Gastonia, North Carolina

"The Lighthouse on the corner."

First Wesleyan Church

208 South Church St.

Gastonia, NC  28054

704-867-7206

704-867-5607 (Fax)
 Email Us

Imagine this conversation taking place over the airways at sea on a dark and stormy night.

Ship’s Captain: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."

Reply: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."

Ship’s Captain: "This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."

Reply: "No, I say again, you divert YOUR course."

Ship’s Captain: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT'S ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP."

Reply: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."  

For more than a hundred years, First Wesleyan Church has stood at the corner of Church and Franklin as a lighthouse to Gaston County.  Our purpose is to divert men and women, boys and girls from the destructive paths of sin to the eternal life offered freely by Jesus Christ.

What’s a Wesleyan?

That's the most common question I hear when someone asks me about my Church.

The Wesleyan Church has her roots in the English Revivals led by John and Charles Wesley in the mid-1700's.  In 1843, a group of Methodists opposed to slavery left the Methodist Episcopal denomination to form the Wesleyan Methodist Church. 

            Since then, Wesleyans have been on the cutting edge of social issues such as alcoholism, women's right-to-vote, orphanages, the aged and abortion. 

            The Wesleyan Church emphasizes a personal relationship with God and a lifestyle that pleases God and serves others.

            There are more than 500,000 Wesleyans around the world and more than 100 churches in North Carolina.

First Wesleyan Church was organized on May 20, 1900 as the result of a “Tent Revival” held on the very corner it occupies today.  It was called Avon Wesleyan in those days because of its proximity to the old Avon Cotton Mill.  From then until now, First Wesleyan Church has enjoyed a warm and close relationship with the community offering resources, leadership and care to Gastonia and Gaston County.

You’re probably interested in a Church like First Wesleyan.  It’s a great place to learn and grow and serve.  If you’d like more information or if you have questions about the Church, call me at the Church office at 704-867-7206 or send me an email at: pastortimsmith@bellsouth.net.   

Tim Smith, Senior Pastor

208 South Church Street

Gastonia, NC  29854

Map

First Wesleyan Church is located in the 900 block of East Franklin Blvd., at the corner of Church Street.  It is directly across from Dairy Queen and just east of the Sun Drop Bottling Company.

We have great "Sundays" too!

Join us for something really refreshing!