Global Methodists find new home in Anglican church
Back in the decades in school when teachers picked top action words to display on a paper strip on a word wall, there was one fun word students loved to add to their vocabulary along with the word “brouhaha.” This other word was “juggernaut,” an oddly undescriptive word representing some entity that just seems to gain momentum as it rolls along until it is a force with which to reckon.
Such an inspiring juggernaut is happening in Port St. Joe, and its momentum is nothing short of amazing. Back in the summer, a group of about 15 St. Joe Methodists heard about the Global Methodist movement picking up steam in the United States, Africa, the Philippines, Europe, and Eurasia. The group met with Gene Floore and Presiding Elder Doug Pennington, district leaders in establishing Global Methodism in the Alabama/Emerald Coast Conference of Florida. By the end of a second meeting, the group voted unanimously to establish a Global Methodist Church locally.
Sometimes, when this energy leaves its anchor, it zigzags here and there, all the time picking up its speed. Hence, two zigzags happened: one foundational council member had a chance meeting at Dollar General of all places with Father Lou Little of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Yes, miracles happen in unexpected places! In their discussion, Little offered his church at 3449 Garrison Avenue to be a host church to the arising Global Methodists at the 8:30 a.m. hour on Sunday – free of charge.
Another council member, meanwhile, was calling founding St. Peter’s member Elaine Maige to ask if St. Peter’s was for sale, a rumor he had heard. As it turns out, the church was not for sale, but perhaps, could be an option by other means. Maige said that after that phone call and the dollar store talk with their rector Little, they were independently praying and thinking silently what God seemed to be telling them to do – to pass their beloved church on to a congregation sorely in need of it and in a similar plight to theirs to follow God’s command. Days later, they spoke their feelings aloud, and their dwindling congregation voted to do the unthinkable.
This first miracle, getting a host church, immediately gave a happy, small group a real place to worship – sanctuary, pews, altar, serenity, beauty. Pennington, former pastor of Lynn Haven Methodist, was totally on board, providing guidance as well as pastoring that first month in Christ Church’s existence. Lynn Haven’s church also took a supporting role in providing encouraging visiting preachers each Sunday for months.
To complete the paperwork with the state, this rolling juggernaut had to have a name. Founding charter participants had a variety of names to offer, but seeking to be a scripturally holy, Biblical-based church, the name Christ Methodist Church prevailed among this new voting group.
Christ Church by then had become more than a building. Each week, familiar faces, as well as newcomers, came and were embraced by a festive atmosphere. A whole lot of smiling and hugging were going on, they noticed. This was such a place of comfort.
By the first Sunday, Hilda Duren had selected a new piano for the use of the church groups, just as she was about to delight worshipers with her pianist talents again. The next Sunday, Ann Comforter, longtime choral director in the school system and in local churches, volunteered to lend her voice leading good Methodist songs the people wanted to hear.
A church near Panama City donated Methodist hymnals, so boxes of songbooks were stacked and ready for people to behold familiar hymns. A triumphant noise could now be made. How incredible these miraculous events were being provided quickly, people marveled to one another.
About a month in with the hugging and happiness, churchgoers were loving bits of miraculous news they heard on Sunday about their surging church. But, that Sunday during announcements, the council leader said Little wanted to speak to the Methodists that morning. Perhaps there was apprehension in some hearts that the rector was about to tell them that the arrangements had not worked out as well as anticipated and that he was rescinding the offer to meet at his church. Meek in demeanor, he stepped to the front below the dais and said that in his small Anglican congregation, there was an unspoken requirement that the last one out turn off the lights.
He said that it was apparently time for the handling of the light situation to be transferred to a capable, larger group – the Methodist stewardship. He then announced that St. Peter’s Anglican members had voted to give the church to Christ Methodist, to include the church, all furnishings, and the accompanying acreage at no cost. Gasps, crying, looking astonished, the feeling of God in the midst – all these emotional reactions created positive energy for the newest, really big zigzag!
Being a veteran of knowing just what the occasion needed, Comforter stepped to the pulpit, raised her hands, and started singing acapella the Methodist doxology: ” Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him, all creatures here below… ” Congegants joined in while Little quietly took his seat, the joy still sinking in behind him.
Later, speaking of that inspirational moment, trying to figure out in human terms why a group of good Christians, with such blood, sweat, and tears invested in building St. Peter’s, could just hand over their church, a bystanding council member advised: “Don’t try to understand it. It’s a God thing!”
At the Anglican service following the announcement, many Methodists knelt at the altar with the Anglicans to take Holy Communion from Little. Maige said the joy she feels now seated among the throng of Methodists is an overwhelming happiness for her. For years, she and others had prayed for God to tell them what His Will was regarding their abilities to properly care for the beautiful church due to diminishing membership. The previous call asking if the church was for sale stunned her, assuring her their prayers had been answered. The “God thing” continues as the membership of St. Peter’s Anglican Church officially turned over the deed to Christ Methodist Church in recent weeks.
Early on, a guest pastor sent over from Lynn Haven Methodist, Rev. Terry Tatum, and wife, Carrie, felt the calling to helm this dynamic new church. With an overwhelming vote from the church, Tatum became its active full-time pastor. The problem in hiring a pastor in St. Joe was thought to be a stumbling block because of procuring affordable housing in the current expensive real estate market. God made that happen with guidance of business-minded council members and generous donors, so the pastoral family had a new parsonage upon arrival. That juggernaut has never stopped!
On Jan. 19, six months into the church’s existence, with the blessing of Dr. Lester Spencer, conference superintendent, in attendance, Presiding Elder Pennington stood before the congregation of this new much-acclaimed Global church presiding over 93 new charter members, standing in their pews filling nearly the entire church. All were joining Christ Methodist Church (Global) of Port St. Joe at one time. In his research, Pennington determined there was no precedent in Global Methodist history worldwide of an entire sizable church congregation establishing through such a pattern of miracles in such short order.
Potential members keep coming to experience this runaway Christian juggernaut. There is such exhilaration in the ride, they feel. An adult Sunday school class has been added, a nursery established, a large youth program is underway each Wednesday under the leadership of popular teacher and youth leader, Krystal Terry, and the church is becoming involved in community activities.
An invitation is open to be a part of this dynamic Christian movement in Port St Joe. Adult Sunday School is at 10 a.m. ET with church at 11 a.m. at the 3449 Garrison Avenue location. The church can be contacted at christmethodistchurch2024@gmail.com.
Global Methodism started on May 1, 2022, as an international new denomination among modern-day followers of John Wesley, who in his early years was an Anglican priest. Its mission is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the Globe.” (globalmethodist.org). In this new denomination, those who enter find satisfaction witnessing the love of the Lord with a feeling of warmth, welcome, and love emanating from within. It happens here every Sunday. The door is open.
Pat Lowrey is a veteran English and journalism teacher at Port St. Joe Middle and High School.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.