The Cassville United Methodist Church has quite a distinctive history.  The first Methodist Circuit Rider in Barry County came through in 1836.  Circuit Riders covered 6-12 counties and would stop by each town every one to three months to meet with the Methodists, to preach, baptize, and perform or solemnize marriages.  The Sanctuary portion of the facility was the first church in Cassville.  It was built in 1844 and the church was known as the Union Church, and was used by a number of denominations such as the Disciples of  Christ, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists.  The congregation was formally organized in 1852.    The Christian Church established their own congregation in 1887.  Next was the Baptist Church, then the Presbyterian. 

     In the 1800's the Methodist denomination split several times reflecting the language, political and social divisions in our nation.  In the 1900's the denomination healed many of those wounds and has merged several times bringing together the Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Episcopal-South, the Methodist Protestant, the Evangelical and the United Brethren together into the United Methodist Church.

     Throughout the 20th Century the Church has declined and grown with the community.  The facility has changed with the changing times adding additional educational facilities, a nursery, a pastor's study, and a basement in 1952.  In 1967, the sanctuary was enlarged and other remodeling was done.  In 1971, the Sanctuary was enlarged again, air conditioning was added with other renovations.  In 1988, an Educational wing was added with a new kitchen and a number of classrooms.  In the 1990's the Sanctuary was turned 180 degrees, refurbished and audio-visual equipment was added.

     As we enter the 21st Century we have added diversity in Worship, excellence in teaching opportunities and expanded our missions outreach from the Cassville Community to the other side of the globe. 

     We have three different Worship Services.  The two morning services follow the same theme with the same sermon.  The 8:30am service is more casual with that small country church feel.  The 10:45am service is the more traditional, with polished music.  The 6:00pm service (Sunday Night Live, or SNL) is an extemporaneous, high participation, high energy, service with a different theme and message than morning services. It varies in structure to meet the theme.  

There are many small group teaching opportunities as well.  The Pastor’s Bible Study, which uses the previous Sunday morning’s worship service as the passage.  It is an opportunity to go deeper and wider in God’s Word than possible in a sermon.  Wednesday Fellowship begins with a meal and that is followed by some really exciting classes.  Andria will be teaching the children and Joan will be teaching the youth.  For the adults we have a class on becoming a Faith-Sharing Congregation and in November will begin with Tales from the Madhouse, a really creative video series from the BBC.  And a class on Raising Kids who turn out Right.  Of course we also have Sunday School.  Check the page with details on that.

     Our outreach ministries include:  the SONbeam Preschool, the Son Quest afterschool program, using curriculum from Veggie Tales, an Emergency Food Pantry, Commodities Food Distribution, Mission trips to the Gulf of Mexico, mission trips and support of a Methodist Church in a refugee camp in Mozambique Africa, as well as participation in "Nothing But Nets", Share the Harvest, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer Project International, and the global ministries of the United Methodist Church.

 

Recent Pastors
Rev. Roger Davis 1961 - 1966
Rev. Harold Hunter 1966 - 1972
Rev. Earl Knowles 1972 - 1976
Rev. Larry Kennard 1976 - 1980
Rev. Loren Wolfe 1980 - 1983
Rev. Roger Metscher 1983 - 1989
Rev. John C. Harp Jr. 1989 - 1992
Rev. Charles Reed 1992 - 1996
Rev. Michael Davidson 1996 - 2000
Rev. John Gregory 2000 - 2007
Rev. Lee A. Porch 2007 - Present