History

Recognizing the need for a new United Methodist Church to minister to the expanding population of West Mobile, District Superintendent Lester Spencer, and Bishop Frank Robertson appointed Rev. Jeff Spiller to establish this new congregation. In May 1979, thirteen families from various existing United Methodist Churches in the Mobile District were commissioned as "Missioners" to co-labor with Rev. Spiller to begin this new United Methodist Church.

One month later, the pastoral family, Rev. Jeff and Mrs. Norma Spiller, and their families embarked upon an intensive summer studying, discussion, learning, growing, worshipping and planning. They met in the home of Red and Nell Farmer, in a local school, and in a Masonic Lodge. Since they were such a "well traveled" group, they appropriately named the church newsletter "ON THE MOVE." Also, during these initial months of preparation, the name "Christ United Methodist" and the motto "A Venture in Love Toward a Vision" were chosen.

In September 1979, the newly organized CUMC rented a vacant church building on Cottage Hill Road from the Catholic Diocese of Mobile and the official opening service of worship was held on October 14, 1979.

When Sunday School programs were started, the congregation soon realized how insufficient their rental facility was. After careful consideration and prayer, the congregation voted to build an education/family life building on the rental site, which could be moved to the future permanent building site.

"Charter Sunday" was held on March 2, 1980 with 166 charter members.

Construction at our present location on Grelot Road of the original Sanctuary, fellowship hall, classrooms and offices began on January 15, 1981 and was occupied on May 31, 1981. The two-story education building (which now houses Adult classes and MDO/Preschool) was completed on January 22, 1984.

Our 1100 seat Sanctuary and two-story education wing, Gathering room and Welcome Center, was completed on December 3, 1989. With the additional land purchase in February 1996, our total property size grew to 37 acres.

In 1989, Christ Church had 1,800 members, and we currently have well over 4,000 members and 4 Sunday Worship services, but are still over the "comfortably full" seating level in our major services on most Sundays of the year.

1999 marked the year that we added the Fellowship Hall and two-story Education Building to the campus. These facilities provided us much needed additional classrooms for our expanding group of children, youth, single adults and other small group studies.

Every room on our campus that can be used for Christian Education classes on Sunday is now being used. We are a very healthy growing church, and our facilities have proven to be places of blessings for our Christ Church families.

In November 2001, Crossroads Books and Gifts along with the Cokesbury Connection and Heartwarming Cafe had its grand opening at the corner of Grelot and Hillcrest Roads. This "corner" has been prayed over for many years, and was made available for us to purchase at a fraction of its true commercial worth because of the generosity of the Mayer Mitchell family. Our church used it as an opportunity to provide a ministry outreach for our community until it closed it doors on August 1, 2009.

April 18, 2004 was the official opening of the Christ Center. This is a 74,000 square foot facility that houses more classrooms for the children, youth and college ministries along with 2 full sized basketball courts, commercial kitchen, production stage, activity rooms and an elevated indoor track. NewSong worship also holds their Sunday services here.

At Christ Church, we have not operated on a "build it and they will come" plan—the people are here, the needs are real, and our ministries are growing. We are prayerfully moving forward!

6101 Grelot Road Mobile, AL 36609 • 251.342.0462