ABOUT US
Our Beliefs
WHERE WE STARTED
Asbury UMC- was founded over 156 years ago. According to unofficial local history, the old stone church began as a log structure in the early 18th century for the Anglican — later Episcopal — congregation.
White and black Episcopalians worshiped in the old church — whites in the morning, blacks in the afternoon. The white Episcopalians moved out of the old church when the current Trinity Episcopal Church on the corner of Church and German streets opened late during the Civil War.
The old stone church was turned over to the black Episcopalian congregation.
Under the vision and leadership of Rev. E.D. Lyles the church began to grow numerically and spiritually and obeyed the Lord in building God a house! Rev. Lyles was ordained an elder in 1987 within the Baltimore/Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. He led the congregation for two decades, during which membership and attendance grew significantly. Building expansion: The church congregation purchased a five-acre lot outside of Shepherdstown in 1986. They would begin building a new, larger facility on this site in 1989. Ministry growth: During Lyles` time as pastor, more than 30 new ministries were created or expanded at Asbury.
OUR NEW HOME
Our new edifice was a state of the art worship center. Equipped with a nursery, classroom, parking lot, kitchen/fellowship hall, and sanctuary to accommodate our growing family!
ONWARD & UPWARD
Upon the transition from Rev. E.D. Lyles to Pastor Rudolph Bropleh- the church began to focus on the vision the Lord gave to Pastor Bropleh. We began to operate under 4 PILLARS: PRAYING| STUDYING|GIVING|SERVING
The church began to see growth in families with a focus on children and youth. Due to the need for community partnerships, and to establish a safe place Asbury was ready to build again! The nearly 24,000-square-foot multipurpose addition includes a gym, six classrooms, a nursery, restrooms, a commercial kitchen and a covered canopy to protect those entering the main church or the new addition. Today the building stands as a reminder that God still has his hands on our ministry! We invite you to partner with us as we journey forward with our current Pastor Derek T. Shackelford.
What We Are About
At Asbury Church, we are dedicated to living out our mission of making disciples of Christ by educating and empowering individuals to develop a committed relationship with God. Our vision is to be a community that exemplifies the love of Christ, serving both the church and the broader community with excellence. We are passionate about creating environments where people can grow in faith, engage in Spirit-filled worship, and support one another through genuine fellowship. Together, we strive to transform lives and communities by embodying Christ's teachings in everything we do.
