How it all started
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, a small group of us gathered to pray for God’s guidance as we started a new church and searched for a place to meet. We were starting with nothing but our faith. By the end of the meeting, the thirteen of us decided to go ahead and create a Global Methodist Church in Elgin, Texas. We talked about what we needed and when we could start meeting regularly. We had some people with musical talent who could lead us in worship, and a member who was willing to give a devotion.
On Friday, after we managed to get the use of a church fellowship hall, we sent emails to our family and friends who shared our passion for God, inviting them to join us for a worship service.
On Sunday, May 21, we held a worship service in the fellowship hall of a small Lutheran congregation in Lund. We were so grateful to have 57 people there, singing praise songs and feeling so happy to be together, strong in our beliefs, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The offering for a donation to use the fellowship hall was four times what we needed, and it gave us the start-up funds for our new church.
The small Lutheran congregation was really kind and allowed us the honor to keep meeting on Saturday evenings. Three months later, we met with the council of the Lutheran church. They were so gracious and offered to move their worship service up to an earlier time so we could start worshipping in their sanctuary at 11AM on Sundays! Pastor Greg Long, a retired pastor, came out of retirement and agreed to fill the position until God sent us the right leader. Pastor Greg has been instrumental in helping to strengthen us in our faith and has been such a blessing to this body of believers.
On July 30, 2023, we held a Congregational Meeting, and we voted 92.75% to affiliate with the Global Methodist Church. Since we started in mid-May 2023, we’ve doubled in size and continue to grow. We’re growing so much, and we know God is working in our congregation. We’ve been so blessed!
In 2025, we started looking for a new pastor with the Global Methodist Church. Presiding Elder Matt Pennington from the Mid-Texas Annual Conference has been our guide on this exciting new journey. Our Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC) prayed and asked God for guidance. We had many interviews and met so many wonderful candidates. In June 2025, we met a co-pastor couple, Erik and Stephanie Smallwood. We all felt like this is it! This is what God wanted us to do! Starting on July 1, 2025, Erik and Stephanie became our new pastors! … And it’s just beginning! We are so excited to see what God holds for us in this new chapter of Elgin Methodist Church!
Come and see for yourself!
