History of the Wesleyan Church

            Oxford University graduate John Wesley found what is now know as the Wesleyan Church. He was ordained as a priest in the Church of England (the Anglican or Episcopal Church today). Along with his brother, Charles, John traveled to Georgia on a missionary trip during Colonial America. Sadly, this venture was not successful.
            Both brothers felt their spiritual lives to be lacking and began to search for a more personal relationship with Christ. It was during this time that they encountered a group of Moravians and were greatly influenced by their beliefs. In 1738, both were converted at the Moravian chapel services held on Aldersgate Street in London.
            The Methodist Revival spread quickly in England due to Charles’ hymn writings and John’s preaching. In order to facilitate the growth of many new converts, John organized “societies” or “bands” for spiritual care and accountability. This is where the Sunday School and small groups had their origin.
            Shortly after the Revolutionary War in 1784, the first official Methodist denomination was formed in America. During the next 50 years, Methodism would become one of the largest religious groups in the United States. The rapid spread was credited to the famous “circuit-riding” preachers of the day. Following John’s death in 1791, the Methodist Church in England was organized in 1795.
            Slavery was a major source of social and political tension in the 1830s and 1840s for America. In response, many congregations split from the denomination and formed the Wesleyan Methodist Connection in 1843. A century later, in 1947, the name Wesleyan Methodist Church of America was adopted. Finally in 1968 the Wesleyan Methodist Church merged with the Pilgrim Holiness Church to form the Wesleyan Church.

History of North Pointe Community Church

            North Pointe Community Church was first conceived by Pastor Jeff Loman when he lead a youth work team to Wilmington for summer ministry back in the late 1980’s. He thought, “This would be a great place to plant a church.”
            Later, in the mid 1990’s Pastor Jeff was serving on the District’s Evangelism and Church Growth board and had the opportunity to attend many conferences and seminars on church planting. That exposure led to a sense of God calling him to plant a church in Wilmington. That calling was confirmed in 1998 while attending the Congress on Evangelism.
            The N.C. East District of the Wesleyan Church approved Jeff and his wife, Teresa, as church planters to Wilmington in January 1999. The couple, along with their two sons Spence and Dru, arrived five months later and began developing the church’s purpose and mission. The first service was held in December 1999 at Blair Elementary School. The church then relocated to an office space in Judges Business Park in October 2001, and most recently purchased their first church property on Gordon Road in the spring of 2005.