What Methodists Believe

The people of Maple Springs are the spiritual daughters and sons of a man named John Wesley. The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley distilled the essence of the Christian faith down to two basic principles: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Of course, those are also the two Great Commandments of Jesus Christ. As Christians and as Methodists, that is what we are about at Maple Springs: loving God and loving the people who matter so much to him--our neighbors. This is lived out in worship and service to our community.

To learn more about the United Methodist Church, go to www.umc.org.

BEGIN Growing in Christ

BECOME Rooted in Christ

At Maple Springs, our Mission is to be Rooted, Growing, and Bearing Fruit for Christ. This Mission is spelled out in John 15 where Jesus says:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed[b] by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing."

Here at Maple Springs, we value being Rooted in Christ. This is all about your living relationship with the living God. When you are rooted in Christ, you receive nutrients for living.

How do I get Rooted?

Step One: Commit to Worship (When you are in town, make this commitment to attendance)

Step Two: Commit to Regular Weekly “Time with God” (Make a daily time to read the scriptures and pray)

Step Three: Commit to Serve rather than “be served” (Choose one of our Serving Opportunities and get involved)

Step Four: Attend The PATH to Membership Classes to learn how to get fully connected with Christ and Maple Springs.

We believe that if you will make these commitments, then you will begin to grow your roots deep in Christ.

REACH OUT by Bearing Fruit for Christ

Here at Maple Springs, we talk about begin rooted and growing in Christ. Being rooted and growing leads inevitably to “bearing fruit” that is to reaching out beyond yourself.

For some people, reaching out actually precedes the ROOTED part. This is okay and is understand as God working in your life already! For instance, your heart might already beat fast for the poor and you choose to work in the Food Pantry, yet are not even sure about who Christ is. Guess what? You are in a good place! Christ is at work in you already! Your roots are already growing in Him.

We believe that “Reaching Out” to those in need is an essential component of following Jesus!

Opportunities to Reach Out include:

• Food Pantry Ministry
• Prison Ministry
• Old Town School Ministry
• Project H.O.P.E.
• Other opportunities

Church History

With these words, the writer of Revelation speaks of a new heaven and new earth yet to come. But these words about the future also describe our past. When people gathered to worship at "the outdoor preaching place" on Henry Livengood's farm, they would not only drink from the well-spring of a gospel of grace and forgiveness, they would draw water from "two beautiful springs...bubbling between the rocks under the roots of a large maple tree." And thus Maple Springs was born.

Since 1848, God has guided his people to build brush arbors, log cabins, frame buildings, a brick sanctuary, and a family life center. In that time, like a "well watered garden" our church family has grown and grown.