OUR STORY

St. John’s United Methodist Church (formerly St. John’s Evangelical United Brethren) was founded in 1848. The Church celebrates over 160 years of Bible believing, Bible preaching and teaching, soul winning ministry. The church is located in the heart of Pennsylvania’s coal region. Many dedicated pastors have served and many individuals have been saved here by God’s amazing mercy and grace. Serving together in the Mission of Christ has always been the dominant theme of the family of St. John’s since her inception.

In the month of May 1848, two missionaries of the Evangelical Association, the Revs. W. L. Reber and John Koehl, visited the village of Shamokin and preached to a small group of people in the Central School House on Sunbury Street. They continued to preach in the town at intervals until the following February and then at the instance of Rev. W. L. Reber; Rev. John Koehl conducted the first protracted meeting. There were about ten conversions, from which Rev. John Koehl organized the first class.  At the Annual Conference which followed, Shamokin was attached to the Mahantango Circuit.  St. John’s Church, known as the ‘Old White Church’ was erected in 1869. It was located on the north side of Sunbury Street at Eighth and was the first church structure of the denomination in Shamokin.  In 1871 Shamokin was detached from the Trevorton Mission and made a mission by itself.  In 1872, at the conference in Pine Grove, it was constituted a self supporting station.

The pastorate of Rev. W. A. Leopold from 1875 – 1878 seems to have been outstanding. He is described as the first ‘great Sunday School man’ and first mention is made of the Sunday School prospering.  At the conclusion of his term, thirty years after the beginning of the work, the church was described as the ‘largest Protestant congregation in town’.

In 1875 German was still largely the language used, but by late 1880’s and early 1890’s a German choir sang at the morning service and an English choir in the evening. Gradually English superseded German, and by 1891 all services were held in English.   In 1882, electric lights were installed in the church and St. John’s was the first Protestant Church in the world to be electrically lit. This was shortly after the invention of electricity by Thomas A. Edison.

Rev. B. C. Krupp served as Pastor from 1909 – 1912. During this time faithful members and friends had a vision that by relocating their church to the western part of Shamokin, which at the time was being rapidly developed, there would be a greater field for the promotion of God’s work. There being no church west of Second Street, in what is known as ‘the Edgewood District’, the committee decided to purchase four lots in August 1910, at the corner of Arch Street and Eagle Avenue, suitable for a church and parsonage, from the Shamokin Lumber & Mfg. Co. at a cost of $ 3,100. Almost immediately plans were laid and work on the new church was begun. A loyal membership and a community friendly to the building program willingly gave of their time, labor and financial assistance, in order that this house of worship might be brought to completion as soon as possible with the least encumbrance. Before long the vision of these faithful pioneers was realized.

The corner stone was laid and the new building was completed and dedicated in 1912.

The very first Vacation Bible School in the area was started at St. John’s EUB Church in the 1920’s by Rev. Calvin Bergstresser.  It was during his pastorate that the church building at Ringtown was dismantled and transferred to Shamokin and used in the construction of the present parsonage.  Due to the increased attendance the church annex was built some three years later and in 1919 the parsonage was also built.

On April 23, 1968, the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the United Methodist Church and thus St. John’s Evangelical United Brethren Church became the St. John’s United Methodist Church. Although our membership decreased during the merger, those who stayed the course continued to give St. John’s United Methodist Church its evangelical flavor.

In July 2011 Rev. Karyn Fisher was appointed as pastor of St. John’s.  Rev. Fisher was the first woman to be appointed to the church.

While continuing to honor  the traditional ministries of the past, St. John’s UMC has been led by the Lord to additional forms of ministry:  a children’s church during the worship hour on Sunday mornings, youth fellowship on Sunday evenings that is open to all in the community, Disciple classes on Monday evenings, Bible studies on Wednesday evenings, prayer walks once a month. We have Vacation Bible School for a week during summer for all the children of the community. We are part of a cooperative ministry of the 9 United Methodist churches in the Shamokin Area.   St. John’s is also involved with the Shamokin Ministerium, Pregnancy Care Center and Manna for the Many in the Shamokin – Coal Township areas.

Over the last 164 years, since 1848, seventy eight Pastors have served in this Church.  The current pastor, Rev. Karyn Fisher, is the first female pastor to serve the congregation.

St. John’s UMC’s membership has varied from 16 souls to over 1000 souls over the years; whatever the worship attendance, we have tried to be God’s light to the people of the Shamokin – Coal Township areas.

Over the years St. John’s UMC has had the honor of encouraging many young men and women to accept God’s call to ministry and service. Most recently we have had four young men heed the call to serve churches as pastors. Through the leadership of many gifted pastors and church members, St. John’s has supported both local and foreign missions with our gifts, our prayers and our personnel.

Having had both large and small congregational experiences, we know without a doubt that God uses both to accomplish His purposes. As we continue to seek God’s will, St. John’s UMC will continue to love God, preach and teach His Holy Word, serve others and make disciples of Jesus Christ until He comes in His glory.