Our Mission: 

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by proclaiming the good news of God’s grace and by exemplifying Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor, thus seeking the fulfillment of God’s reign and realm in the world. The fulfillment of God’s reign and realm in the world is the vision Scripture holds before us. The United Methodist Church affirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Lord of all. As we make disciples, we respect persons of all religious faiths and we defend religious freedom for all persons. Jesus’ words in Matthew provide the Church with our mission: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you” (28:19-20), and “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. . . . You must love your neighbor as you love yourself” (22:37, 39).


This mission is our grace-filled response to the Reign of God in the world announced by Jesus. God’s grace is active everywhere, at all times, carrying out this purpose as revealed in the Bible. It is expressed in God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah, in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt, and in the ministry of the prophets. It is fully embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is experienced in the ongoing creation of a new people by the Holy Spirit.


John Wesley, Phillip Otterbein, Jacob Albright, and our other spiritual forebears understood this mission in this way. Whenever United Methodism has had a clear sense of mission, God has used our Church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures, and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the world. In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus’ mandate to love God and to love our neighbor and to make disciples of all peoples.

Church History

The Senatobia Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in 1880 with the Reverend A. P. Sage as first pastor.

 

The organization was composed of some former members of the old Carolina Church, which was one mile south of Senatobia, and of some former members of the Ebenezer Church, two miles west of town. At first, they united with Bethesda Presbyterian and built a union church where the Presbyterian Church now stands on West Main Street in Senatobia.

 

The Methodists withdrew and built a church on a lot across the street from the present building. It was a brick structure with a steeple, belfry and a small annex of two rooms. This church advanced all the while doing the Lord’s work and growing in membership. In 1925 Sunday school rooms and a ladies’ parlor were added.

 

On March 13, 1932 the 11 o’clock service was interrupted by an announcement that the building was on fire. All in attendance made a hasty and orderly exit without panic or casualty. After six months and three weeks a new church was built, retaining the old walls. During the time of construction the Christian Church on Tate Street was not in use, and the Church was able to continue its ministry in this building, which was adequate except for Sunday school classroom space. This need was met by using the upper story of the Tate County Courthouse.

 

In 1939 the Senatobia congregation became the First Methodist Church after the union of the Methodist Episcopal Church south and The Methodist Church.

 

In 1952 a building campaign began to purchase land across the street for a larger facility. On October 7, 1956, the last service was held in the old building, followed by a communion service in the new building. In 1961 a consecration service was held for a new sanctuary, with the dedication taking place in 1971. In 1980, our centennial year, a consecration service was held for a new fellowship hall, kitchen and conference area.

 

In 2005, Senatobia First United Methodist Church celebrated 125 years of service to the Lord.

 

 

History of the UMC

On April 23, 1968, The United Methodist Church was created when Bishop Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church joined hands at the constituting General Conference in Dallas, Texas. With the words, "Lord of the Church, we are united in Thee, in Thy Church and now in The United Methodist Church," the new denomination was given birth by two churches that had distinguished histories and influential ministries in various parts of the world.

 

Theological traditions steeped in the Protestant Reformation and Wesleyanism, similar ecclesiastical structures, and relationships that dated back almost two hundred years facilitated the union. In the Evangelical United Brethren heritage, for example, Philip William Otterbein, the principal founder of the United Brethren in Christ, assisted in the ordination of Francis Asbury to the superintendency of American Methodist work. Jacob Albright, through whose religious experience and leadership the Evangelical Association was begun, was nurtured in a Methodist class meeting following his conversion.