SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA  -- Spearfish United Methodist Church  (UMC) in Spearfish, celebrated their official ownership of an entire block on Sunday, September 22, 2013.  

The weekend celebration included a talent show, a concert of praise music, lots of root beer floats, activities for our preschools, work teams, an open house at our Black Hills State University campus United Ministries center, our regular three worship services, a great potluck picnic dinner, and a whole lot of laughter! 

Spearfish, UMC went into debt in 1992 to build a new worship space on the one-fourth of a city block the church already owned. 

The block that Spearfish UMC holds the title to is more than just a church building. In 2005, the church took advantage of an opportunity to purchase the Central Elementary School that was no longer in use. The elementary school adjoins the church and covers the remaining three-fourth of the block.  

The church operates the Community Outreach Center in the school building.  The Community Outreach Center is home for some of Spearfish’s nonprofit organizations such as:  Youth and Family Services (Headstart), a community Commodities Assistance Program, and Early Childhood Connections.

The school building is home to a program operated by Spearfish UMC called Children First.  Children First is a day care, preschool and kindergarten program.

Spearfish UMC is also home to Spearfish Cooperative Preschool, the oldest preschool in our community.

“We were fortunate to have leaders that saw the potential and purchased the elementary school,” said Rev. Scott McKirdy.  “We are blessed by many to be able to retire the debt!”