Bemiss United Methodist Church:

Three Centuries, Three Locations, One Fellowship of Believers

Past

Dating back to 1825, Bemiss United Methodist Church possesses a rich heritage. The original church, located in piney woods 7 miles southeast of the Bemiss community and known as Antioch Church, was a one room structure that doubled as church and school. Two men instrumental in the construction of the building were Thomas James Burgsteiner and James Davis. When the small church flourished, the congregation members responded by erecting a larger building at the piney woods site. James and Perry Davis, who were members of the church, cut timbers from their land. Yellow pine, hand-cut and hand-dressed, was used to construct the church and pews

Roads around Antioch Church were unimproved and at times impassible. The G & F Railroad extended its line in 1911 to Bemiss. Antioch’s attendance began to decrease, so the church members elected to move the church to Bemiss. In 1920, the building was torn down, rebuilt beside the railroad tracks in Bemiss on land donated by John T. Mathis, and renamed Bemiss Methodist Church. Bemiss Methodist Church was on the Ray City Charge and the parsonage was located in Ray City. About 1935, electric lights were installed. In 1944, four church school rooms were added to the one-room building.

In 1961, the members of Bemiss Methodist Church again felt the need for relocating the church. The decision was made to move across the railroad tracks and several blocks west to a site on Georgia Highway 125, known as Moody Field Road. Two acres of land was purchased and construction began on a new concrete block building in the fall of 1961. This building had classrooms, a recreation hall, kitchen, and rest rooms.

In 1972, the church took another venture of faith. A parsonage was built, and the church hired a full-time minister.

The new church, built on the present Bemiss Road site, served its members well until 1983 when, once again, church growth necessitated more space. Plans were made for a new sanctuary and for the existing building to be renovated into new Sunday School rooms, bathrooms, offices, and a nursery. The new building was completed at cost of $380,000, and the first service held in our present day sanctuary was on November 22, 1987. About that exciting event, Church Historian Stoy Edwards wrote:

“November 22, 1987 was a red letter day that we had waited for so long. It was the day we moved into the church for the first service. Many worked for weeks and many nights, while construction was still in progress, to clean and prepare the building for this day. We were a proud people!! We had a covered dish dinner at noon. Many friends came to worship with us too. The service was outstanding. It was truly a ‘happy day.’ Elva Nelson and Katherine Bell played the piano, the choir sang We Are Standing on Holy Ground, and the congregation joined in the singing. This brought happy tears to my old eyes. Rev. Ernest Bass preached the first service in a new church, after having no church for five months. His sermon was titled ‘What Mean These Stones.’ After dinner, Ray City Baptist Church presented a musical program led by Tom Tillman.” - Stoy Walker Edwards, Church Historian

In April 1992, additional acreage and a house were purchased. This house became the new parsonage and the former parsonage became a rental house.

From 1877 to 1952, 35 pastors served the church. Early ministers of Antioch Church included P. R. Fain, Brother McCord, Ed Fain, and Brother Dixon. Since Bemiss Church became full-time, these pastors have served here: Richard Mitchell, Paul Dupree, Tom Nichols, Bill Willis, Lee Strother, Earnest Bass, Alan Miller, Dennis Stalvey, Bob Shell, and James Sapp. As a great testament to the faith of her people, Bemiss United Methodist Church has had six young men go into the ministry: Julius Hawkins, Doug Mays, Roger Mays, David Ford, Larry Hauser and Gary Minton.

Today, rapid development of North Lowndes County has transformed our rural farming community into one of the fastest growing areas in South Georgia. We appreciate the spiritual guidance and planning of our predecessors as we have evolved from a one room structure to our present day facility, which is home to 318 members. At Bemiss United Methodist Church, we embrace the traditions of our past as we encounter the challenges of our future, eagerly looking forward to continuing service to our Lord and community.

BUMC Present and Future

Bemiss United Methodist Church has entered the 21st century poised to take advantage of tremendous opportunities God has offered to us.

At BUMC, our mission is to know Christ and to make Him known. This is our church vision statement: God envisions Bemiss UMC as a loving congregation of Christians who are growing in their faith and reaching out to the lost, bringing them into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, then helping them grow into mature disciples.

Activities at our church are directed by our 7 year strategic plan, God’s Plan for Our Future 2005-2012. Copies of the Plan are available at the church office.