2005 marked the 150^th year of First United Methodist Church serving the Pontiac community.  We are very excited about the blessings God has given us over the last century and a half.  Pontiac First is a church rich in history and tradition with a proud heritage of service in missions.  Our family comes together to celebrate the blessings God has given us and we come together to cry when life's burdens are weighing on our lives. The congregation of First United Methodist Church is not just a group of people that meet together on Sunday mornings. We are a living breathing family of believers, committed to caring, loving, and praying for one another.  We hope you take a moment to learn a little more about our church and our family that worships within its walls.

Our Mission
Facility
Location
Directions
Our History
About the United Methodist Church
 

OUR MISSION

"The Mission of First United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ."

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)

First United Methodist Church is deeply committed to living out the Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples in all that we do.  From hosting high school dances, to building schools in Haiti, to operating the Rev. Gordon Peabody Memorial Food Pantry, to welcoming visitors on Sunday morning, we live it out in our hearts, our minds, and our actions.

FACILITY

Facility map and information coming soon.

LOCATION

First United Methodist Church is located in the heart of beautiful downtown Pontiac one block east of the Livingston County Courthouse.  It's central location makes it easy to access from anywhere.

DIRECTIONS

From The North
Heading south on Interstate 55, turn RIGHT onto ramp at Exit 197.  At the top of the ramp turn LEFT (east) onto Illinois 116.  Proceed going straight through two stoplights, you will pass Wal-Mart on your right.  Continue another mile and turn LEFT (north) at the next stoplight.  There will be a Walgreen’s and a McDonald’s at this corner.  Go straight for ¾ of a mile and turn RIGHT (east) at the next stoplight.  The State Bank of Graymont will be at this corner.  You are still on Illinois 116, however through Pontiac this road is referred to as Howard Street.  Continue straight for two blocks until the next stoplight, proceed going straight (east) through this stoplight.  One block later you will cross a set of railroad tracks.  Go straight for several more blocks until the next stoplight, this will be the corner of Mill Street and Howard Street.  Continue through this stoplight and turn RIGHT (south) at the next stoplight, which is one block away.  This is the corner of Main Street and Howard Street.  South of Howard Street, Main is one-way heading south.  Go one block to a stop sign, this the corner of Main Street and Madison Street.  Continue one block south to the corner of Main Street and Washington Street, Washington Street is one-way heading east.  Turn LEFT (east) and go one block.  First United Methodist Church will be on your left.

From The South
Heading north on Interstate 55, turn RIGHT onto ramp at Exit 197.  At the top of the ramp turn RIGHT (east) onto Illinois 116.  Proceed going straight through two stoplights, you will pass Wal-Mart on your right.  Continue another mile and turn LEFT (north) at the next stoplight.  There will be a Walgreen’s and a McDonald’s at this corner.  Go straight for ¾ of a mile and turn RIGHT (east) at the next stoplight.  The State Bank of Graymont will be at this corner.  You are still on Illinois 116, however through Pontiac this road is referred to as Howard Street.  Continue straight for two blocks until the next stoplight, proceed going straight (east) through this stoplight.  One block later you will cross a set of railroad tracks.  Go straight for several more blocks until the next stoplight, this will be the corner of Mill Street and Howard Street.  Continue through this stoplight and turn RIGHT (south) at the next stoplight, which is one block away.  This is the corner of Main Street and Howard Street.  South of Howard Street, Main is one-way heading south.  Go one block to a stop sign, this the corner of Main Street and Madison Street.  Continue one block south to the corner of Main Street and Washington Street.  Turn LEFT (east) and go one block, Washington Street is one-way heading east.  First United Methodist Church will be on your left.

From The West
Heading east on Illinois 116 you will pass St. James/John W. Albright Medical Center as you approach Pontiac.  Continue pass the hospital and over Interstate 55.  Proceed going straight through two stoplights, you will pass Wal-Mart on your right.  Continue another mile and turn LEFT (north) at the next stoplight.  There will be a Walgreen’s and a McDonald’s at this corner.  Go straight for ¾ of a mile and turn RIGHT (east) at the next stoplight.  The State Bank of Graymont will be at this corner.  You are still on Illinois 116, however through Pontiac this road is referred to as Howard Street.  Continue straight for two blocks until the next stoplight, proceed going straight (east) through this stoplight.  One block later you will cross a set of railroad tracks.  Go straight for several more blocks until the next stoplight, this will be the corner of Mill Street and Howard Street.  Continue through this stoplight and turn RIGHT (south) at the next stoplight, which is one block away.  This is the corner of Main Street and Howard Street.  South of Howard Street, Main is one-way heading south.  Go one block to a stop sign, this the corner of Main Street and Madison Street.  Continue one block south to the corner of Main Street and Washington Street.  Turn LEFT (east) and go one block, Washington Street is one-way heading east.  First United Methodist Church will be on your left.

From The East
As you enter the outskirts of the city of Pontiac from the east you will begin to drive past subdivisions.  Once you enter Pontiac, Illinois 116 is referred to as Howard Street.  Once inside the city limits you will pass through a stoplight at the corner of Howard Street and Morrow Street.  Washington Elementary School will be on your right hand side.  Continue going straight (west) on Howard Street.  One block later you will pass through another stoplight, this is the corner of Howard Street and Elm Street, still continue driving west.  After driving several more blocks you will come to a third stoplight, this is the corner of Howard Street and Main Street.  Turn LEFT (south) at this corner onto Main Street.  South of Howard Street, Main is one-way heading south.  Go one block to a stop sign, this the corner of Main Street and Madison Street.  Continue one block south to the corner of Main Street and Washington Street.  Turn LEFT (east) and go one block, Washington Street is one-way heading east.  First United Methodist Church will be on your left.

OUR HISTORY

Our church was chartered in 1855 and is the oldest existing organization in the city of Pontiac.  In the beginning, Pontiac Methodists met in homes to hear the preaching of God’s Word and for study.  The first church building was built in 1857 at the corner of Livingston and Main streets.  It was dedicated in December of that year.  Just a short nine years later the congregation found itself too large and growing too fast for the building they were currently in.  They sold the original church building to the Catholic Church in 1866.

That same year a new larger church was built at the corner of Chicago and Madison streets where we are still located today.  At 11:00 PM on the February 15, 1885 a cry was heard “The Methodist Church is burning.”  A fire had begun due to a defective chimney.  Unfortunately the church was a total loss.  God was not through with this group of faithful people however.  In June of that same year the cornerstone was laid for a brand new church in the same spot that the previous one had burned just four months before.  The new church was dedicated the following April in 1886.  In 1891 the Ladies’ Aid Society paid to have electric lights placed in the church, which had been lit by large oil lamps before this.  Soon after this the very first organ was installed in the church and a balcony was added to the sanctuary to hold the growing membership.  By 1896 the church had 803 members on role with an average worship attendance of 439.

In 1923 construction began on the Education Building which included a library, kitchen, Sunday School rooms, the Fellowship Hall meeting rooms and new offices.  This was a great blessing to an already growing church.  The new Education Building was dedicated on Easter morning, 1924.  The sermon that Sunday morning was given by Rev. William J. Davidson, the president of Illinois Wesleyan University.  In 1938 the sanctuary was remodeled thanks to the efforts of many donated hours from the men of the church.  In 1946 the Rev. Charles B Wagner was appointed to Pontiac.  He left in 1951 to become a District Superintendent but before he left Rev. Wagner oversaw the building of McCoy Chapel.

When Rev. Clifford Brown was appointed to Pontiac in 1951 planning began for a new sanctuary to replace the one built in 1886.  Planning for this continued under the leadership of Rev. Dale Pitcher.  A capital campaign was launched and soon ground was broke.  The new and our current sanctuary was built by Jean A. McCoy and Sons and was dedicated in 1960.  In the 1990’s under the pastorates of Rev. George Russell and Dr. Don Black planning began for a major remodel of the front the building.  In 1998 the addition was completed which featured a new spacious lobby with floor to ceiling glass windows, new offices, and an elevator.

The last 150 years have brought many changes to the congregation of First United Methodist Church.  We have come through war, fires, births and deaths, new worship services, and so much more.  Through it all we continue to be what we will always be: a family of faith focused on our Heavenly Father, listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit, and embracing Jesus Christ in all we do.

ABOUT THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The national United Methodist Church is divided into regions called jurisdictions. A jurisdiction includes several states. Our congregation is part of the North Central Jurisdiction. The jurisdictions are then divided into smaller regions called conferences. Pontiac First is in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, which is the state of Illinois from about Interstate 80 south. Our conference offices are located in the newly completed United Methodist Center on the south side of Springfield. Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher has served as our spiritual leader and guide for the past eight years and has recently been reappointed to us for another four year term.

Each conference meets annually to discuss important matters of the church and to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each church’s pastors as well as a equal number of lay members take part in this experience.

The Illinois Great Rivers Conference has a total membership of 155,264. Our conference also runs ten social agencies that are vital assets to the communities they serve. Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Cunningham Children’s Home in Champaign, The Baby Fold in Bloomington, and Evenglow Lodge right here in Pontiac, just to name a few.

Each conference in the United Methodist Church is split into smaller areas called districts. We are in the Vermilion River District, whose offices are located just two blocks from our church in Pontiac. The Vermilion River District stretches from Bloomington/Normal to Pontiac, then to Kankakee. Each district is placed under the care of a district superintendent. They are responsible for overseeing the churches under them and ministering to their pastors. Our district superintendent, or D.S. for short, is Dr. J. Keith Zimmerman who recently relocated to Pontiac with his wife, Bobbie, from the Quad Cities.

To learn more about the United Methodist Church and it's history visit the national United Methodist Church website.