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History of Safe Harbor United Methodist Church
Safe Harbor officially came to be on April 13, 2002 when the former Escatawpa, Kreole, and
Wilson Springs United Methodist Churches merged. They did so under the leadership
of Reverands Larry White, David Cumbest,and Douglas Watson (Pastors), Reverend Jim Ormon
(District Superintendent), and Reverend Kenneth Carder (Bishop). The state-of-the-art
building on Highway 63 was consecrated on May 20, 2007. It provides worship seating
for over 300 and cutting-edge worship technology. Safe Harbor is perfectly positioned
to be one of the fastest-growing churches in the Mississippi Conference.
How did it happen? Alphabetically, here are the stories of the three foundational churches:
The Escatawpa congregation dates back to 1858, when John Newton conveyed a piece of land to
the Methodist Church. The congregation was served for many years by various gifted
circuit-riding preachers. The first pastor on record is G.R. Ellis, appointed in
1895. Escatawpa built a new church in 1907, after the original church was destroyed
by a hurricane. A modern, spacious facility was completed in 1968 on Elder Ferry
Road, and it became known as Safe Harbor UMC after the merger. This building was
heavily damaged in 1986 by Hurricane Elena, and was flooded in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
The Kreole congregation dates back to 1924, when it was organized and added to the Orange
Grove-Pecan Charge. The beautiful building was constructed between 1939 and 1945.
The first building was destroyed by fire in 1954,and the second building was flooded
in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
The Wilson Springs congregation was organized in 1946, although the members had begun meeting
in a tent as early as 1945. A wooden building was erected in 1946, and was replaced
by a cinder block building in 1961. The Fellowship Hall and classrooms were added
in 1964.
Seeing the need for church revitalization, the three congregations came together and were
served by Co-Pastors Reverend Gene Vance and Reverend John Tucker, who celebrated the
relocation to Highway 63. Reverend Tom Potter was appointed as the single Pastor
in 2007. Safe Harbor rejoices in the twenty new babies born into the church in
2007, and the many new faces and ministries as we continue to “Glow, Grow, and Go in the
love of Jesus Christ!”
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