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Although we experienced a decline in membership just as other Protestant denominations did in the 1980's and 1990's, our church has remained strong in spirit and faith.
Once again through a great congregational effort and the vision of our pastor Robert Allen, plans were made in the fall of 1997 for a major fundraising campaign and remodeling of the entire church. A goal of $1,700,000 was set, and an organization for the Capital Funds Campaign, entitled Building for Tomorrow, Taking Care of Today, was put in place.
Ministry Fair Expo '98 created great interest. A video of needs was produced. Small dinners in members' homes served as a means of informing people of the plans and getting their commitments. Sunday School classes held garage sales to raise money. On September 28, 1997, Commitment Sunday was held, followed by an all church luncheon at MPEC (Multi Purpose Events Center). On October 5, an Advance Commitments Desert was held, followed by a prayer vigil. The campaign was a success, and a contract with Fulton McGrath Construction was signed on May 21, 1998. We exceeded our goal with a total raised of $2,600,000. This enabled us to add the Prothro Family Atrium. By the end of 1998, eighty percent of the pledges had been paid by this group of faithful people.
The Planning and Oversight Committee began holding meetings on October 23, 1997, and actual work commenced on May 28, 1998. During the remodeling process, Sunday School classes, the nursery, the Children's Center, and the staff, among others, had to move to temporary quarters. Rain poured into the building more than once, but the major disruption was for asbestos abatement, which was costly in both money and time. For three Advent Sundays, worship services were held in Fellowship Hall. Just before Christmas, the Sanctuary became available for use with new carpet and pew cushions, darker woodwork, and redone chancel area. When the project was mostly completed in March of 1999, we had shiny new quarters for the entire church, including a redone Sanctuary, new classrooms, new windows, a reworked Travis Street entrance, two elevators, and a television studio. The old courtyard between the Education Building and Fellowship Hall was enclosed to form the atrium. The Prothro Family Atrium, consecrated on May 2, 1999, now provides us a much-needed indoor recreation area with walking track and space for basketball and volleyball. It also serves as a center for children's play, luncheons, vigils, wedding receptions, concerts, and family gatherings.
Our church today is active and involved in a many-faceted and ever-evolving program. With our newly refurbished building with its new conveniences and happy surroundings, our outreach can continue and grow. The mission activities involve both the youth and the older church members. They are part of the mission teams in the Habitat for Humanity, Shalom Zone, and Christmas in April. Offerings are taken twice a year at Christmas and Easter to support the Methodist Children's Home, Methodist Mission Home, Wichita Falls Food Bank, Starr Bowen (our missionary to Cuba), Faith City Mission, Interfaith Ministries, and United Methodist Committee on Relief. We have built three churches in Africa, supplying the ministers' salary and a bicycle for transportation for each.
Our youth are involved in Bible Study, athletic programs, and ministry to people of our community. This day we are sending our youth in mission to Mexico and different parts of the United States, taking part in various projects, such as Camp Aldersgate in Arkansas and the Applachian Service Project in West Virginia. As mentioned before, they have continued one of our great traditions with the Summer Youth Musical, which extends back to 1948.
The music program has always been important to our church. The music ministry is active with its choirs and other special programs, including Wednesday noon luncheon concerts during Lent and Advent. Advent is highlighted with special services every Sunday night, including hanging of the greens, an organ concert, and a choir concert.
The YES (Young Energetic Seniors), formed in 1995, is a ministry for older adults. Its program includes a yearly fashion show, dinner dances, Christmas Tea and Lights event, and Roadrunner trips. The Roadrunners have been to, among other places, Branson, Missouri, Natchez, Mississippi, Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as Dallas and Fort Worth on day trips. DUO (Do Unto Others) is a transportation service for members of our congregation with medical needs. ICU (Intentional Caring Unit) supports members who need special attention. Once a year, a banquet for senior adults is held, at which time the Barham Award for volunteerism is presented.
The Christian education department has a full Sunday School program as well as holding special events, such as Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Carnival, Christmas Gift Making Workshop, and Vacation Bible School. Our spiritual life has been enriched in years past by the Bethel Bible Series and a weekly Early Bird Bible Study at 6:45 A.M. among others. Today this is continued with Disciple Bible Study, which was begun in 1987, on Sunday and Monday evenings, and the Society of St. Simeon, founded in 1992. Our pastor, Robert Allen, held a very popular study of Revelation in April and May of 1999. Sunday afternoon services are held periodically at Mid-Town Manor, Rolling Meadows, Presbyterian Manor, and Allred State Prison.
Moving to join the modern technological age, in April of 1998, the church began posting our own web site on the Internet and made it possible for the church and its members to communicate through electronic mail. Since April of 1999, the Sunday worship services have been televised weekly.
These people of faith had worked together, suffered inconveniences, and now could be proud of what our church building had become. Little did it resemble the first one-room church on the corner of Tenth and Scott Streets. As a living community, with joy, enthusiasm, and love for our fellow Christians, we move into the future to do God's work prayerfully trusting in his guidance.
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