OUR PURPOSE & MISSION
Our purpose and mission expresses the value of why we exist as a congregation and what God desires us to become and do for the sake of God’s disciple-making mission of sending love for the world.
We exist to make Christ-like disciples who know, love, and serve God.
We exist to make Christ-like disciples who know, love, and serve God.
OUR STAFF
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Rev. Angie Gage came to be our pastor on July 1, 2023. She is not new to Harrison. From July of 2000 to July of 2002, she served here at First United Methodist Church on our staff as the Director of Ministries to Families with Children. Since then, she has completed her Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK, and is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. Pastor Angie has served churches throughout Arkansas over the last twenty-one years: Decatur UMC, Bay UMC, Paragould FUMC, and Cherokee Village UMC. She also serves as to pastor at Valley View United Methodist Church.
Pastor Angie is excited to be back in Harrison. She says she feels like she has come home and loves the community. She is looking forward to the work ahead together with the congregations and being a part of this great community. Pastor Angie is married to Rev. John Michael who is the pastor at First United Methodist Church in Mountain View, Arkansas. Her daughter, Bailey, is living in Baltimore, Maryland now. Bailey was in first and second grade the first time Pastor Angie was in Harrison. Pastor Angie has one cat named Yoda Picard. Pastor Angie is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and a commissioned EarthKeeper by the General Board of Global MInistries of the UMC. She has loved serving the United Methodist church in many ways over the last 30 years: Pastor, Children's minister, Single's Ministry Leader, Youth Director, on several boards and committees. Stop by and visit with her. She has an open door policy when she is at the church. |
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OUR HISTORY
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First United Methodist Church in Harrison can trace it’s roots all the way back to the Methodist Episcopal Churches started in the area around 1870. Due to a split in the Methodist Episcopal Church over the issue of slavery, two separate congregations were formed. The Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church South. Two buildings were constructed, one in 1876 by the Methodist Episcopal Church at the corner of Cherry and Central Ave. and the other in 1881 by the Methodist Episcopal Church South at the Corner of Pine and Stephenson Streets. Both of these churches rebuilt their original wood buildings with brick ones around 1913.
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Through the first 65 years of existence the two churches held numerous services and events together. In 1939 three different branches of the Methodist church merged. Since two of these branches existed in Harrison, their merger was called for. Since more property was owned than needed, the newly merged Harrison Methodist Church met in the building occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church South at the corner of Pine and Stephenson Streets. In 1959 a second Methodist congregation was formed in Harrison, called St. Paul’s. This required Harrison Methodist Church to be renamed First Methodist Church.
On April 23, 1968 the United Methodist Church as we know it today was formed from the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Likewise our name was changed to First United Methodist Church which we are still called today.
On January 16, 1979 the church building at Pine and Stephenson was damaged beyond repair by an explosion that occurred at the telephone company across the street. Ground was broken on our current campus located at the end of West Bower Ave. in 1980. This new building included the sanctuary, fellowship hall, offices, and classroom space which is all still in use today.
In 2004 the Family Life Center was completed which added a full size gymnasium and additional classroom space. This space is used as worship center for our IGNITE Contemporary service as well as a space used by our children’s and student ministries.
On April 23, 1968 the United Methodist Church as we know it today was formed from the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Likewise our name was changed to First United Methodist Church which we are still called today.
On January 16, 1979 the church building at Pine and Stephenson was damaged beyond repair by an explosion that occurred at the telephone company across the street. Ground was broken on our current campus located at the end of West Bower Ave. in 1980. This new building included the sanctuary, fellowship hall, offices, and classroom space which is all still in use today.
In 2004 the Family Life Center was completed which added a full size gymnasium and additional classroom space. This space is used as worship center for our IGNITE Contemporary service as well as a space used by our children’s and student ministries.