OUR STORY
Every thriving community must have a center. The Church at Stone River’s center is experiencing and sharing the love of Jesus with all people. Our core stones and vision are found from Jesus' teachings in John 13:34-35: "So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you. Demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others."
HOW WE STARTED
Every week God is guiding this amazing church family to grow healthier into mindsets and lifestyles of discipleship. Our entire congregation takes the challenge seriously to live as God’s people making a difference in our world. We are constantly reminded that we are all lavishly loved by God, that we must love others as Jesus loves, and that we must radically demonstrate that love to everyone we meet.
On June 25, 2017, Ninth Street UMC and St. Luke UMC had their final services, celebrating a long history of fruitful ministry. That very same afternoon, leaders from those congregations along with others from Austinville UMC, came together to make this dream of a new faith community in Decatur become a reality.
The following Sunday, July 2, 2017, The Church at Stone River launched our first service boldly expecting 150 people, yet 374 children, students, and adults filled the gym.
By December of 2017, our charter was official. There were 51 people from Ninth Street, 48 from St. Luke, 19 from Austinville, and more than 100 others who either came from other churches or who had no religious affiliation. We all partnered together to create this community!
Our beginning is very unique and beautiful, but it's only a small glimpse of the reality of our community. Together we have overcome past hurts and broken dreams. The willingness to be the Body of Christ, working together to become a community, taking risks, reinventing, dreaming big dreams, and never settling, comes from our story and impacts our future.
The Church at Stone River strives to be a refuge and safe place to all. Every person will always be welcomed here. We simply attempt to treat people as Jesus does, offering love and acceptance to everyone. We pray that when you are here, you would experience nothing less than feeling loved and accepted in a community where God's love is present.
OUR FUTURE
The Church at Stone River seeks to be an extension of the Incarnational love of Jesus. Every member is asked to honor God with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
We also ask if you will strive to live into our vision and become immersed in the life of Jesus:
Will you remember that you and all people are loved by God?
Will you love others with the unconditional love of Jesus?
Will you demonstrate love to the hurting, over-churched, unchurched, marginalized, and oppressed to make disciples that multiply disciples?
The Church at Stone River is hungry to demonstrate the great love of Jesus. More and more people, across all generations, are worshipping together, growing closer to God, engaging in small groups, and joining in fellowship and sharing life together.
We will continue to grow in our understanding and demonstration of Jesus’ love for ourselves and all of creation as we courageously build a beautifully unique community here in Decatur.
WE ARE A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
John Wesley, the founder of the United Methodist Church, believed that God raised up the people called Methodist to spread scriptural holiness across the land, for regeneration of the lost, renewal of the church, and to build a solid ground to love God and one another. It is this legacy that continues to motivate and inspire us today.
The three-fold mission of the church is meaningful worship, developing strong disciples, and the redemption of the world. A United Methodist is one who loves God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength and shares that love to the ends of the earth.