As Perry Methodist Church celebrates its 200th birthday, we are stepping into Vision 200—not as a program or a finish line, but as a posture. A shared commitment to listen for where God is leading this church, in this place, at this moment. Before rushing toward decisions or strategies, we are choosing to slow down—to pray, to fast, and to ask God to shape our hearts before He shapes our future.


A Call to Fasting and Prayer: Wednesday, February 11 will be a Church-wide Day of Fasting and Prayer. Fasting is not about earning God’s favor; it is about making space to hear His voice. Whether you fast from food, media, or another daily habit, the prayer is simple: “Lord, what are You doing among us, and how are You calling us to respond?”

Who Are the People Around Us? One of the tools guiding this season is MissionInsite, which helps churches better understand their surrounding communities by combining Census and lifestyle data.

The study area shown is an 8.5-mile radius from Perry Methodist Church. Many of you gladly drive far beyond that for the church you call home—but when you start looking at maps and numbers, you have to draw a circle somewhere. This one helps us focus on the community closest to us.

The data is clear: our community is growing. We are welcoming both young families and retirees entering a new season of life. But growth does not mean wholeness. Many arrive carrying stress, grief, fractured relationships, and deep disconnection. And this future is close. 2036 is only ten years away. My youngest will be starting high school. We are not talking about a distant horizon.

What Does It Mean to Be an Authentically Welcoming Church? 

Vision 200 is ultimately about people, not buildings or budgets. How will we prepare to be a church made up of fully alive followers of Jesus—ready to welcome others with love, healing, laughter, and light? Authentic welcome begins with our own deepening relationship with Christ. A praying church becomes a welcoming church. It also requires vulnerability—the courage to move beyond comfort for the sake of love.


Will We Really Listen to God? (Or forge ahead without doing so?) 

Following our day of fasting, Thursday, February 12, will gather for the Vision 200 Listening Retreat—a time of prayerful discernment, grounded in Scripture and shaped by what we are learning about our community. 

All of this leads into Ash Wednesday, February 18, with services at 12:00 noon and 6:00 pm. Lent begins not with answers, but with ashes—reminding us of our dependence on God. Please mark these dates, join us as you are able, and pray—for our church, our neighbors, and the future God is shaping among us.


Grace and Peace,

Tom

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The Rowland family
Natalie Bradley and family
Nichole Lawson and family
Paula Geiger

Nancy Golder
Lori and Chris Chaloult
Ellis Carpenter
Debbie Ryan
Tommy Collier and family
Larry Gray
Peggy Connor

Mike Royals
Dan and JoAnn Mihelarakis

Sandra Mizell

Beverly Bowen

Rob, Anna, and Robbie Ray

Jackie Cooper

Larry and Vera Scott

Angie Carlson

Allen and Barbara Kingry

Jackie Beeland

Elaine Wright

Betty Coleman

Bob and Marguerite Messer

Trey and Angie Cawthon

Brent and Liz Roper

Joyce and Mac McElroy

Wayne and Charlotte Bohanon

Vicki Duffell

Alvalyn Pope

Submit your prayer requests on our website

at here or email the church office here.