About FUMC Coppell
Welcome It is my joy to welcome you to First United Methodist Church Coppell. I believe you will find us to be a church family growing in grace -- seeking to maintain open hearts, open minds and open doors. At First United Methodist Church Coppell we offer a variety of ministries to deepen and challenge your faith journey. We hope you experience, from each of us and within our community of faith, the unconditional love of God, the amazing saving grace of Jesus Christ and the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit. On behalf of First United Methodist Church Coppell, I invite you to visit our worship services or any of the weekly activities that are of interest to you. We look forward to meeting you and getting to know you. Grace and Peace,
Dennis Wilkinson, Pastor
Our Beliefs
The United Methodist Church has roots that go back over 200 years.
We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is alive and active in our world, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us as our guide.
We believe that every person needs God’s saving grace in their lives. We believe this salvation and redemption come through faith in Jesus Christ, not through anything we do ourselves. We believe that all who put their trust in Jesus are made new.
We believe in the power of scripture as the primary rule and guide for our lives. We believe that we are part of Christ’s universal church with all fellow believers. With other Christians, we believe that Holy Communion and Baptism are sacraments, through which God’s grace is received in particularly powerful ways.
These beliefs, held in common with other Christians all over the world, are the foundation of our faith. They help us to understand who God is and how God works. They help us to understand our need for God and God’s grace. These beliefs sustain us and remind us that we are God’s beloved and valued children. Through our understanding of these beliefs we can know how we are to respond to God’s word and how to act as people in God’s world.
To learn more about the United Methodist Church, visit www.umc.org.
Our History
In September of 1879 a few families in the area built the first permanent place for Christian worship in Coppell on an acre of land owned by Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Stringfellow known as the corner of Bethel Road and Coppell Road. The first pastor to shepherd the young Methodist congregation was Rev. J. B. Bennett. As the only place of worship in the 
area, the building was shared with area Baptist for several years. In keeping with the Methodist tradition of commitment to aiding the community, the church also served as the first school in Coppell for ten years.
By the late 1930’s it was determined that the old church was beyond repair and a new church building was needed. In time, the members were able to raise the $700 necessary to construct a new building on the original deeded property. Consecrated in May of 1939, the building became home to the eighty-eight members of First United Methodist Church of Coppell. It remained so for the next 45 years as the church continued to grow.
In 1978 the members of the church recognized a need for a brand new church building. Five acres of land were purchased at the intersection of Bethel School Road and Heartz Road. With direction from planning and building committees and donations from various capital fund drives, a new church home was completed in September 1984. The stained glass window from the original church was placed in the Narthex of the new church. On November 4, 1984, the church was dedicated at a special service led by Rev. David Carr.
The church’s new home featured a 200 seat sanctuary, six classrooms, a kitchen, nursery and office. It was the first 
phase in a 3 phase master plan for the church. In June 1986, a new building committee was formed to start Phase 2. An additional education building was added in 1988 providing a fellowship space that was later dedicated as B.J. Smartt Hall, and eighteen more classrooms for the rapidly growing church.
On March 5, 2000, under the leadership of Rev. John Rosenburg, services were held in the new 1000 seat sanctuary. The new addition included twenty new classrooms, an office complex, a large nursery and commissary as well as a large new gathering area named Wesley Hall. The original stained glass window was moved to its present home, The Rosenburg Prayer Chapel.
First United Methodist Church has a rich history dating back nearly 130 years. Our future is strong as we continue to make disciples for Jesus Christ.
Mission Statement
We are a church family shaping hearts for ministry:
· loving God through worship;
· learning to live in grace through Jesus Christ;
· changing the world through service.