Church to celebrate 57th year anniversary with service, picnic, Blessing of Marriages
A local landmark church – North Fort Myers United Methodist Church on Pondella Road – will celebrate its 57th year anniversary this month.
On Sunday Oct, 25, the church will hold a picnic at 11 a.m. open to all community members after a special celebratory service at 9:30 a.m. At the service, there will also be a special Blessing of the Marriages.
“We are inviting every couple who wants to be blessed to come to the church that Sunday,” said pastor Rev. Lia Willetts.
Willetts has been pastor there for little over one year.
“The vision of the church is to reach out in love and hope to our community,” she said.
She was a pastor in Tampa for eight years, 20 years total in Florida. She’s originally from Puerto Rico.
Her philosophy? “Come as you are and be blessed.”
Concerning reaching out, she said the church is specifically reaching out to the local hispanic community.
“We want to become a multi-cultural community of faith,” she said.
In September 2010, the church hopes to start hispanic services.
“We welcome all Latino nationalities,” she said.
Willetts holds a masters degree in theology from Emory University in Atlanta.
She also has an interesting family background – her husband is the Rev. Tom Willetts, pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.
“Having a pastoral family can be hectic,” she admitted. “We have to schedule, but it is very rewarding.”
The pastor also has two children. Tiffiana is at Princeton University and Isabel is a junior at Cape Coral High School in the International Baccalaureate Program.
Youth are a priority at the church, with growing numbers being involved.
“Our youth program has doubled,” said Willetts. “They come to find a place to belong. We also sent many to summer camp this year and hosted a Vacation Bible School.”
Her youth are also active in the church.
“Our youth are putting on a live Christmas Nativity,” said Willetts. That will be Sunday, Dec. 20, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a toy distribution for children attending worship that day at 10:30 a.m.
“We are working with the North Fort Myers Fire Department on the toy drive,” she said.
Church officials are asking for a $6 donation for the picnic, which will have hot dogs, burgers and more. They also ask that you RSVP if you plan to attend to the church office at 995-2852.
The reverend and church secretary, Ozina Frederick, shared some history from historical records provided by the church.
Church history from the church’s archives
“Life in 18th century England was dark and dismal, and into that situation came a new voice. John Wesley was one of 19 children born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. Samuel was a minister in the Church of England, a man of vision and piety.
“John was educated at the knee of his mother until he became of high school age when he went off to the Oxford College.
“There were two distinct features to be found in Wesley’s preaching: (1) he emphasized reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ; (2) Societies (small groups) were formed so that the new converts could develop and practice the disciplines of Christian life. John Wesley reached out to America to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
“As this new Christian Movement spread in America, Wesley appointed men to be lay pastors who could minister to the people. In 1784, the first Annual Conference was held in Baltimore, the Christmas Conference, and Methodism in America was on its way.
“Early in the Civil War the issue of slavery split the young church into three divisions, something that went on until 1939 when the three divisions became The Methodist Church. In 1968 there was a union with the Evangelical United Brethren and the church became The United Methodist church.
“North Fort Myers United Methodist Church was started in 1952 and the Rev. Rose Mace was appointed as the founding pastor. There were 22 charter members. The sanctuary was consecrated in 1958.
“On Easter Sunday, April 2, 1961, the first service was held. Regular worship services have been held there since December 1961. The church has continued to grow from the 22 charter members to over 1000 in the 90’s and a membership of over 200 today. The church welcomes youth with a dinner on Wednesday nights and offers an awesome variety of fun youth activities. We also offer a weekly Spanish worship service held on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m.
“In the year 2008 the church went through a physical and spiritual renewal. The Rev. Lia I. Willetts was appointed in July 2008 to expand the ministry of the church to become a multi-cultural congregation. North Fort Myers United Methodist Church welcomes all persons as they are and offers love and hope to everyone who enters the doors of the church.”
What is the vision for the future of the church?
“This year the church has been rebuilding, physically and spiritually,” said Willetts. “One highlight this year was in June, when we went out into the street to meet our neighbors, bring a gift, a prayer and a word of hope.”
“We visited 1,416 homes and businesses,” reported Frederick.
North Fort Myers United Methodist Church is located at 81 Pondella Road. The phone number is 995-2852. The church offers baptisms, weddings and memorial services for all.