Welcome to First United Methodist Church!

Group Photo of Church Staff
Group Photo of FUMC Kitchen Staff
Image of a worship service.

First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls has a history that dates back to 1881 and a magnificent Gothic Sanctuary and facility. However, the strength of our church is not in our history – nor can it be seen in bricks and mortar. The strength of this church is in terms of our people who are working together to live out the gospel in their daily lives.

Our Mission

Our mission is to Grow in Christian Faith and Action.

At FUMC Wichita Falls, our goal is to connect you with opportunities to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. Let us work together to become more connected to God in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit through our relationships with one another and by our actions.

Meet Our Church Staff

The Church Staff is an extension of the ministry of every baptized person serving God with their unique gifts and graces. Our church staff truly represents God’s world in which we share the human experience of sin, confess our need for strength greater than our own, and share joy coming into the world demonstrated best in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Won’t you come serve with us?

Picture of the FUMC Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. John McLarty
Rev. Dr. John McLarty
Senior Pastor
Picture of the FUMC Associate Pastor, Rev. Georgia Harrison.
Rev. Georgia Harrison
Associate Pastor
Picture of the FUMC Connections Director, Jessie Smith
Jessie Smith
Connections Director
Picture of the FUMC Office Administrator, Caitlin McNeely.
Caitlin McNeely
Office Administrator
Picture of the FUMC Children's Director, Kim English.
Kim English
Children’s Director
Picture of the FUMC Youth Director, Brent Lamberth.
Brent Lamberth
Youth Director
Picture of the FUMC Music Director, Kristen Gossett.
Kristen Gossett
Music Director
Picture of the FUMC Business Manager, Lloyd Lovely.
Lloyd Lovely
Business Manager
Picture of the FUMC Communications Director, Olivia Zamora.
Olivia Zamora
Communications Director

Contact Us

Our church office hours are Monday—Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Phone: 940-766-4231
Fax: 940-766-1411
mail@fumcwf.org

Location and more

First United Methodist Church is located at 909 10th Street in downtown Wichita Falls, Texas. 

Parking

Our main parking lot is located across from the building on Travis Street. Additionally, two overflow lots are available across 10th Street.

  • Handicap and Visitor spaces are available in the main lot. Additionally, we welcome you to park at the side of the building on the curb, but please save these spaces for those who cannot easily walk far distances and never block access to a ramp.
Entrances

There are four main entrances to the building available on Sunday mornings:

  • The Chapel Entrance (located under the awning at 10th/Travis Street)
  • The Tower Door (located at 10th/Travis Street)
  • The Main Entrance to the Sanctuary (located on 10th Street)
  • The Office Entrance (located under the awning at 11th/Travis Street). We recommend using this entrance when taking a child to the nursery.

Membership at FUMC Wichita Falls

We are grateful that you are considering First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls in your faith journey! As a disciple of Jesus Christ, will you support the United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?

Joining Sunday

Anyone is welcome to join the church at the end of the worship service on any Sunday.  Recognizing that walking to the front of the congregation may be intimidating and a bit awkward, each quarter FUMC offers a Joining Sunday.

A Joining Sunday is an opportunity to learn more about FUMC Wichita Falls and to unite with the church in a relaxed setting with a small group. After discussing what it means to become a part of this congregation through our membership vows, the group takes the membership vows together.

Please contact our Connections Director, Jessie Smith, for more information about membership or to schedule a time to join. 

Five Ways to Unite with First United Methodist Church:
1. The profession of faith in Jesus Christ and baptism

A person who begins the Christian life does so through baptism, a symbol of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. For a young person or an adult, this also is an opportunity to profess one’s faith. If God is leading you to this decision, one of the pastors will be happy to visit with you about this step in your spiritual life. Upon baptism, we’ll ask this question for membership: “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, will you support the United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?”

2. Reaffirmation of faith if you have already been baptized
3. Transfer of membership from another United Methodist Church

We arrange to transfer your membership from another United Methodist Church after asking this question for membership: “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, will you support the United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?”

4. Transfer membership from another denomination

If you were baptized into the Christian faith in another denomination, it is not necessary to be re-baptized to celebrate your spiritual growth. We ask this question for membership: “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, will you support the United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?” The church staff will handle the details of notifying your former church.  

Why don’t we re-baptize?

Since baptism is ultimately a sign of what GOD DOES, not what we do, the United Methodist Church does not think that re-baptism is necessary. God always upholds God’s end of the covenant even when we do not. Baptism is God’s gift to us, and nothing was wrong with it no matter where, how, or by whom it occurred. God has not stopped loving us.  

However, we encourage a Reaffirmation of Faith (see pg. 33 in the UM Hymnal) where one acknowledges again the gift God gave in baptism. We can reaffirm that gift (accept it again without going through it again).

5. Become an affiliate or associate member

If you are a United Methodist whose membership is in another city or state and you wish to retain that membership in your “home” church, you can become an Affiliate Member. As an Affiliate Member, you are granted pastoral oversight and full participation in our church, but you will not be added to the church rolls. Members of other Christian denominations may elect to become Associate Members under the same conditions.

Please contact our Connections Director, Jessie Smith,
for more information about membership or to schedule a time to join.