Trinity United Methodist Church is involved in the community

GULFPORT -- When Trinity United Methodist Church began in 1958 the charter members were focused on reaching those in the community who had no home church or religious affiliation.

After initial meetings were held in a private home the 21 people in attendance began to form a Methodist church in the Bayou View neighborhood of Gulfport.

With some charter members remaining at TUMC, the mission of the church remains largely the same, to reach people in the community.

The church welcomed Jeff Switzer as the new pastor in July.

He moved to Gulfport from Senatobia, where he was pastor of First United Methodist for about seven years.

Switzer and his wife, Cindy, have three children.

The church ministers in many ways, including a Blessings in a Backpack Ministry, a Helping Hands Ministry and working with Feed My Sheep and the Salvation Army.

The church also has Bible study groups and a youth ministry for teens, active groups for ladies, men and senior adults.

The youth group plans to travel in the next year under the guidance of youth director Shaunna McCormick and other church chaperones. One of their most anticipated trips will be to serve as inner-city missionaries in a program called Service Over Self.

The church collects non-perishable food items year around for the Blessings in a Backpack ministry to school-age children.

"All donations of clothes and cold weather items should be brought directly to Feed My Sheep in Gulfport," said Regina Stewart, hospitality and evangelism director. "Food for the food pantry is given out by Gateway United Methodist on (U.S.) highway 49 and all food should go to the Gateway UM office."

Call the church if you would like to make donations.

Trinity United Methodist will offer Communion on Christmas Eve at 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Support groups for Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers meet at the church every second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

TUMC also has a cancer support group on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and offers Zumba classes on Thursdays at 5:45 p.m.

The church has recently purchased additional property adjacent to the existing acreage they have. The church now has over 4 acres to expand in the future.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Trinity United Methodist Church is involved in the community ."