Even as the United Methodist Church reaches out to disaffected Christians and “unchurched” Americans with its latest national campaign — “Rethink Church” — two Denton County congregations have spent the last several years rethinking their congregations.

First United Methodist Church of Krum, a congregation that is more than 130 years old, recently opened the doors of its new church building. Argyle United Methodist Church, with its 115-year history, did the same.

Leaders at both churches said their expansions marked a move of faith and intentional efforts to break old habits and look to the future.

Inhospitable building

The laity at First United Methodist Church of Krum is basking in its new digs. They have a brand-new worship center, spacious administrative office, commercial-grade kitchen and nursery, and classrooms for children and teens. The Rev. Christy Thomas’ office has enough room for her library, and the conference room already is in heavy use.

DRC/Gary Payne

First United Methodist Church of Krum personnel stand in the church’s new building at 1001 E. McCart St Friday. From left are building project manger Vicky Russell, finance chairwoman Kim Brown, building committee member Kim Whitmer, the Rev. Christy Thomas and Will Lounsbury with his mother, education director Kristi Lounsbury.

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But the real celebration is in a sanctuary that is accessible to all — whether members need equipment to amplify the volume of the sermon or visitors use a wheelchair.

“We have a member who is bound to a wheelchair, and in our old building, to watch him have to pull himself up the front steps was just — well, it was awful,” said Kim Brown, chairwoman of the finance committee. “Then, when he got up the stairs, he couldn’t really come in the sanctuary because his wheelchair couldn’t turn the corner or come down the aisle. In this building, he can come in.”

“And he can take communion,” Thomas said.

Heaps of dirt still are in front of the new building, but Thomas said parishioners have already mobilized to begin landscaping.

For longtime member Kim Whitmer, who was a member of the building committee, a church handyman and a trustee during the 13-year process to erect a new church, the building means he’ll get a break.

“I probably won’t get a call to come fix anything here for the next several years,” Whitmer said.

Whitmer was one of several men in the church who patched the aging building where the church used to worship in downtown Krum. The congregation had been in the building for 84 years, and volunteers were continually maintaining a cranky church. Lights would burn out and the sound system would pick up CB radio transmissions from truckers rolling down FM1173. Almost every year, members would haul their wet-dry vacuums to the church to pump floodwaters out of the basement, where programs and activities were held.

Thomas said the church had to make a decision about what kind of church it wanted to be years from now.

“This church says that we’re accessible. It says we care very much for our children and the children of the community,” she said.

The church began holding a breakfast to honor graduating seniors 50 years ago, when only three seniors were members of the church. Last week, the church saw 50 of its 99 graduating seniors at the annual breakfast. Only this time, there was plenty of room for the tables, and the kitchen was big enough to feed them.

The church bought land on FM1173 14 years ago but went through several disappointing rounds of consultation, during which they were told they didn’t have the money to build. This time, even though the cost of building exceeded the first proposed budget by 50 percent, the congregation agreed to make it happen.

“This isn’t a deep-pockets church,” Thomas said. “Every dollar raised was a sacrifice.”

The excitement and energy among Krum’s Methodists is palpable. Leaders already are discussing affordable day care in the classrooms and nurseries each weekday, attendance has surged and members are proposing vital new ministries.

“I think it’s like clothes, almost,” said project manager Vicky Russell. “I think the state of a building says something about the people in the building. We had people bring their kids into the old building, but they didn’t really want to be there. Now, we have a place for the kids.”

There is also a creative playground in the works.

Thomas said the congregation was able to say goodbye to its old building.

“We had a de-consecration of the building, and everyone got to carry something out of the building and put it in the trucks for the move,” she said. “I thought it was going to be a difficult day and I thought I’d cry, but it turned out to be a day of great celebration.”

Worship in Krum is at 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays in the new building at 1001 McCart St.

Many sacrifices

Argyle United Methodist Church combined vision with multiple resources to build a new church.

DRC/Al Key

The new Argyle United Methodist Church building features a fountain in an exterior courtyard.

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“So many people have made so many sacrifices to make this possible,” said Senior Pastor Kory Knott. “The fact that a little country church is able to grow to become what it has today, and to be able to do that in these tough economic times, is a real testament to God’s faithfulness.”

The process for building the new church, located on 20 acres off U.S. Highway 377 just one mile north of Crawford Road in Argyle, began in August 2002 and was spearheaded by various committees under the direction of church trustees.

“It was such a God-honoring, affirming experience — to see God working through us in such a big way,” Knott said. “It was very exciting and humbling for the congregation that God would entrust us with these kinds of resources and this kind of facility to continue the ministries of the church.”

The price tag on building the church and purchasing the land was $4.7 million.

“We raised more than half ourselves — 2 million in cash,” Knott said. “We sold our old church and then borrowed the remaining balance from the Texas Methodist Foundation. It’s a win-win. Interest paid on the loan goes directly to the ministries. None of the local banks could match what the foundation could do. That’s one of the advantages of being part of a denomination.”

Having a larger facility has attracted more people to services.

“Our attendance has increased on average of 150 to 200 people just by opening the doors,” Knott said. “That just tells you how much more accommodating this building is. This building is so much more accessible to the community in terms of location and visibility.”

The first service at the new location was held on Palm Sunday in April and drew a little more than 700 people. Nearly 1,300 people attended services over Easter Sunday weekend.

Designed to seat approximately 400 worshipers, the sanctuary includes state-of-the-art audio and video systems. The choir loft seats 62, and there also is a kitchen, coffee bar and a conference room.

Outside in the courtyard, a “Tree of Life Fountain,” adorned with birds and trees, greets visitors.

“It was a donation from one of our members,” said office administrator Tammie Nucci. “It’s a beautiful love story. He wanted to donate something in his wife’s memory.”

In addition to the work of congregation members, Nucci said, church staff also has been instrumental in the project’s success.

“We have an amazing team,” Nucci said. “We feel so blessed right now.”

So do the children in the church’s Children’s Day Out program who have given the new digs rave reviews, according to Kelli Stoops, the program’s director.

“They all love it,” she said. “The first day, a little boy commented, ‘I love what you have done with the place.’ He likes all of the bright colors.”

The kids also are enjoying a new playground and green area.

“I think they played half the day the first day,” Stoops said. “The kids are actually better [behaved] and are taking pride in the new building. It has been wonderful.”

LORI FORGAY can be reached at 940-566-6845. Her e-mail address is lforgay@dentonrc.com.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877. Her e-mail address is cbreeding@dentonrc.com.