Learn about Christ United Methodist Church

A Welcome From The Pastor

Learn about the 5Ls

Church History

A Welcome from the Pastor

I am so glad that you're visiting our website. If you are like me, you will doubt the sincerity of that statement because you know that, as I write this letter, I have no idea who you are. If you will read on, however, I believe that you will see why I am happy that YOU are here.

You may be very far from what you would consider to be a Christian life. You may have more doubt than faith. You may have done things that you are sure Christians would not do. Your lifestyle may be less than pure. You may feel more comfortable with a group of not-so-religious people than you do in church. If this is you, I am so glad you are here.

This church exists for the purpose of helping you discover God's amazing love for you, His forgiveness, His purpose for your life and His power to help you be all that He created you to be. (See Chapter 15 of the book of Luke in the Bible to understand more.)

You may be a person who already knows and loves God. You are looking for a place where you can continue to grow in your love relationships with God and other people. I cannot think of a better place for you to grow in your Christian life. God has given us the responsibility and privilege of helping you become a mature disciple of Jesus Christ, and we are going to do all that we can to help you continue to grow in His likeness and fulfill His purpose for your life. (See Ephesians 3: 14-19)

Finally, you may be a mature Christian whom God has led to this church because He has work for you to do. I am so glad that you are here. I don't know if there is any place on earth where God is moving in a more beautiful and powerful way. If you want to make an impact for God's kingdom, you are in the right place. We have countless opportunities for you to use your gifts and talents to touch lives in eternally significant ways. (See Romans 12: 1-8)

So you see, I am truly glad that YOU are here. I hope that you will come again, and when you are convinced that what I am saying is true, you will decide to make Christ Church your home.

Very Sincerely, Dr. Jeff Dunn

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It's About Love Relationships

It's about love relationships. It's the church's desire to enable each person to experience and express their love through worship, support them through loving Christian fellowship, equip them through the study and application of God's word and send them out to love, serve, and witness to others by the power of the Holy Spirit through the 5Ls:

1. Loving the Lord. Worshiping God in Meaningful Ways.
   "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37. (WORSHIP)
   
   
2. Loving the Lord's Family. Building Relationships in Small Groups.
   "A new command I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34. (FELLOWSHIP) LIFE GROUPS
   
   
3. Loving the Lost. Reaching the Unchurched Through Personal Witness.
   "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10. (EVANGELISM)
   
   
4. Loving the Least to the Greatest. Using Our Gifts and Talents to Serve Others.
   "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40. (SERVICE) OUTREACH
   
   
5. Loving Learning. Learning to Obey God's Commands.
   "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching." John 14:23. (BIBLE STUDY)
   
   

To learn more about Christ United Methodist Church, you're invited to attend "Coffee with the Pastor" at 4:00pm the 4th Sunday of every month in the Loft. For details, please contact Debby Cody at 843.236.6201 ext. 200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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How did our church begin?

In 1997, God laid it on the hearts of the leaders of the Methodist Church to start a new church in Carolina Forest. Dr. Jeff Dunn was asked to spearhead this new church. He began to attend church planting courses, praying and talking with individuals in the community.

In the Fall of 1998, 12 Christians gathered together in the Dunn’s living room to seek God’s direction in beginning this new ministry. They spent much time in prayer and Bible study seeking the Lord’s direction for this new church. Sunday and holiday worship began to occur in various borrowed locations.

January of 1999 saw us holding 3 worship services at Coastal Carolina University in the Wall Auditorium – Traditional and Contemporary on Sunday morning; and coffeehouse for college students on Thursday evening.

Having outgrown Wall Auditorium, in April 2001, we held our first services in the auditorium of Carolina Forest Elementary School. At this time, a campaign called “Building for the Harvest” was implemented to raise funds to build a worship/education complex in Carolina Forest on the land purchased by the District.

The Big House ministry was begun shortly after moving to the elementary school. The purpose and vision is to encourage children to bring their parents to church. Families attend Big House, learn about Jesus through song, skits, video and more; children would then go to “FBI” to investigate more Jesus teaching while their parents worshiped in the contemporary service.

It has always been the desire of the pastor and leadership at Christ UMC that individuals would worship in one service (where they felt most comfortable, etc.) and serve in another service.

In March 2002, we held a ground breaking ceremony at our property in Carolina Forest and plans continued to begin building a multi-purpose auditorium that would seat 600. However, it soon became apparent that our church family had already outgrown this proposed building; time and space were beginning to collide.

As an alternative solution was sought, God sent an opportunity to expand through the gift of a theatre. The former “Crook and Chase Theatre” became the home to Christ UMC in January 2003. Over 1,000 people attended our first Sunday services. Eighteen months later, we have outgrown the area of the theatre usable for classrooms and children’s activities. While the auditorium is not yet occupied at 80% for all services, we are seeking God's direction in adding educational and recreational space to our complex. Through working with a church consultant, we are seeking God's will in expanding His ministry through Christ Church.

In September of 2004, Refuge was born as a Thursday evening worship service. Targeted towards the 18 to 30-something crowd, Refuge is a continuation of the JC's Coffeehouse ministry which began on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Through moving the ministry to the church location, the ministry was expanding to include worship and discipleship opportunities and will eventually encompass all of the 5L's. JC's Coffeehouse is held following Refuge until late into the night and early morning.

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