Coalbush United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Jackson Road and State Road 331 on the south side of Mishawaka. We are on the south side of the U.S. 20 Bypass across from the south side Meijers store.
Vision
Our Vision for ChildrenTo introduce children to the love of God in Jesus Christ at the earliest age possible. To help children know and appreciate the presence of God in their lives.Our Vision for Teens
To offer teens a place to belong To foster life-changing relationships with Christ. To equip teens to live with faith and integrity at all times.Our Vision for Seniors
To empower Senior Adults with a renewed heart for ministries. To help Senior Adults utilize their continuing potential for service and care for others.Our Vision for Young Adults
To help Young Adults become established in their faith and lives. To help Young Adults solidify the connection between faith, work, and life.Our Vision for Families
To help Families become established in their faith and life. To equip parents to be able to raise children of integrity and selflessness in a Christian home.Our Vision for Adults
To help them deal with life issues through the prism of their faith. To provide opportunities to be in ministry in the Coalbush Church, our community, and beyond.Our Vision for Outreach and Missions
To provide opportunities for people to share the love of God with others. To provide forums for people to interact and develop relationships with others.Our Vision for Our Facilities
To have a first class facility that enhances and compliments our outreach and ministry To have a first class facility that meets the spiritual and physical needs of those who utilize it.
Our active membership is 275 persons, with several more who are attending regularly. Our pastor, the Rev. Jim Davidson, has been in our pulpit since March of 1997, making him the second longest tenured pastor in the history of our church. The church employees a Secretary, Organist, Director of Music, Pianist, Director of Handbell Choirs, Bookkeeper, Preschool Director and teachers, Custodians, and a Groundskeeper. Our church members are all considered "ministers" of the church as they live their lives for Christ.
The Administrative Council oversees the activities of the various church committees. These include the Laity Council (coordinating leadership for the activities of the church), Finance, Outreach (Missions and Evangelism), Youth Fellowship, Education, and Membership Care (Visitation, Worship and Newcomers). Our church Trustees oversee the care of our facility and the Staff/Parish Relations Committee coordinates the relationship between the church and its hired employees. A multitude of small committees organize numerous events and activities for the congregation and our community.
The Coalbush Church has three adult Sunday School Classes, spanning all ages, interests, and styles of teaching. Our children's Sunday School Classes are divided by age group: Preschool, K-2nd grade, 3rd grade to 6th grade, and Jr/Sr High.
The Coalbush Christian Preschool is a vibrant Christ-centered kindergarten preparation school. Classes meet in the mornings with the 3 and 4 year olds meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday and the 4 and 5 year olds meeting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. With a proven curriculum that entertains, teaches, and preaches God's role in the world and in the lives of the children, our graduates get great reviews on their academic and social preparedness from our local Kindergarten teachers.
The Preschool has its own Board of Directors and is considered an outreach mission of the church. Our current teachers are both Coalbush members with a vested interest in that mission.
Coalbush Church has many special activities and events during the year. We have two fish fries, a salad luncheon, a rummage sale, a craft sale, and a trivia night each year. There is a monthly "Family First" meeting for young families to get together for a night of fellowship and devotions. We have special services at Christmas and Easter, and an autumn celebration in October. Men's basketball plays on Wednesday night at 8:30 and Saturday morning at 8:00. The United Methodist Women have regular meetings and craft nights. Local boy scout and girl scout troops meet at our church in the evening as well as a TOPS group.
Our largest outreach activity of the year is our food booth at the St. Joseph County 4-H fair. This effort requires the work of a majority of our congregation and serves hundreds of meals to hungry fairgoers during the usually sweltering hot week of 4-H activities. Located between the livestock show arena and the Dairy Bar we are a well known fixture of the fair, serving exhibitors, families, fairgoers, and fair workers with love and respect uncommon on the fair circuit.
The United Methodist Youth Fellowship (YF) meets on Sunday nights for a meal, devotions, games, and fellowship. On alternating summers they go to Senior High Institute or a mission trip. In the summer of 2007 they are planning a mission trip to Oklahoma, having previously visited West Virginia, South Dakota, and South Carolina.
The Coalbush Church has existed at the corner of Bremen Highway and Jackson road for decades. The present church structure was erected in 1959. In the spring of 2005 ground was broken for the addition that holds our Family Life Center which includes classrooms, offices, the Preschool, storage, a vaulted foyer, elevator, and the multi-purpose room with full court basketball and volleyball. Completed in March 2006, the Family Life Center has dramatically expanded our possibilities for outreach and ministry.
Stay tuned. An expanded history of the church will be added to this site soon!
Links: UMC.org NICUMC.org
