About Us
St. Joe UMC has been serving the northeast side of Fort Wayne for over 150 years. We love God and love our community. We are excited about our past and our future. Every day we are focused on how to share Jesus, grow our faith, and live it out.
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Fun fact: Johnny Appleseed would worship with St. Joe UMC while in Fort Wayne!
#FOR The Fort
The #FOR The Fort movement began in 2018 as a way for people at St. Joe UMC to live out their faith in the community. Many times the church is known for what it's against rather than what it's #FOR. We want to be known #FOR loving our community because Jesus loved us first.
What We Believe
As a United Methodist Church, St. Joe UMC is part of the Methodist movement that has changed the world. We're proud of our Wesleyan roots and affiliation with the United Methodist Church. You can read more about specific statements of belief by visiting UMC.org.
History
St. Joe’s beginnings are traced back to meetings in homes and an existing schoolhouse located on the southeast corner of St. Joe Road and St. Joe Center Road where Parker Cemetery is now located. In 1863, a small frame building was constructed on the northwest corner of the crossing we now call Riviera Plaza. This land was donated by George Ashley. In 1916, a larger brick building was built on the northeast corner. In 1957, after the land was donated by Medical Protective Insurance Co., the church moved to its present location. There have been three additions since then, in 1967, 1979, and the early 1990s. In 2018, St. Joe launched the St. Joe at the Y campus as an outreach to our community.
Praise Park
St. Joe UMC has invested in northeast Fort Wayne by creating an outdoor space for gathering and community open to the public. Praise Park is located adjacent to the Jackson R. Lehman Family YMCA and includes soccer fields, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, an amphitheater, and a walking track. If you are interested in space rental or would like to inquire about your event, please contact us.
Weddings, Baptisms, Funerals
St. Joe UMC is a space for our community and members of our church to use for events and milestones of faith. We hold many public events and have space available to rent for weddings, baptisms, funerals, and your special event If you are interested in space rental or would like to inquire about your event, please contact us.
