History
Welcome to Wesley United Methodist Church of Ocean Springs, MS! Our mission is to bring people to Christ, and together become the light of God's love to serve our community and the world. Join us as we journey toward becoming all that God has created us to be - both individually and as the body of Christ.
Our History
At the 1984 session of the Mississippi Annual Conference, authorization was given to start a new church "way out east" of what was currently the city limits of Ocean Springs. Rev. Jim Matheny was appointed as our initial pastor and the very first official worship service was held on October 7, 1984. Until a location could be established, the congregation worshipped in the cafeteria of Magnolia Park Elementary School.
Shortly thereafter, heavily wooded land at the (then) rather rural intersection of Old Spanish Trail and Hanshaw Rd. was acquired.
While it was a good bit out of town, Gulf Park Estates subdivision was rapidly growing just to the south and it wouldn't be long before the Ocean Springs Middle School located across Hanshaw Rd. In order to clear the land and begin building, workdays were set - and over 125 people from the Ocean Springs community turned out on that first workday! While it took a while to clear the land by hand, by 1985 construction began on the original 60' x 100' building - with the members doing the majority of the work themselves.
Although the building was not yet complete (not having a roof), it was consecrated on Easter Sunday 1986. Even the spring showers couldn't dampen the joy of the founding members! By the time the building was finished, the church had more than doubled its congregation with approximately 80 members in regular weekly attendance. Shortly after the initial construction was complete, it was necessary to add an additional 2,000 square feet of much-needed classroom space.
In 2009, construction of our present beautiful worship space was completed.
