After a neighborhood survey
was conducted in north Lafayette in 1941, the Davidson Memorial Methodist
Church was organized. They first met at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
J.J. Davidson, Sr. A church was later built on Jefferson Blvd.
When the population began declining
in the neighborhood, the congregation began thinking about relocating to
a growing area north of Interstate 10. Rev. Robert Deich, appointed
to the church on October 1, 1987, organized a task force to study the idea.
Six months later, they decided it would be best to move to a better location
for future growth. On May 16, 1989, a called charge conference of
the church officially voted to relocate.
In 1991, members from four United
Methodist churches helped to make 7300 telephone calls in a three-week
campaign. Direct mail and personal visits were also a part of the
campaign. The final service at the Davidson church was held on Palm
Sunday, March 24, 1991.
The new church began the following
Sunday as 183 people attended Easter services held at the Evangeline Elementary
school. A Constituting Service was held on May 19, Pentecost Sunday,
with over 100 people coming forward to form the core of the new church.
They voted to name the new church Northwood United Methodist Church.
A new church building was completed
on Moss Street in August 1993. The multipurpose building held space
for worship, fellowship, and classrooms. An addition was built in
1998 for youth ministries. More land (7.25 acres) was purchased that
year behind the church for future use.
Under the leadership of Rev.
Darryl Tate, appointed in 1998, a new parsonage was built at 113 Arbor
Drive. Programs were added and enlarged as the church doubled in
membership over a few years time. In 2000, the church adopted the
mission statement “Embracing our Community with God’s love through Biblical
teaching, Spirit-Filled Worship, Joyful Fellowship, and Compassionate Service
to All.”
The church was badly damaged by a fire on April 5, 2009. |
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