“All protestant churches can trace their roots back to the protestant reformation that was initiated by Martin Luther when he wrote his 95 thesis and nailed it to the door of the Wittenburg Church. Following his questioning of the Holy Roman Empire, others started to question their authority and beliefs as well. Some of the more notable figures were John Calvin, Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer, and John Knox. The basic beliefs that emerged during the protestant reformation eventually were summarized in what is called the Five Solas or five Latin phrases. These five phrases in English translate to, by grace alone, by faith alone, by Scripture alone, by Christ alone, and Glory to God alone. They were meant to show how authorities of the Catholic Church had distorted the message of justification before God and salvation in Jesus Christ.
Today there are about 590 million Protestants throughout the world. They cover all continents and nations. Nearly 27% of all Christians today are Protestants.”
(Religious Beliefs of Protestantism)
Community United Methodist Church
81-10 35th Avenue
Jackson Heights
(718) 446-0690
Mission Statement
We at COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH as disciples of Jesus Christ, are called by God
-to deepen our faith through inspiring worship and challenging small group study,
-to build our fellowship through hospitality and acceptance, and
-to transform the world through active service and faithful witness.
Times for Devotion
English Services- 10 AM on Sunday Morning
Spanish Services- 10:30 AM on Sunday Morning
Chinese Services- 11:30 on Sunday Morning
Services
Bible Study
Sundays 11:30 am for adults and young adults.
During the week, Tuesday Disciple Bible Class – Wednesdays regular Bible Study 1:00 pm
Sunday School
Our Sunday School program meets every Sunday from 9 am to 11:30 am.
History
The Community United Methodist began construction on September 24th, 1992. It was completed in 1923, and was dedicated on June 10th, 1923. 
Beginning in the 1960s, the White European-American contingency of the Church peaked, and ever since then, the Church has become much more diverse, showing the diversity of the neighborhood. Reverend Austin Armitstead, who was Reverend from 1974-1995, realized the changing demographics of Jackson Heights, and “emphasized how the church must always reflect the peoples of the community.”
August 3, 1975, Rev. Solomon Kao started the Chinese Ministry in the Jackson Heights United Methodist Church. At the beginning, there were fifteen people attending regular Sunday Services. Within four years, the amount of regular congregants doubled to thirty. In 1998, the Chinese services got so large, that the service move to the big social room in the Church.
In 1985, Reverend Noe Torres began the Spanish services. The church was highly accessible to Spanish Immigrants, and so it made them feel welcome. In addition to acting as a house of worship, the Church also offered many social services that helped the new immigrants acclimate to Jackson Heights. Currently there are members of the community represented from many Hispanic and Island countries.
In 1989, a Korean Service was started, but due to the lack of space, the Korean congregation moved to its own location.
Services Written in 3 Languages
The Three Reverends
Rev. Dr. Enrique Lebron 2009-
Rev. Delois Davis 2010-
Rev. John Chung 2010-
It is a common theme among the staff of the Community Church to channel unity. In an article entitled, “Faith in the City,” published in the Daily News, Reverend Lebron claimed that aspect that makes the Church special is “The diversity of culture as it is in the community. We speak 14 languages, but we all speak the language of love. We are the expression of the body of Christ.” Reverend Armistead said, “It (the community) is the vegetable soup, a concoction that retains individuality while having a common flavor and purpose.” When asked what is the most important aspect about the Church, Robert, the current receptionist, answered, “whether you are Spanish, English, or Chinese, you can find your home here.” Reverend Davis, channeled these sentiments by saying “diversity is the greatest thing that ever came to this Church.”
School
82nd Street Academics is the school created by the Community Church. It is an integral part of Jackson Heights and many children attend this institution.
Its mission statement is “82nd Street Academics’ mission is to complement the public education system so that students, regardless of home language, will have access to quality higher education. We help students take those crucial “early steps to college.”
The PreK classes began in 1974.
Summer school began in 1985.
The Afterschool Achievement Club began in 1985.
Wedding Chapel
The Church rents out their chapel for weddings, and events. Anyone can get married in the Church regardless of religious orientation.
