OUMC History

Ozark United Methodist Church | 2850 State Hwy 14 East | Ozark MO | Directions

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A Bit About Our History. .

In the summer of 1966, a courageous group of Methodist people decided over bowls of home-made ice cream to begin a church on a hill in Ozark.  The first meetings were in homes, but soon property would be acquired on East McCracken in northeast Ozark. A mobile church that had been used as the original worship building for Wesley Methodist Church in Springfield  was now available, placed on the property, and on September 11, 1966 the first services were held with 44 people present. 

  In 1967 plans were made for a permanent building and in 1970 worship was moved from the mobile building into the new facility.  

  That close family spirit brought our membership and attendance in the mid-1990s to the point that we had to add more space to support ministry to our present members, and to provide a welcome base to the many others in our community needing a church home.  In early 1996 we completed a new two-story fellowship and education wing west of our sanctuary.  

In late 2000 project team vision 20/20 recommended that a new property was required in order to accommodate the growing membership and continue spreading the good word of Jesus Christ. In 2003 32 acres was purchased along Missouri Highway 14 east of Ozark. 

On October 30, 2005 OUMC moved to it's new building on Highway 14. The building is a family life center able to accommodate worship and family activities. This represents phase 1 of a 3 phase construction plan. Phase 2 will bring an expanded education center. Phase 3 will be a sanctuary area.