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First Church Lexington Becomes Multi-site Church

enlarge>> Worship at First UMC's Andover Campus

Written: 10/31/2007

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”  
I Corinthians 3:11

Two locations.  One firm foundation.  These words help tell the story of how 218-year-old First UMC in downtown Lexington birthed its satellite location in the Andover neighborhood, an area with no United Methodist presence.  Standing on the shoulders of many others who had spent much time in prayer and planning, First Church gathered a core planning group that put together an action plan taking a year to complete.  The plan included commitments from a base of downtown First Church and neighborhood people, remodeling the existing sanctuary, assigning pastoral leadership, hiring appropriate staff, and committing to a traditional worship church presence on a long-term basis.  

Rev. Paul Brunstetter, lead pastor, and Rev. Todd Nelson, Andover pastor, worked closely with the congregation to help bring about an understanding of what “two locations” meant.  It’s a different concept and much of it will need to be “lived into,” but most everyone is excited about what our possibilities are in ministry.  For example, Andover provides much needed green space for recreation, which is not available downtown.   In addition, downtown can provide an urban mission component to Andover that a suburban location would not have.

After concentrating mailers, signage, neighborhood newspaper ads, personal presence in the neighborhood and a well-placed feature story in the Lexington newspaper, First United Methodist Church Andover opened with 300+ in attendance on October 7, 2007.  Bishop Al Gwinn, a recent forerunner and champion for the Andover church, was in attendance to receive communion and offer the morning prayer.  He and Joyce were overjoyed to celebrate with those who worked so hard to see this ministry dream realized.

“Our goal is to do whatever it takes to reach others for Christ,” said Nelson. “Our church dates back to 1789 and continues to flourish in its rich history of traditional worship.  Now we are recreating ourselves as a neighborhood location, just down the street for the fastest growing section of Lexington, with a church that feels like home.” 

For more information, visit http://1stumcandover.blogspot.com.

Marsha Berry

This news story is related to:
Lexington First church
Lexington district