History:

For around two centuries, this congregation has existed to make deciples of Jesus Christ and help them discover the joy of being members of the Body of Christ. Each person who joins here becomes a participant in this rich history. We began through the labors of circuit-riding Methodist preachers who were given the charge to spread throughout America the revival that began in England under John Wesley. They were called circuit-riders because they would ride the "circuit" on horseback, planting and nurturing congregations in the territory assigned to them. The spread of the Methodist movement was a central part of the settlement of America and the Second Great Awakening of the late 18th and early 19th century. The Methodist Episcopal congregation in Sandersville appears to have officially formed in 1806. The first building was a small, wooden structure located in what is now the Old City Cemetery.

Each generation is charged with meeting both the spiritual and temporal needs of the times and the life of the surrounding community. Since our sanctuary was the first in Sandersville, we opened it up for use by other denominations until they built their own sanctuaries. When more room was needed we relocated "next door" to our present location in 1859. As our nation became divided, our congregation also aligned itself with the Methodist Episcopal Church South. During the War Between the States, it was the Methodist pastor, the Rev. J.D. Anthony, who was instrumental in saving Sandersville during Sherman's march to the sea.

Our programming has also grown as opportunities for ministry have emerged. Our youth choir program has traveled all over the country over the last 23 years through our annual choir tours. We began a weekday Pre-school just over 20 years ago. We have an extensive music program for all ages that has been built up by our music director, Joan Averett, who will be celebrating 20 years with us this November. We have expanded our staff over the years to include a full-time youth director and full-time administrative assistant. We are venturing into more high-tech ministries such as KidStuf, which seeks to reach children and their families through the latest in the children's television culture along with the timeless virtues of our faith. We believe that God will lead us in the future as he has led us in the past, if we continue to pursue our reason for existing: to make disciples of Jesus Christ and help them discover the joy of being members of the Body of Christ.