Our History and Our Beliefs

We are being replanted into our community and discovering together how to open our hearts and our doors to our neighbors.

"The Little Church with the Big Heart"

The South Wyoming United Methodist Church was born on Sunday, April 5, 1885. Easter services were held in the Emmons School on the east side of Byron Center Avenue near where Gezon Parkway is now. Esther Emmons organized the first Sunday School.

On October 25, 1898, the following were elected to the Board of Trustees: John T. Emmons, Chairman; Nick Emmons, Secretary and Andrew Retan, Treasurer. A building committee was also organized with the following officers: Andrew Retan, Chairman; A.H. Burns, Secretary and Charles F. Ferrand, Treasurer.

Church plans were presented and approved on November 5, 1898 and a site west of the school was selected. On November 28, the building committee reported that they were unable to secure this piece of land. On January 27, 1899 an alternate site on the corner of 56th Street and Byron Center Avenue was donated by Andrew Retan. Besides this corner of his farm property, Mr. Retan also donated $700 toward the church building. Several men from the community helped build the church: Andrew Retan, Nick Emmons, Truman Marshall and Jak Anderson to name a few.

On July 28 of 1899, the building was insured for $900 with the German Baptist Company, and on October 19, in preparation for the opening of the new building, 76 seats and 50 folding chairs were purchased for $139. A stove was also purchased for a grand total of $19.45!

In 1901, the women's first meeting took place and was called "The Ladies Aid Society". The women met in each other's homes for potluck dinners. From monies donated by the society, the kitchen extension was built in 1939 by Fred Bedewitz for the sum of $341. In 1968, the society was changed to the United Methodist Women and incorporated the Esther Circle and the Rebecca Circle.

The Fellowship Hall was built in 1957 by Leland Church. This addition, used for education classes, included two powder rooms, central heating and a new well. It was completed at a cost of $8,000. In the years following, special collections and donations of time, money, and energy allowed for special remodeling and refurbishing tasks which were done as we lovingly cared for the building. Fifty-three pastors have served its people well.

Anniversaries of the opening of the church have been celebrated at the 40, 50, 75, 90 and 100 year marks. The final service in "The Little Church with a Big Heart" was on August 4, 2006 and celebrated the faithful ministry offered from this beloved building whose legacy lives on in our hearts and in our continued presence in the neighborhood of South Wyoming UMC!

On August 4 of 2006 we celebrated our final worship service in our much loved "little white church on the corner". The service was attended by 135 people. It was a time to remember all those who had walked through the doors of the church over the years. It was a time to thank those who had built the church so long ago and for the legacy they had left us. It was a time to make a renewed committment to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our neighbors. It was a time to embrace the bitter-sweetness of saying good-bye to the past and of looking ahead to the future!

Rev. Dr. James W. Moore, pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist church in Houston, Texas writes: "What's so great about being a United Methodist? Simply this: It's a church that touches our hearts and stretches our minds. It's a church that accepts us as we are and yet challenges us to be better. And it's a church that gathers us to worship and then sends us out to serve in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ."

If you're searching for something to believe in or belong to, you're not alone. You are welcome and encouraged to come visit us at our beautiful facility located just west of Byron Center and 56th Street...we welcome you with "Open Hearts, Open Doors, and Open Minds"!

Church Phone Number
(616) 532-0131

Pastor Phone Number
(616) 292-6712

E-mail address: SWpastor@our-UMC.org