About Us
What we believe
We are a Christian body of Jesus followers, holding to long-held Biblical beliefs. We also affirm the perspectives of the Wesleyan movement—holding together grace and truth, forgiveness and holy living, evangelism and the loving ministry of meeting the needs of the poor and hurting.
We believe that God's grace is the foundation of our relationship with Him. God makes the first move toward us, and He enables us to respond by receiving His love or walking away.
We believe that we are justified and forgiven of our sin by faith in Jesus Christ, not because of anything that we do, but solely because Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience, sacrificed His life by dying on the cross, and because He rose from the dead three days later.
We believe that God loves us so much, that He does more than forgive us. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, makes us one with Him, and He brings actual transformation to our lives.
All of this is a work of God's grace.
Jesus Christ is the hope of the world, and we believe that the local church is the venue to share that hope. The church is the movement of those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, who follow Him in obedience, who worship Him, and are sent out into the world with the good news of what Jesus has done. The church is not a club for people who are perfect. The church is the gathering for all who recognize our need for God's grace and who are searching for God's presence and power in the midst of our lives.
meet the pastor
My great love affair
My name is Olivia Downen-Walker and I have proudly been a member of Jefferson Community Church formerly Jefferson United Methodist Church (JUMC) since I was four years old. My story begins in the Jefferson Learning Center (JLC) where I attended pre-school. It was through JLC that I was introduced to the Wheeler Chapel and immediately fell in love! The beautiful stain glass, warm wood pews and features, the happy piano, and the lively children's sermons made for a magical experience. I convinced my mother to attend a Sunday service and the rest as they say is history.
Who could have imagined that thirty-six years later I would be leading worship services? Today I am excited to lead our church into the next chapter of its 75 year history. My belief is that anything and everything is possible when love is the center of our lives. Jesus set the example for he loved us so much that he gave his life for our salvation. Jesus taught us to care for the needy, the sick, the poor, and the cast off. I believe it is our privilege to serve those that Jesus loved so dearly.
" And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. "- 1 John 4:16
The Betty Hamm Food Pantry, Elnora's Thrift Shop, Feed Your Soul Fellowship, and The Create Love Project are examples of how we honor our most precious teachers and examples of unconditional love and how we are working to spread that love through our community.
I invite you to come fall in love with Jefferson Community Church.
little chapel
a poem written by Olivia D. Walker, November 1997
The Cross in its brown wood pressed gently on the back wall
above the altar
High beams that keep the roof up and the walls straight
A little Piano played when the days are cold and the belief is warm
The choir cuts through the air with a stinging sensation that makes you wanna jump up and sing until your soul is relieved
Purple stain glass windows with their solemn pictures
a unicorn, a torch, the commandments
Here in my little chapel I feel so much closer to God
where as in the big church I shout my prayers hoping that God is listening
Here, here I can whisper them lightly through my lips and I know He hears them
Here where I kneel for prayer I feel closer to God
Here I can unburden my heart and grieve by His side
Here I feel the gentle touch of the Lord on my head
comforting the tears of my heart
Here I can talk to those I love and know that they are near
Hear I can feel the light of the Lord shinning down from above and I am that much closer to God in
my little chapel.
Meet The Minister
Answering the Call of My Soul
My name is Kimberly Contreras. All my life I have had a close connected relationship with God. I remember the first time I heard a sermon on Jesus Christ. His call to love all people as our brothers and sisters resonated as truth in my young idealistic heart and I became a follower. In 2014, I took the plunge and became a Minister and have dedicated my life to administering comfort and support to others in their time of need. As the creator of The Create Love Project and a Conflict Mediator, it is important to me that people feel safe and supported to explore their spirit's natural expression, to know God's love is unconditional, eternal and has your back as you navigate your special purpose in this world.
If your heart is heavy, if you feel blocked in any way or if you just feel like something new is calling you and you could use support, please reach out and schedule a meeting. We just might be able to help.
