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September 8th, 2026

To the people of Christ called United Methodists in the Lakeside neighborhood:

I share greetings on behalf of Bishop David Graves, the appointive Cabinet of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference, and the good people of Camden First United Methodist Church. For five years now, I have served as the pastor at Camden First and also serve in a superintending role for Bishop Graves in the area of west Tennessee.

Ten years ago, on the occasion of your 75th anniversary, when I was last with you to proclaim the word of God, I don’t think you or I could have imagined what the road ahead of us would look like. Keeli and I were expecting the birth of our beloved daughter Serena that fall. She’s 9 now, reading every book she can get her hands on and crushing it as a softball catcher. I was serving a white frame church on a quiet Main Street on the edge of the country and suburbs. Shortly after, I became the Senior Pastor of a large church in middle Tennessee and then COVID changed everything. Years later when COVID subsided, it became a season of disaffiliation all across the nation. It was a hard season of ministry.

United Methodism in many areas has changed so dramatically over those past ten years. I often hear folks lament the loss of members, money, and volunteers. Those are hard realities. But that’s not the end of the story. I believe that some of the most exciting and challenging ministry opportunities are before us right now. We don’t have to wait until tomorrow. The fields are ripe for planting and harvest. Sharing the story of Jesus Christ is more urgent today than it’s ever been in the life of this congregation since it was planted. Culture is not in our favor. Religion is becoming generationally obsolete for the under 45 crowd. People don’t know that Jesus Christ loves them or that there are churches where their wrestling, doubt, questions, or messy lives can show up and be real.

Frankly, it was a lot easier being the church and doing church things 10, 20, or 30 years ago than it is today. So please hear me, congratulations on your 85 anniversary! I wish I was with you for this moment. But I’m already thinking about your 100th anniversary and all the new neighbors in and around Lakeside that the Lord is calling you to reach, serve, feed, house, and clothe. You’ve been a serving and feeding church as long as I’ve known you. Don’t let up now, because the folks just on the other side of those beautiful stained glass windows are hurting, scared, hopeless, addicted, and lonely. Belonging in the body of Christ at Lakeside United Methodist Church might be the redeeming gift they need and what you’re best positioned to share.

So congratulations! Celebrate well. And then go and serve as if the health of the neighborhood depends on your witness to Jesus Christ.

May God continue to richly bless the people of God at Lakeside United Methodist Church.

Peace & Grace to you,

Reverend Adam Kelchner