Gethsemane UMC, Muncie, IN
The Gethsemane United Methodist Church had been a part of the Muncie Community since 1954. Located on the corner of Virginia Ave. and McGalliard Road, a main thoroughfare for this bustling college community.

On any given Sunday, they normally have around 300 worshippers in two Sunday services.  In addition, a new Saturday evening service was introduced recently and welcomes 20-30, mostly new worshipers weekly.

Around five years ago, the church felt the call of God to a new vision and future, a Journey.  This Journey included a major expansion and updates to the facilities.  Led by their pastor, Rev. Vickie Perkins, the Journey Committee leadership concluded they wanted to reach out even more to serve the community.  They wanted to offer a comfortable, modern meeting place for worship, fellowship, prayer and learning, with expanded space for children and youth.  Even though the Gethsemane Building, especially the “Wesley Chapel,” was a well-loved part of their campus, the decision was made that this building needed to be replaced, and all of their campus buildings should be joined together.  This would modernize the church campus, making it more visible from the road. It would also make it more welcoming and functional, better serving the community’s needs.

A Christ Centered Life…

They knew God had given them a vision – The Journey, and moving people toward a Christ centered life was at the center of this vision. They felt God had made it clear that they needed to be a church that is inwardly strong, with an outward focus.  With that in mind, Pastor Tony Collins was appointed Pastor of Outreach Ministries.  His focus will be mission of the community, including the Saturday evening outreach.

In recognition of the changes in the congregation’s focus, on March 2014, the members voted to approve an addition to their name, making it, The Garden at Gethsemane.  With their new name and beautifully renovated facility, the congregation is looking forward to how God can transform them, their community and their world.