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Westland Free Methodist Church celebrated 150 years

By Sarah Shurge step of the way,” said Pastor
“We’re not just celebrating us and Nofzinger. “Their faithfulness over
our building, but celebrating loving the years and willingness of the mis-
people for 150 years,” said Eric sion they've been giving, has led
Rose, associate pastor at Westland them to not only survive but thrive,”
Free Methodist Church. Nofzinger said the church has a
To reach 150 years, you have to real focus on the teenagers and chil-
be doing something right, right? dren of the church and providing a
Being a church with a rich history safe environment for kids to grow in
and a focus on loving and serving the their faith.
community, Westland Free Methodist Aside from focusing on their fu-
Church has been doing more than ture generation, they also focus on
something right for 150 years now. the future of technology. WFMC
Sunday, September 26th, West- adopted livestreaming their service
land Free Methodist Church cele- even before the pandemic happened.
brated its 150 year anniversary with Even with the 150th anniversary
family and friends. party, people’s needs were still at the
“This church has been such a focus.
huge part of the community. It's “We wanted to make it [the party]
about more than just the people in really simple. The whole celebration
these walls. It's about what we can is low-volunteer and that’s because
do to make this community a better we want people to spend time in con-
place,” said Tyson Nofzinger, lead versation. After the pandemic we
pastor at Westland Free Methodist want people to sit down and talk
Church. about relationships,” said Associate
The Free Methodist Church dates Pastor Rose.
back to 1860, when B.T. Roberts, J. On Sunday, September 26th,
W. Redfield and others formed the Old Wayne Free Methodist church was on the SW corner of Main and Clark. Bishop Linda Adams, Free
Free Methodist Church of North Methodist Church USA, gave the
America at an organizational confer- message. Three formal WFMC pas-
ence at Pekin, New York. tors came to the service: Earl
The name “Free Methodists” was Habecker (who served from 1987-
derived from the resistance to slav- 1995), Mark Cryderman (served
ery. Many of the early Free from 1995-2005), and Randy Ben-
Methodists were highly critical of the nett (served from 2005-2011). Along
Methodist Episcopal Church, which with special guests: Conference Su-
did not condemn slavery. perintendent Bruce Rhodes, State
Roberts was an abolitionist who Representative Kevin Coleman,
believed the church and people Wayne-Westland School Superinten-
should be free. He believed you State Representative Kevin Coleman, Wayne Westland Schools Superintendent John dent John Dignan, and Wayne Mayor
should be able to attend church Dignan, and Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa presented certificates and awards for the John Rhasea also representing West-
whether you had money or not. He 150 year anniversary to Pastors Eric Rose and Tyson Nofzinger. land Mayor Bill Wild.
also believed that you could not have “This is home to me. I came here
a slave if you were a Free Methodist. (WFMC). partnered with organizations such on Super Bowl Sunday 1996, so it's
Many of the early Free Methodists Even after changing the name, as the Jefferson Barns Community been quite a while. Such good mem-
were active in the operation of the the church continued to thrive and Vitality Center, where they developed ories here,” said Mayor John Rhasea
Underground Railroad. grow. a dinner church to serve the Nor- during the 150th celebration service.
Because of this, Roberts started Now the WFMC has become an wayne community. Mayor Rhasea, Superintendent
Free Methodist churches in many essential church in the community “We just tried listening to what the Dignan, and Representative Coleman
slave towns. However, he also started for building relationships and serv- community needs. It's easy for the presented certificates and awards to
churches in regular towns such as ing the people. church to say ‘here’s what we can do the church for their commitment,
Wayne, Michigan. WFMC volunteers time and is in- for you,’ but instead we asked ‘what dedication, and service for the past
The church was started as a Free volved with the community in so does the community need?” said As- 150 years. There was a luncheon
Methodist congregation on Septem- many different ways. They have sociate Pastor Rose. that followed the service. Along with
ber 28, 1871. adopted Schweitzer Elementary It’s important for a church to activities for kids like a bounce
It started as a home church but School, and provide popsicles for focus on the needs of the community, house, inflatables and glitter tattoos.
then transitioned to a few locations the kids on hot days, stock the but they also must focus on what Westland Free Methodist Church
and was called the Wayne Free teacher’s lounge, and volunteers help they need to do for the church to sur- is located on South Venoy Rd. be-
Methodist Church around 1910. As the kids learn to read. They have vive. tween Palmer and Cherry Hill. Their
the congregation continued to grow, adopted a community garden, volun- “This church has always been service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
they bought five acres of property on teer at a community-wide clean-up willing to do whatever it takes to For more information about
Venoy Rd. and changed their name day, along with a food pantry, and move forward with the mission. WFMC, visit westlandfmc.com or
to Westland Free Methodist Church Halloween events. They also have Adapting; they've done that every call (734)728-2600.
The Wayne Dispatch · October 2021 · 7