About
Our History
According to our church historical records, in March 1881, “a few consecrated souls (whose names are not known) formed the first Methodist Society at Mims Crossroads” aka Lisbon, S.C. (which was officially changed to Lamar, S.C. in 1885). It is presumed that these individuals had been affiliated with Newman Swamp and Zion Methodist societies. Having no meeting house, services were held in the schoolhouse where the Lamar Southern Freewill Baptist Church now stands. As the village grew, so grew the church. In 1885, ‘Lisbon Church’ (as it was then known) boasted 38 active members. It was then that the first dedicated church building was erected to house the growing congregation. Although the numbers are conflicting, it was recorded that by Annual Conference in 1886, 20 new members had been added to the roll: ‘12 by baptism, 6 on profession of faith and 2 by letter.’
In 1906 a new lot on Main Street was purchased and a new brick building was erected. Roughly 30 years later, the church building on Main Street was razed and a new, larger brick building erected on a beautiful, tree-laden lot on Darlington Avenue. That building was begun in 1937 and is still in use today.
In 1952, Rev. Dallas Mackey embarked on an ambitious financial program. In less than 2 years the budget was more than doubled. As a result of this effort, the entire church plant was renovated, the parsonage mortgage was satisfied and the church became debt free. Improvements have continued through the years. The Education Building was added 1964-1965, and in 1971 the sanctuary was completely redecorated. The Fellowship Hall, added in 1995, is an invaluable multi-purpose space that houses the church offices and enables us to host a variety of events.
Our Future
Lamar UMC boasts a rich, detailed history that is more than can be shared here. Our heritage is built on the saints who laid our faith foundations all those years ago and paved the way to where we are as a congregation today. They are the faithful, family of God who dedicated their lives to the work of the Kingdom of God, for the good of others and the glory of The Lord. And now, as a new generation emerges, that kingdom work is propelled forward into a bright, hopeful future.
Our vision for the future is that, as we continually deepen the knowledge and faith of the family of believers, our church will continually grow in its impact on our mission field in which the Lord has placed us, the Lamar area. We believe that with God, this is possible. Colossians 3:23 tells us “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” We CAN be great for the kingdom of God. We can make an impact. We can be a difference maker in our community. We can be a spiritual hospital for this area. We can be a city on a hill whose light cannot be hidden. Thus, the vision statement of our church is this: “A place to call home, where faith in Jesus Christ is applied to real life!”
Our Vision
“A place to call home,
where faith in Jesus Christ is applied to real life!”
What We Believe / Summary of the UMC Statement of Faith:
United Methodists share a common heritage with all Christians. According to our foundational statement of beliefs in The Book of Discipline, we share the following basic affirmations in common with all Christian communities:
Our Christian Beliefs: God
God, who is one, is revealed in three distinct persons. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: Jesus
We believe in the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. God became human in Jesus of Nazareth; and his life, death and resurrection demonstrate God's redeeming love. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God's present activity in our midst. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, it's the Holy Spirit at work. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: Human Beings
Genesis 1:27 asserts that we've been made in the image of the Creator. Like God we have the capacity to love and care, to communicate, and to create. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: The Church
The church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: The Bible
We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice. Read More
Our Christian Beliefs: God’s Reign
The kingdom or reign of God is both a present reality and future hope. Read More
For more about The United Methodist Church visit https://www.umc.org/
Our Staff
Rev. Paige Wheeler, Pastor
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am your new pastor, Rev. Paige Wheeler. I am thrilled to begin our journey together in Lamar! I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of you.
I was born and raised in Summerville, SC, which will always be my home. I spent 14 years in Georgia, where I lived from 3rd grade until I graduated from Piedmont College. After graduation, I returned home to Summerville, where I became deeply involved in my home church. I worked at an elementary school for five years before heading off to pursue the calling God placed on my life. I attended Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. I am now in my 12th year of serving in full-time ministry in our annual conference. I have served in Chester, McBee, Clemson, and now here. I am currently a provisional elder working towards ordination, with a projected ordination date of 2026.
I am the youngest in my family. I have an older sister who lives with her husband in Hollywood, SC, and who is very important to me. We have experienced a significant amount of loss over the past few years, which has only drawn us closer together. You may see her here from time to time. I have two older dogs, Cooper and Theo, and a cat who all keep me company. I have also been in a relationship with my boyfriend for over three years now. He and his family are also important to me.
One thing you will learn about me is that John is my favorite of the Gospels. It contains my favorite verses of scripture. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I quote these verses often. They are at the heart of who I am. They are the verses that shape my ministry and that I strive to live out daily.
I am looking forward to working with all of you to spread the love of Christ. I know that through the Holy Spirit, we will do great things together! May the love of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always!
Blessings,
Paige
Ann Parnell, Church Secretary
Ann has faithfully served on the Lamar UMC staff since 1976 as the church secretary. In the early years, she worked from home with only a manual typewriter to create the church’s bulletins. During her 40+ year tenure, Ann has helped “train up” 7 pastors … so far. Her job title doesn’t begin to describe all the things she does or the many hats she wears. However, Ann’s knowledge and wise understanding of the business of the church is secondary to her love for her church family. She has been known to help anybody at any time, as everyone who knows her will tell you.
Ann married Hamer Parnell, the love of her life, in 1966 and they have been blessed with two children and two grandchildren. When asked if there was something specific she wanted people to know about her, Ann simply stated “Tell them I love my church, love my church family and I love the Lord.” We think her life says that already.
Contact Ann Parnell:
Email – lamarumc@frontier.com
Office – 843-326-5038
Mary Elise Wallace, Music Director
Michelle Lloyd, Pianist