Our Mission
De Soto United Methodist Church is committed to Honoring God, spiritually enriching its members and changing lives, and transforming communities by reaching, welcoming, and engaging.
Our History
The De Soto United Methodist Church is a diverse Christian community. We are dedicated to welcoming and showing the love of Christ to all people. We seek to build a community of grace – where all can love and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ through vibrant worship, mission outreach, adult and children education, a fantastic youth group, meals, and community activities.
Our founding members formed the church in 1858 as the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was the first organization in town. Our congregation first met in homes and then in the De Soto Hotel as membership increased. The first building dedication occurred in 1870. We organized our first Sunday school in 1893 followed by the Epworth League, now known as our youth program, in 1894.
The church grew considerably through the 1920s and a tent revival in 1927 brought “80 Souls to Christ.” New members were baptized in the Kaw River. Around that time, gas and water were installed in the old building.
The second church building was built in 1942. De Soto purchased the Prairie Center Church and moved it into town in two pieces. 1945 brought the organization of the church choir and new additions to the building were added in 1953.
In 1983, the Church purchased the present 5-acre site and built the third building on the solid rock foundation. The first services were in June 1991, and we continue to worship God, make disciples of Jesus, educate our next generations, serve the community, and share love as a faith family ever since!
Our Denomination
The Methodist movement was started by John Wesley in the 18th Century in England and significantly impacted the nation, and the number of Methodist Christians grew tremendously. It crossed the Atlantic Ocean and spread all over America.
Bishop Reuben H. Mueller, representing The Evangelical United Brethren Church, and Bishop Lloyd C. Wicke of The Methodist Church, created the United Methodist Church in 1968 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.
What We Believe
“The United Methodist Church is a global denomination that opens hearts, opens minds and opens doors through active engagement with our world. The mission of The United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as “practical divinity” has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.’”