LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — What began as a small mission church in 1876 has grown to become an active congregation dedicated to making disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world.
Little River United Methodist Church, on the corner of Highway 17 and Mineola Ave., has undergone many changes in the last 150 years, but its continued focus on community outreach has set it apart.
“It’s important to celebrate an anniversary like this,” noted the Rev. Tony Adams, the church’s pastor who is beginning his third year leading the church. Throughout scripture, “God always calls his people to celebrate the milestones.” He compared the celebration to “an Ebenezer” moment — “a physical or spiritual monument reminding us of where we’ve been and the promises that God continues to make in our lives.”
Planning for the year-long anniversary celebration began in the summer of 2025. A committee of about 20 people, led by lay leader Sue Novotny, focused on planning events that would bring together people from the church’s two traditional and one contemporary services. “We were excited about the fellowship” that combining the services would bring, “allowing members to talk to and get to know other church members they might not otherwise see,” she said.
Beginning in October with a “big tent event” that made use of tents erected for the church’s annual rummage sale, the committee planned two other combined services, a family movie night, a Fat Tuesday pancake dinner with dance music by the Star Dusters, and a trivia contest with questions garnered from the church building and adjacent graveyard. The grand finale on Nov. 15, will feature a final combined service with special music and a message by South Carolina United Methodist Conference Bishop Leonard E. Fairley…