MICHAEL W. PANNELL — SPECIAL TO THE SUN NEWS
Warner Robins Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is 38 years old, but its history goes back well over a century.
The church is the combined assembly of two historic Houston County congregations: Sandy Run CME, which was located off Ga. 247, and Oak Ridge CME, which was on Watson Boulevard near the old Kmart.
“Those two churches came together in the 1970s to form this church,” said Rev. Lindsey Phillip Napier Sr., the church’s pastor for nine years. “They came together under the leadership of Rev. Donald Jordan. We still maintain the church graveyards at both those old locations.”
According to church’s history, black Christian men and women eager to extend freedom to all facets of their lives joined together following the abolition of slavery to establish the older churches. Their goal was to meet the unique needs of former slaves spiritually, educationally and socially.
Each hosted schools and provided meeting grounds for social and political activities. Many souls were saved and prayers prayed, according to the history.
Records show the first sermon Jordan preached at the newly combined church was “They Said It Couldn’t Be Done.”
Napier and church members call the modern Warner Robins CME a church growing in the word of God and believing in the teachings of Jesus, who taught many things by word and example, such as concern for the welfare of others, to love neighbors as themselves and to be concerned for justice.
Following the path of their founders, they say their goal is to be Christ-centered and equipped to meet the spiritual, social and economic needs of members and the community.
In its commitment to service, Warner Robins CME has more than 30 ministries, boards and fellowships to impact lives.
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