Blair Road United Methodist Church sits on Blair Road just off I-485 in Mint Hill, a small town on the eastern edge of the Charlotte metro area, and it wears its welcome on its sleeve. The congregation is "open, affirming, and accepting of everyone," with the greeting, "where there is a place for everyone… especially you!" Under the leadership of Pastor Rick Schilling, the church runs a full slate of traditional and contemporary worship, deep mission work in its own neighborhood and across the region, and a long list of small groups that meet between Sunday services.
Two Sunday Services, One at 8:45 and One at 11:11
Sunday mornings at Blair Road UMC are built around two distinct services that share the same convictions but speak in very different voices.
The Traditional service at 8:45 AM fills the Sanctuary with the time-honored patterns of Methodist worship. The service leans on hymns, anthems, prayers, Scripture, and liturgical responses drawn from the church's Wesleyan heritage, with music led by choir, congregational singing, piano, and organ. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month as a reminder of what the church calls God's relentless, unchanging love.
The Contemporary service at 11:11 AM takes over the Family Life Center for a more casual, current experience. The worship team mixes modern songs with prayer, a Children's Time, and a message that connects with daily life. The unusual 11:11 start time is a signature of the church and a nudge toward being present, awake, and intentional. Both services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube so members and friends can worship from wherever they are.
Visitors are reminded to "come as you are, dressed as you are - seriously."
Small Groups at 10:00 AM and Journey 101
Between the two Sunday services sits another pillar of life at Blair Road: small groups that meet at 10:00 AM. Four adult classes meet in different rooms around the campus.
- BFF's - Building Families of Faith gathers younger adults, both single and with families, in the Fellowship Room of the Family Life Center for faith-based conversation about everyday life.
- The Good News Class meets in CEB Room 305 and works through contemporary Christian material, with class members taking turns teaching.
- The Hannon Class, a more seasoned group, gathers in Heritage Building Room 114, near the Sanctuary, for Bible study using the International Lesson Series of Adult Bible Studies, with monthly socials on the side.
- The Pairs & Spares Class welcomes singles and couples in the Wesley Room of the Family Life Center for methodical Bible study and conversation about current issues.
The children's wing fills up at 10:00 as well, with Kindergarten through 4th-grade small groups meeting for Bible adventures, crafts, and storytelling.
For people thinking about joining the church, Pastor Rick leads Journey 101 in the Fellowship Room, an evening class that walks through basic Christian and United Methodist beliefs, the story of Blair Road UMC, and what church membership means.
Nursery, Children's Church, and Recharge! Youth
The youngest members of the congregation are well cared for. The nursery, led by Nursery Director Shannon Howell, welcomes infants through four-year-olds from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM every Sunday, giving parents time for either worship service and a small group.
During the 11:11 Contemporary service, elementary children are invited to Children's Church in CEB Room 312. Led by Children's Church Leader Amy Franklin, the program gives kids their own time of worship with snacks, music, crafts, and interactive Bible lessons that mix traditional and contemporary styles, including The Lord's Prayer, The Doxology, and songs written just for children. Drop-off is in the Education Building before the contemporary service begins.
The year is dotted with traditions children look forward to: the Blessing of the Backpacks in August, the presentation of Bibles to third-graders, Vacation Bible School in late July, a Community Trunk or Treat, the Christmas Nativity Story, the Palm Sunday Parade, Reverse Trick or Treating, and intergenerational gatherings like Lunch and Bingo for Seniors. Every adult volunteer working with children goes through a thorough screening process.
Middle and high schoolers (grades 6 through 12) have their own weekly gathering called Recharge! Youth Group on Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM. The Blair Road youth meet with the youth of Philadelphia Presbyterian Church at the Chapel at 11501 Bain School Road in Mint Hill for discussions, games, and time together. Each week is a little different, but all of them focus on real fellowship, real fun, and real faith. Lea Oglesby, the Director of Congregational Care, oversees both the children's and youth ministry and is the main point of contact for families who want to get involved.
Young at Heart, United Methodist Men, and Scouting
Adults of every stage of life have a place. Young at Heart is the congregation's ministry for older adults, a gathering that combines guest speakers, discussion, spiritual reflection, and a shared meal. The aim is straightforward: building relationships that span generations, so seniors know they have a church family that cares.
The church's United Methodist Men group drives much of the mission work, organizing the ASP Free Pancake Breakfast, the Home Repair Team, and many other projects. The men and women of the church also support and sponsor the scouting program on campus: Boy Scout Pack 144 and Girl Scout Troop 5314. The church sees scouting as another way to nurture the next generation of leaders and citizens, and the partnership is one of the church's longest-running community connections.
Book Bags of Love and the Wider Mission
If one ministry defines Blair Road UMC to its neighbors, it is Book Bags of Love. Each week, volunteers pack bags with weekend meals for students at Mint Hill Elementary and Lebanon Road Elementary, providing food for about ninety families throughout the school year. Packing happens in the pantry off the side hallway of the Christian Education Building, and donations of staples like peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal, spaghetti, canned tuna and chicken, mac and cheese, canned fruit, fruit cups, rice, and crackers keep the program going. Food donations are collected at almost every church event, including the Trunk or Treat, the Lions, Tigers & Movie Night, and the Pancake Breakfast.
The mission list is long and varied:
- Appalachia Service Project (ASP) sends Blair Road volunteers to repair homes and provide safe, warm housing for families in need in Appalachia; the church supports the trip with a free Pancake Breakfast each spring and a Spirit Night fundraiser at Empire Pizza in Mint Hill.
- Roof Above (formerly the Uptown Men's Shelter) receives a monthly meal prepared and served by Blair Road volunteers, who meet at the church for prep before driving up to 1210 North Tryon to serve.
- The Home Repair Team tackles local projects.
- Servant's Heart provides aid for neighbors in need.
- The annual Christmas Marketplace & Bake Sale in November is the church's single largest fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting local missions. It features handcrafted gifts, seasonal decor, artisan jewelry, baked goods, and a silent auction to benefit United Methodist Men Youth Projects.
- A Highway Cleanup crew works several times a year to pick up litter along local roads.
Outside giving flows through online tools (a VANCO giving portal and a Zeffy donation page) and during special offerings like UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and Christmas Eve.
Beer & Hymns and Other Fresh Expressions
Blair Road uses the language of "Fresh Expressions" - new ways of being church that meet people where they are. The most surprising example is Beer & Hymns, held on the first Sunday of each month at 5:30 PM at The Brew Room at 175 Ray Kennedy Drive in Locust. Friends, neighbors, and anyone curious about the church gather for an hour of singing hymns in a brewery, the kind of night where great music and great community come together.
Other Fresh Expressions and conversation spaces include Sisters in Christ, a women's Bible study and fellowship group that meets on the third Tuesday of each month in the Wesley Room; the Leash & Laugh Dog Walk (the congregation calls it "Dog Church"), a monthly walk at parks around Mint Hill and Midland for people and their pups; and quarterly Senior Social Connection gatherings in the Fellowship Room and Pavilion that welcome neighbors and offer practical programs, such as a recent scam-awareness session. A Slow Flow Yoga class meets in the Family Life Center on Wednesdays, and a candlelit deep-stretch and sound healing class shows up seasonally.
Faith traditions get their share of attention too. The year includes Ash Wednesday in the Sanctuary, a Blue Christmas service in mid-December for those experiencing grief or hardship during the holidays, a Maundy Thursday service at Blair Road combined with Good Friday at Philadelphia Presbyterian, an Easter Sunrise Service in the outdoor amphitheater with continental breakfast afterward, a Christmas Eve-Eve Service in the Family Life Center, and a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in the Sanctuary, where the congregation raises candles and sings "Silent Night" together.
Grace for All and What They Believe
The church's stated beliefs center on grace. "We believe in Grace for all. Grace is an unearned gift from God that transforms our hearts and lives so that we become participants in bringing about God's love, compassion, justice, and mercy to our community and world." The congregation teaches that all people are created in the image and likeness of God, and that "all persons are equally worthy of love, dignity, respect, care, justice, freedom, opportunity, and basic human necessities."
Following Jesus is described as a daily practice: "We go where Jesus goes, do what he does, say what he says, hang out with people Jesus hangs out with, and love people like Jesus does." The children's and youth ministries echo this from 1 John 4:16: "God is love," with the adults grounding the work in 1 Corinthians 13's description of love as patient, kind, and never failing.
Pastoral and Music Leadership
The congregation is shepherded by Rev. Rick Schilling, who preaches, teaches the Wednesday Bible study, and leads Journey 101. He and his wife, Suzanne, host an annual Christmas drop-in at their home on Birchhill Road in Mint Hill for the church family.
Lea Oglesby serves as Director of Congregational Care and is the go-to person for children's, youth, and family ministry questions.
The two Sunday services have their own music leaders: Adam Watkins directs the traditional music program, including choir, piano, and organ; Pat Cray directs the contemporary music program and brings in friends to lead the Christmas Eve-Eve Service.
Children's Church is led by Amy Franklin, and the nursery is led by Shannon Howell. Together, the staff supports a church that puts a lot of energy into making sure every age group is cared for.
Visiting Blair Road UMC
The church sits at 9135 Blair Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227, just off I-485. Worship is held on Sundays at 8:45 AM (Traditional, Sanctuary) and 11:11 AM (Contemporary, Family Life Center), with small groups for adults and children at 10:00 AM. Both services are livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
First-time families will find a nursery open from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM for infants through four-year-olds, Children's Church for elementary students during the 11:11 service, and a Youth Group for grades 6 to 12 on Wednesday nights. Visitors are welcome to come dressed as they are.
Anyone wanting to connect can email ChurchAdmin@blairroadumc.org or call the church office at (704) 545-6785. Giving is available online through the church's Zeffy donation page, and the events calendar is updated regularly with everything from Vacation Bible School and the Christmas Marketplace to the Leash & Laugh Dog Walk and the next Beer & Hymns night.