HISTORY

    Beulah Church is part of the dynamic Christian renewal movement called Methodism that began in 18th c. England under the leadership of pastor John Wesley. Wesley preached "holiness of heart and life" throughout England. As thousands of people responded to his message and that of his network of preachers, they gathered people into spiritual growth groups to support each other in their faith journey. The movement spread to the newly formed United States of America and became the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC). The MEC grew rapidly with the young, growing nation as Methodist preachers called people to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Churches were established in many towns as America grew West.

    The Beulah Methodist Episcopal Church was one of those churches. It first met in a little log schoolhouse adjacent to the present site until 1875 when Jacob P. and Christianna Houston, seeing the need for a church building in which to worship, donated the plot of ground on which the church currently stands and the first church building was soon erected. 

    In 1929 remodeling was done and a new belfry was added to the building. The bell from the abandoned Wesley Chapel Church was placed there and continues to be rung each Sunday morning. In 1939 a basement was dug under the church. About 1957 remodeling was done to increase sanctuary and basement size. The project also included indoor restrooms. 

    In 1989 a modern fellowship hall was added to the church that includes a kitchen, restrooms, a nursery, and a meeting area. In 2004 a new sanctuary, fully accessible with seating capacity of 300, was built to accommodate the growing congregation. A basement under the current sanctuary houses the children's programs and several Sunday school classrooms.

    Over the years Beulah as shared a pastor with the Wesley Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, West Liberty, Olive Branch, Hopewell, Chauncey, Union Chapel, and Sumner Methodist churches. Since Beulah was built, many of the country churches around the Sumner area have vanished. Still, in July of 2009, the lay leadership of the church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit felt the church should become a single point charge with its own pastor dedicating all of his time to the growth and care of the church. Beulah remains a vibrant church in rural America committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ as we learn, live and share God's Word!