About
Our Vision
We are a family of Christians transformed by the wellspring of God's love. We seek to draw deeply from the well of Christ's grace and go forth into faithful ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our Mission
We seek to become a wellspring of God's grace: A source of Christian love and kindness for each other, our community, and the world.
How we are organized to do ministry at Wesley UMC
Wesley United Methodist Church organizes our ministries in two ways:
1. Small Groups: Covenanted accountability groups of 5-12 people who create community through knowing God with our heads, loving God with our hearts, and serving God with our hands.
2. Ministry Teams: Instead of large committees with multiple areas of concern, we use ministry teams that focus on only a single aspect of ministry. Do you have an idea for ministry? if so, contact the pastor, the church council chair, or one of our area coordinator/coaches (Discipleship, Missions, Evangelism, Small Groups) to help your ministry idea become part of the wellspring of God's grace!
A Short History of Wesley United Methodist Church
Wesley United Methodist Church was organized June 24, 1956, by Rev. Vernon Anderson, with the aid and support of the First United Methodist Church of Russellville and 14 people in attendance. The first service was held July 15, 1956 in the Wesley Foundation for the ATU campus with 21 charter members. The guest speaker was Rev. Henry Rickey, District Superintendent of the Conway District. One is still an active member today: Milton Rackley.A larger space was needed and the congregation was given permission to use the auditorium of the old Washington Grade School. A revival was held and the congregation grew to about one hundred people. In October, 1956 the church purchased property at East “F” and Arkansas Avenue from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at a cost of $25,000. This structure, constructed in 1913, included a sanctuary, fellowship hall, and parsonage. The move into this church was made February 15, 1957.In 1967, the church purchased land at the current location and built the church. Construction was finished in October, 1967. In March, 1979 a 6000 sq. ft. expansion of the existing church was completed.In 1993, Disciple study fellowship began at Wesley and was taught by Rev. Rex Darling, the pastor at that time. In the 90's, the youth made several mission work trips to San Marcos, Texas. In 2006, we celebrated 50 years of ministry in the Russellville community. In recent years, we took mission trips to the hurricane damaged regions of New Orleans and the tornado damaged regions of Missouri. We also sent a nurse to a medical mission in the Congo. Today, Wesley United Methodist Church is beginning a new chapter in in ministries by transforming into a congregation of small groups, each with an emphasis on spiritual growth and accountability through ministries of our head, heart, and hands.
