christian leaders from Nepal to Turkey greet the US election results with joy, grief, and indifference.

Our Faith’s Future Depends on Discipleship

The Lausanne Movement’s State of the Great Commission report details where and how Christianity is growing. 

News

Trump’s Promised Mass Deportations Put Immigrant Churches on Edge

Some of the president-elect’s proposals seem unlikely, but he has threatened to remove millions of both undocumented and legal immigrants.

God Is Faithful in Triumph and Despair

I voted for Kamala Harris and mourn her loss. But I want to keep politics in its proper place, subordinate to Jesus.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube