The Hazard United Methodist church can trace its beginning to 1905 when Hazard Methodist Episcopal Church purchased two lots for one dollar each from Edward and Amelia Munn and the Lincoln Land Company. The third lot to the North may have been added during the 1925 remodeling. Excerpts from Methodist Historical Center in Lincoln, NE and are as follows:

        1897 -"... at Hazard we have an active Epworth League."
        1898 -"The services at Hazard have been well attended."
        1901 - 1902 - "... during the past year Brother J.A. Stevens, a
                   uperannuate of the Iowa Conference, has regularly preached to the
                   people at the Hazard appointment."
        1905 - 1906 "A new church has been completed and dedicated at Hazard,
                   free from all debt at a cost of $1,592.00."

Since there was no church building before 1905, services may have been held at the homes of the congregation until the building was constructed. Some of the older people remember that church services of an earlier day were often held on Sunday evening.

The Hazard Church has almost always been served by ministers who also served at either Litchfield or Ravenna, but in 1924 and 1925, W.E. Wilson, who was very English, served only Hazard. Over thirty ministers' names appear on the records as having served the Hazard Church. Two of those listed were women, Grace Anderson for a short time in 1927 and Lois Payne in 1938. No names were listed from 1913 until 1922, so two possibilities exist; no church services were held during those years or the records are missing. No minister was listed for 1943, either. The earliest local record found showed that John Boecking joined the church in 1896.

On May 31, 1925, a very large number of people were received into the church. 1925 was also the year the church was remodeled. More space was added to the back of the church and the "Platform" or "stage" was part of that. A vestibule was added to the front of the church and the bell tower which had been at the side of the church was raised and placed over the new vestibule. A full basement was dug under the entire structure. A much later addition was the front entrance to the basement.

In the early 1970's several families worked together to do further remodeling. Since the "stage" was quite high and unpopular with most, a new lower platform was built with heating ducts rearranged.
Paneling has also been added to the front and back walls, covering two small windows which had been in the front.

Through the years there have been numerous church related organizations and activities. The women's organization was known as the Ladies Aid for many years, then became Women's Society of Christian Service (WSCS) and is now the United Methodist Women (UMW). Records show Epworth League and many remember Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). Sunday School has been an important part of Christian education, although there were some years when none was held.

Activities included some for fun and fellowship and some for fund raising. There have been picnics, parties, showers, bazaars, soup suppers, country stores, and some fund raising has been done with an every member canvass.

The Hazard church remodeled again in 1987, when restrooms were added. A hail storm went through the area in the summer of 1991, causing considerable damage to the church. At this time window panes were replaced, a new roof, and other repairs.

The Rev. Mark W. Cadenbach now serves both Hazard and Ravenna Congregations