Wesley Methodist Church

In 1895 a group of first generation Japanese-Americans Christians, known as the Issei joined together based on their devotion to the Christian God. They later erected their first church, the Wesley Methodist Church, in 1913 as a way to nurture each other in Christian love. At this church many resources were made available for local community members, such as church school for children, social networkds for adults, and a safe place for Japanese Americans who were not welcomed into mainstream culture.

Since its creation, the Wesley Methodist Church had undergone a few aesthetic changes such as the Chapel, built in 1952, and the creation of the Fellowship Hall created later in 1974. These changes occurred to help accommodate the Church’s fast growing membership. In the Fellowship Hall, organizations such as Boy and Girls Scout Troops, Sunday school for children, Adult Bible Study groups, and Men and Women Methodist groups are sponsored by the church and actively use the hall today. Although some of these programs are not usually identified with religion, specifically the Boy and Girls Scout troops, they were created with the goal of creating leadership opportunities, develop team working skills, and to provide opportunities for participants to become better citizens through improving the lives of others.

Sources retrieved on April 3, 2010 from: http://www.wesleysj.net/