Baker said. A youth hand bell choir grew so rapidly the church
added more bells this year.
The choir is just one of many activities the church facilitates
for its youth population. For young children, there’s a fully-
staffed nursery. For youth and teens, there’s a place for Bible
study and fellowship where they can socialize and worship
with each other.
“By and large, our youth are being nourished,” Hunt said.
Adults and seniors have plenty of activities as well from
book clubs in the church’s library to community service. The
church reaches out to the community through an after-school
program that partners with a local first-grade class to provide
tutoring help, meals and adult mentors. Seniors have a variety
of group events, including trips.
And for those who can’t make it to the church, the church
comes to them.
First United Methodist’s goal is to be influential in all aspects
of a person’s life — “from the cradle to the grave,” Hunt said.
Hunt said the church does not discriminate. Everyone is
welcome to join the Methodist community; news reports that
say otherwise are incorrect.
When new members of the congregation walk through the
church doors at 101 W. Church St. in Laurinburg, they can
expect to have their spiritual needs met; Hunt and the rest of
the leadership team aren’t satisfied with anything less.
“This church strives for excellence,” Hunt said. “It doesn’t
settle for mediocrity.”
The church holds two types of Sunday morning services:
contemporary and traditional. The contemporary service
begins at 8:30 a.m. accompanied by a praise team, and the
traditional service begins at 11 a.m., with a choir and pipe
organ music.
910-276-1592 • [email protected]
February-March 2020 • 33