Our progenitors originally organized a formal radix locally in the year 1873. (Things of such vintage seem like they should be addressed as, “in the year of eighteen hundred and seventy-three” and be represented by some exquisite script font.) The building sat at the corner of East Lewis Street and Harmer Street, just two blocks east of Hanna Street. They assigned that first location a simple, regionally descriptive name: Fort Wayne Free Methodist Church.
History now shows the Panic of 1873 was the start of the Long Depression or the Real Great Depression, a severe nationwide economic depression in the United States that lasted until 1879. Only five years ticked off the calendar before serious fiscal considerations necessitated a move to Creighton Avenue in 1878. God worked through that second meeting place for 33 years.
Ready for the responsibilities and fanatical outlay, their first new building was commissioned in 1911. The new structure was erected on Holton Street. With the move came a new name: Bower Free Methodist Church.
Through much prayer, fasting, and all of that other spiritual mumbo jumbo that God uses to speak to us, the church body was obedient to the will of God. Geographically, the city of Fort Wayne was showing strong growth potential on its southeast side. Thereto went the Free Methodist Church, ready to serve a church sparse population. They acquired a few acres on the edge of the Village Woods neighborhood and adopted its name as their own. What then became known to the community as Village Woods Free Methodist Church in 1963 was called home for so many of us living and attending yet today.
The few privileged “blue-hairs” among us likely remember those board meetings that took place during the early 1960’s; where strong emotions associated with moving to a different physical location undoubtedly existed. Change is inevitable, yet many of us struggle with it so. Thankfully, we’re able to have peace through Jesus Christ as we’re diligent in our effort listen to His Holy Spirit and obey. Nonetheless, many of us born and reborn at a 300’ x 245’ plot of land between Congress Avenue and Clermont Avenue can understand, first hand, how easy it is to become attached to a brick-N-mortar. This time around, the merciful God that we serve, allowed us to gradually begin loosening our fleshly grip on the earthly possession and gently be guided by Him in a different direction. (In a kind way, He permitted us to think that rather than identifying formerly by chosen name with a specific earthly coordinate, we could express and idea, feeling, or concept.) Thus, Lighthouse Free Methodist Church became a modern realization in 2004. In hind sight, renaming the assembly for the third time in its history essentially facilitated us in the healthy detachment process. God is so good!
Over time, God graciously brought a new, Spanish speaking body of believers to that gathering place that had abundantly feed so many of us for nearly four decades. In 2005, those that continued to worship at 4410 Wayne Trace were (and continue to be) greeted by a new shingle that read: Iglesia De Cristo Ministerio Llamada Final.
God piloted us to a new stomping ground in 2006. Stationed in the northwest quadrant of Fort Wayne, on the corner of Wallen Road and Huguenard Road, 22 acres of beautiful, undeveloped land was entrusted to our humble stewardship. The construction material procurement process and groundbreaking began in 2008. God willing, construction of the new facility will be completed in 2009. Should God ever call Lighthouse Free Methodist Church by another name, at least it won’t be geographically founded.
Currently, during this construction phase, we share a facility with Saint Andrews Anglo Catholic Church (260-489-8116) located at 2014 W. Wallen Road.