Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
Callahan Methodist Church celebrates 140 years of worship, community, and grace.
Throughout the years, the church has had 63 different pastors, with the current one being the Rev. Bodie Riddle, who joined the congregation in 2022.
“The buildings have changed, the community has grown, but the mission has remained the same,” Riddle said. “To preach the word, shepherd the people, and serve our neighbors.”
Over a century ago, the first 25 members of the Methodist church gathered at the local Baptist church in 1886 to worship together before building an official sanctuary. The first pastor to lead the congregation was the Rev. J. T. Duncan, who served as pastor from 1886 to 1888.
The first church building was constructed of white wood and located at Kings Road and Dixie Avenue, near the railroad crossing. The building was later destroyed by a tornado.
A second brick church was built in 1912 on the corner of Wells and Booth Street. It was constructed out of bricks made at the Callahan Brickyard, which was at one time located in the area of the current Dollar General.
The third and current sanctuary was constructed in 1963, with the educational building, social hall, and parsonage added to the lot in 1975.
“Through wars, storms, economic shifts, and cultural changes, the church has remained,” Riddle said.
In his last six years as the church’s pastor, Riddle has brought a season of renewal with him.
“My focus since arriving has been to help people dig deeper in Scripture, stronger in discipleship, and wider service,” he said.
Some of the discipleship and spiritual formation groups offered by the church include three Torah clubs, men’s breakfast bible study, women’s breakfast and devotion, youth group, and Callahan Jewish-Christian fellowship.
“At the core, we focus on helping people actually know the Bible and live it out,” Riddle said.
The church also offers many different outlets for community outreach and compassion. Last year, the church served nearly 13,000 meals at the community outreach dinners offered every Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. or until the food runs out. The church also has a food pantry, a homeless coalition, Chandler’s Hope Clothing ministry, and a cold shelter partnership with the American Red Cross.
“We believe the Gospel has to be preached and practiced – feeding people, caring for the vulnerable, and being present in real needs,” Riddle said.
Fellowship and community life are a big part of the church’s sense of belonging.
“We want this to be a place where people belong, not just attend,” Riddle said.
The church hosts the annual Memorial Day Rod Run 4 Kidz, Crafty Christians, the church’s annual bazaar, and other community events and creative classes.
Other local classes also take place at the church, including Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts, Coppen’s Karate UHK, Happy Easel painting classes, and First Place Bible Study.
“We try to invest in the next generation – spiritually, relationally, and practically,” Riddle said.
While the church has changed over the last 140 years, some things have remained the same.
“We have stayed true to Methodism, and trying to stay true to what the original thought process of being a Methodist is,” Riddle said.
Since joining the church as a pastor, Riddle says the size of the congregation has grown drastically.
“Back in 2022, we had 25 people here,” he said. “Now we’re averaging almost 100. So the growth has been amazing and we’re happy about that.”
This anniversary milestone for Callahan Methodist Church marks more than a celebration of years passed.
“What excites me the most about this moment is that we’re celebrating 140 years of continuous ministry in Callahan,” Riddle said. “That’s a remarkable story of faith, resilience, and community impact, and I hope that’s the heart of what people take away.”