Wesley's History
Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church began its journey on December 23, 1945, under the guidance of Chaplain Allen L. Johnson and with a modest group of 10 founding members. Initially, they shared a worship space with Phillips Colored Methodist Episcopal Church at Adams & 14th Streets, gathering every Sunday evening at 7:00 pm. As the congregation grew, they moved to a larger facility by February 1946. Their first anniversary was celebrated with a move to a newly remodeled building, and by their second anniversary, they were breaking ground on a new site at 18th & Washington Streets.
Following the merger of the Methodist Episcopal Church with the Evangelical United Brethren, the church adopted its current name, Wesley United Methodist Church. The congregation continued to thrive and, in October 1969, relocated to 750 East Southern Avenue. A dedication ceremony for the new location was held on December 21, 1969, marking a significant milestone in the church’s history.
Wesley's Present
The current site includes a church library, kitchen, fellowship hall, and a space historically used as a child development center. Outreach over the years has included working with UMOM, a women’s sewing circle that makes hygiene tote bags for women in shelters, partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and visiting programs for our sick and homebound. More recently, we have begun revisioning our space. We have used the child development center space as a heat respite center, providing a safe, cool environment for our most vulnerable neighbors during the extreme heat of the summer months in Phoenix. We are transitioning that space into the Wesley Resiliency Center. This is a space where we envision Building and Empowering the South Phoenix Community. Wesley Resiliency Center offers food, laundry, outdoor showers, free clothing, housing and community referrals, and free vaccines to all who walk through our doors. Current partners in this work include the Arizona Faith Network, DocGo.com, and Market on the Move, with more partner connections coming on board over the coming months.
Today, Wesley United Methodist Church stands as a testament to resilience and community spirit, a sanctuary where generations past, present, and future find solace, strength, and inspiration amidst the ebbs and flows of life’s journey.
We continue to live into the future and welcome everyone who wishes to worship with us and our current pastor Towanda N.T. Connelly!
