SIKESTON — A new Sikeston church has formed, following the merger of two longtime churches of the community.
Community Church of the Nazarene, located at 1521 N. Main in Sikeston, has formed, the result of the merger of the Church of the Nazarene and Sikeston Eastside Church of the Nazarene.
The Church of the Nazarene has been a part of Sikeston since 1925 with a tent revival, held by Rev. CJ Frost and Reb. JE Smith. The Church of the Nazarene was established in 1926 with 44 members and has served the City of Sikeston ever since.
As the church grew, a second Nazarene church was born to serve more of the community. In 1959, Rev. JW Hoffert led the Sikeston First Church of the Nazarene while his wife, Rev. Minnie Hoffert, became the first pastor of the newly formed Sikeston Eastside Church of the Nazarene.
“In looking out at a community and world desperate for hope and unity, we began to see how God was calling for us to come together. We were more than just Eastside or First Church; we are His Church and His family,” said Richard Stout, lead pastor in a release. Melissa McDowell will be the connections and families pastor.
Both congregations prayed and then unanimously supported a merger of the two churches. The newly unified church deserved a new name and “Community Church of the Nazarene is the name that flowed out of the vision that God has given us,” Stout said. “We are building a community that loves God and loves people through reaching, connecting and serving.”
The goal for the church is not complete. The merger will see that the church has better opportunities to reach more people for His kingdom.
“We look forward to the impact this union will have for our church family and for our community,” Stout said. “Our ability to love and serve is only strengthened as we are better together.”
The church participates in community service opportunities year-round with things like:
• Upward Indoor Soccer which emphasizes not only soccer but a relationship with God through devotionals at practices and on game days.
• Food bank collections with a different focus each month.
• Hoops Church where men and women gather to play basketball on Tuesday night as well as receive God’s Word between sessions. The church is also looking forward to beginning a Hoops Church – Teen Edition for some of the at-risk youth in our community on Wednesdays.
• Annual chances to serve also arise with the church’s relationship with Spread Hope Now through events like SchoolFest and Radical Christmas.
These events, along with Feed My Starving Children, showcase the “Church of Sikeston” where we work together not as an individual church or denomination. We believe it is a glimpse of heaven as all of God’s Church works together, not for recognition but out of pure compassion. Numerous other service opportunities exist both inside and outside of Community Church.
“These events, along with Feed My Starving Children, showcase the ‘Church of Sikeston’ where we work together not as an individual church or denomination,” Stout said. “We believe it is a glimpse of heaven as all of God’s Church works together, not for recognition but out of pure compassion. Numerous other service opportunities exist both inside and outside of Community Church.”
On Sundays, Connect groups begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by Communal Worship at 10:30 a.m. At 5 p.m. The Kids Table and the Table Student Ministries are held. Communal prayer is held Wednesdays at 6 p.m.