Mt. Nebo had its beginnings in camp meetings that started in 1835. These revival services were held in a wooded area about one mile south and a little west of the present location. Early settlers traveled on horseback or in wagons from as far away as twenty to thirty miles and camped out for a couple of nights. The desire to worship Jesus Christ was strong and they returned two more years afterwards.

     

     Then on April 9, 1838 a tract of land at the current site was purchased for $1.00 and a log structure was built that summer. A larger frame building was constructed in 1866 and it stood until Christmas Eve 1881 when fire destroyed it. Determined to sustain ministry in this location, a new building was built the following summer. Winter revivals were common in those days and would last for five to six weeks. During the revival of 1915, forty people made professions of faith and forty-five recommitted their lives to Jesus Christ. And it never would have happened had the church of 1881 not trusted God to help them rebuild and continue to faithfully minister to their community. Two years after that great revival, the church building was moved back from the road 10 feet and a basement was dug. The added space allowed the church to welcome more people. Faithful ministry on behalf of Jesus Christ continued and in 1977 the church worked together to add classrooms, an office, bathrooms, a kitchen and fellowship hall. The sanctuary was also remodeled. The records show that many people have professed faith in Jesus and were added to the life of the church since that time. 

 

     The rich spiritual heritage of ministry at Mt. Nebo continues today as we love Christ and care about reaching out to people in His name. Together we seek to fulfill our biblical mission “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.”  It is the mission that most certainly must have motivated those who started the camp meetings in 1835.  We intend to keep praying together and working together so that the Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church of today can be a part of the spiritual history God is still making.

The 24 hours that preceeded the crucifixion of Jesus Christ still have meaning for people today. This series title and some of the ideas come from a book written by Adam Hamilton with the same title.  Some of you may want to read the book.  But whether you read it or not, come and join in the journey each Sunday between now and Easter.  Week by week we will focus on what the Bible tells us about the events surrounding Good Friday.  It was all part of God's saving work through Jesus.  And on that first Easter Sunday the resurrection brought it to completion. It's a message of hope worth celebrating every week!