Sharon Methodist Church, circa 1860

In 1825, Sharon Methodist Church began with classes that were held in members’ homes, led by George Kirby and John Davis. The first building was an unheated log cabin on the corner of Oxpen Road and Hwy 130, and in 1860 they moved to its current location on Holden Beach Road. The church recently joined the Global Methodist denomination. In honor of its Bicentennial celebration, we asked Pastor Jim Pegan to tell us how the church evolved and what it offers the community today.

“Our first building here was a 20-foot by 30-foot log cabin with handmade shingles. Over the years, with perseverance, the congregation constructed a series of buildings, culminating in the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, The Rose of Sharon Thrift Store and The Crossing that we have today.

While renovating our old sanctuary, we had a vision of creating a network of the nonprofits that serve our area and designed the space to be an outreach to others. We named it The Crossing because it’s an intersection between our church family and the community. Brunswick Family Assistance sets up a satellite office once a month. On Tuesdays, Smart Start offers their Kaleidoscope program for infants and toddlers and their parents and grandparents. Narcotics Anonymous meets here on Friday evenings, and on Wednesdays we have our own food pantry.The Girl Scouts use the space, as do many other groups. We also offer classes on Medicare and budgeting, and health screenings.

The Rose of Sharon Thrift Store generates revenue, helping us support the organizations that use The Crossing, as well as the other partners in our network, such as Christian Recovery Centers and Habitat for Humanity. Something special happens in the store all the time. Tina, our manager, is a great listener, and if a shopper is planning for a job interview, she’ll use resources to help them with a new outfit and shoes. If someone has lost their home, she knows how to help, or sends them to us.

At the root of everything we do is our identity as a family of people who love God, who love each other, and who love our neighbors. Our member Debbie Kirby says, ‘It’s a church family like no other. You can see the love that is shown through the grace on people’s faces. It’s like a light when you walk in the door.’

Sharon Methodist Church, today

The theme for our Bicentennial is ‘Great is thy faithfulness’, a tribute to those who have gone before us and laid the path for where we are today. We invite anyone who may have a connection to Sharon over the years to join us on Oct. 26 for a day of celebration with a big worship service, singing old and new songs, and food and more music. Come back home.”