Fellowship Church History

(Compiled from records of church historian Sue Nakamura; taken from the Reedley Exponent Centennial Edition, October 27, 1988)

The history of our church and the Japanese Christian Ministry in Reedley is a story of our Issei (first generation) men and women who laid the foundation, and built so faithfully and well over these many years.

Shortly after arriving from Japan in 1906, two young men, Yempei Wake and Ichizo Kitahara, turned to the Christian faith and became members of the established Fresno Japanese Church.  Soon many families settled in Reedley, and these two men felt a great need for Christian teaching to the church.  Under the guidance of Reverend T.J. Machida of the Fresno Church, a Sunday School was started at the local Japanese Community Hall in 1921.

In 1929, the Fellowship Club was formed for the young Niseis (second generation).  Devotional services and meetings were conducted at the First Methodist Church.  The Japanese Hall was used for social activities.

From 1938 until the time of World War II evacuation in 1942, worship services and meetings were conducted at the hall with the help of the lay people from the Mennonite Brethren Church.

Post war years brought the Japanese families back to the Reedley area and Sunday School classes were resumed at the Japanese Community Hall.  Because it lacked a church atmosphere, the concerned parents looked for other places more suitable.  The First Methodist Church offered the use of its facilities at 12^th and f Street.

From the beginning, Reedley has been a parish of the Fresno Japanese Methodist Church, and the pastors of that church came here to minister and do evangelistic work.  The older people became members of the Fresno church.

As the desire increased for an organized church, a steering committee was selected with George Katsuki as its chairman.  Committee members were: Ichizo Kitahara, Arajiro Watari, Dr. Akira Tajiri, Ed Yano, Thomas Osato, George Araki, William Minami, and Martha Kurihara.  Many of the members living in Reedley transferred their membership from the Fresno Church and formed the nucleus for the new church.  The Methodist Fellowship Church was formally organized on November 28, 1954.

In January of 1955, the first monthly church bulletin was published.  On March 4 of the same year, the first annual Oriental Food Bazaar was held at the First Methodist basement.

As the church family grew in number and with the steady increase in the Sunday School enrollment, there was the need for a church building of our own.  It was officially decided that the present church building be purchased from the Full Gospel Tabernacle.  The Building Fund Pledge was begun with the goal of $17,000.  Thereafter, week of “work nights” continued for repairing, adding more space, painting and other work.

On October 7, 1956, we held the first worship service in our church building with a communion service conducted by Revered K. Harper Sakaue from Fresno.

On August 10, 1956, Bertha Starkey, a retired missionary to Japan, came to our church.  She made home visits, helped with the organization of the Women’s Society of Christian Service, taught the adult Bible class and ministered to the Issei in Japanese.  The congregation richly benefited from her dedicated service and faith in the church and its work.

The church consecration service was held on November 25, 1956 with Reverend Harper Sakau conducting.  The sermon was delivered by supt. Reverend Taro Goto of the Pacific Japanese Provisional Conference.

In June 1957, Rev. Joseph Sakakibara was appointed to Reedley and Dinuba.  Under the leadership of our bilingual pastor, the Issei formed the Hoshi Kai in November of 1958.

The Rev. Harper Sakau was appointed to our church in 1959.  A parsonage was rented from Mr. And Mrs. Ichizo Kitahara, and we purchased a car for the pastor.

Then on Dec. 10 1961, the church dedication service and mortgage burning ceremony were held.  The dedication sermon was delivered by the Supt. Rev. Taro Goto.  Lay leaders were Ichizo Kitahara and George Katsuki.

In 1962, the present parsonage at 1380 D Street was purchased.  Rev. Sakaue continued to serve us faithfully working to win people to Christ, and the congregation continues to grow.

In May of 1964, at the last annual session of the Pacific Japanese Provisional Conference, the Rev. Roy K. Sasaki was appointed as our first full time minister.  He worked well with all the people in the community, especially with the young people, and worship service attendance of young people increased greatly.

Rev. Shiro Kazato was appointed to our church in June 1966.  Church membership was 86, with Sunday School enrollment of 106 and 11 teachers.  In 1970, Rev. Shiro Kazato was reappointed to Tacoma, Washington, and Rev. William Kaboyashi of the Fowler Free Methodist Church came to share his ministry on a part-time basis.  This in the year, the church facilities were shared with the First United Methodist Church because their church building was condemned.

May 1972, Rev. William Kobayashi was granted a two-year leave of absence from the Free Methodist Conference to serve the Reedley Church.  The Kobayashi family moved into the parsonage and the church membership was 110.

November 10, 1974, was the 20^th Anniversary Observance of our church.  Special speaker was Rev. T.J. Machida, who in 1921, helped the Issei in Reedley form the first Christian group.

In 1975, Rev. William Kobayashi officially joined the Methodist Conference and is appointed to the Fellowship Church.  In 1977, a National Centennial Celebration of Japanese Christian Missions in North America (1887-1977) was held in San Francisco.  We are proud and humble to be a part of it.

In 1978, after 7 years of faithful ministry in our church, Rev. Kobayashi leaves to serve the Christ Methodist Church in Fresno.  Rev. Mark Moon is appointed to our church with Reed Pope as associate.  They minister to the two Methodist churches in Reedley.  Rev. Moon and his family reside at the FUMC parsonage, and the Popes moved into our parsonage.  The two churches have combined classes using both facilities.  The Japanese language service is conducted by Rev. Moon.

In 1979, Rev. John N. Dumermuth is appointed associate pastor to the two Reedley churches.  On Dec. 2 1979, the 25^th anniversary is celebrated with Rev. William Kobayashi as special guest speaker.  Honored at the luncheon were the Issei members of our church: Arajiro Watari, Shizuko Watari, Kiyo Kitahara, Hiteyo Nakashima, Take Sare, Hisa Yamagata and Michiko Uyeda.

1980, Moon and Dumermuth continue to serve both churches; Vacation Bible School is cosponsored by both churches as well.  1981, 26^th annual Oriental Food Bazaar held in March.  Church membership is 118.

1981, Rev. Nancy Yamasaki is appointed to our church at Annual Conference.  She is a recent graduate of the Pacific School of Religion with a Master of Divinity. She will complete a course in Japanese language in Monterey, California.  May 23, 1982 a mortgage burning ceremony was held at the parsonage with an open house.

In 1983, the first ZAKURO or pulpit exchange took place on June 5^th.  Pastor Nancy Yamasaki joined Revs. Alpha Goto of Palm UMC Dinuba and Gary Barbaree of Christ UMC Fresno in exchanging pulpits and serving communion.  During May of that year a special recognition dinner was held for Jake and Bonnie Auernheimer to express our gratitude to two special friends for their love and encouragement and active participation for many years.

1983, Richard Koyama came to serve our church from Idaho.  Japanese American UMC churches celebrated 100 years at Pine UMC in San Francisco in September 1984.   In 1985 a “Cultural Awareness Day” was sponsored by the Zakuro Group on March 23.  About 60 SS children from Fresno Christ, Dinuba Palm and Reedley Fellowship UMCs participated.  Rev, Akihiko Tominaga begins his ministry to the Nichigo (Japanese speaking) members under the sponsorship of the Zakubo Language Ministry of Christ, Palm, and Fellowship UMCs Special Recognition Day dinner was held to honor the Isseis of the church: Arajiro Watari (97), Mrs. Hisae Yamagata (94), Mrs. Kiyo Kitahara (90), Mrs. Take Sano (85), Mrs. Hiteyo Nakashima (84), Mrs. Shizuko Watari (82).

1986,Pastor Koyama resigns as pastor.   Rev. Bert Weeks of Clovis, a retired Methodist minister of the Central California District, serves as part-time pastor until the end of 1986.  Mr. Toshimasa Yamamoto comes to Reedley two weekends a month to minister to the Japanese-speaking group, sponsored by Zakuro Language Ministry.  He also serves Livingston UMC in addition to Fresno Christ, Dinuba Palm and Reedley Fellowship UMCs.

In 1987, Rev. Harold Thain, Sr. was appointed as interim pastor.  Weekly Bible study is reactivated and SS continues to do well.  UMW provides leadership and programs and provides a strong backbone of our church.   In April 1988 SPRC announced that Rev. Toshikara Kuwabara would being serving our church on July 1.  Pastor Kuwabara is bilingual and services are conducted in both English and Japanese.  He is active within the California/Nevada Annual Conference, and will guide us in the revitalization of our church.

Because of the dedication of ministers and laymen who have served so faithfully, our church has a wonderful spiritual heritage.  We pray that the church continues to provide for the spiritual needs of our people and continues to play an important part in the growth of our community.  Our church membership is 119; SS enrollment is 26.