Christ United Jackson sits on Old Canton Road in northeast Jackson, Mississippi, a large, independent church rooted in the Wesleyan theological heritage. The church carries the tagline "People Pursuing Christ Together" and a single-sentence mission: "Pursuing a Christ-centered life in our self-centered world." On any given Sunday the campus hosts two very different worship styles, a fellowship hour of LifeGroups between them, a long-running food pantry, a recovery ministry, a weekday preschool, a Mother's Morning Out program, and a steady stream of mission teams heading to Costa Rica and beyond. Locals refer to the church simply as Christ United.
Two Sunday Services, One Church Family
The Sunday rhythm is built around two distinct services that share the same values, the same building, and the same congregation. The Bridge meets at 9 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. It is the modern service, led by the Bridge Worship Team in an intimate setting with spirit-led songs, an on-stage band, and technology-driven worship elements. The Traditions service begins at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary and is built around the church's choir and full orchestra, deep-rooted traditions, and hymns. Between the two, at 10 a.m., Sunday LifeGroups meet across the campus for every age group, giving the morning a single rhythm of worship, community, and study.
Both services are livestreamed. The Bridge stream runs through christunitedjxn.online.church, and the Traditions service streams through the same online.church platform. Sermon audio and video from past weeks are archived on the church's YouTube channel, and a sermon archive going back years is also available on the church's media page.
A Wesleyan Heart in an Independent Church
Christ United identifies itself as "an independent church with a Wesleyan foundation." The staff page, the beliefs page, and the church's own materials all state plainly: "We do not belong to a formal denomination." Instead, the church is a member of the Foundry Network, a fellowship of large, independent churches in the Wesleyan tradition that provides mutual support for pastors and church leaders and cooperative opportunities for mission and ministry.
That Wesleyan identity runs deep in the church's teaching. The church draws from the writings, sermons, and hymns of John and Charles Wesley, the 18th-century Anglican brothers whose 1738 spiritual awakenings gave birth to the early Methodist movement. Wesleyan theology at Christ United centers on what the church describes as God's gift of a "freed will," a free human response to salvation made possible only by grace. Grace, in turn, is experienced in four ways the church names explicitly: prevenient grace (God's love at work in us before we are consciously aware of it), justifying grace (God's grace that allows us to respond affirmatively to God's love and mercy), sanctifying grace (God's grace that transforms us and forms us into the likeness of Jesus), and perfecting grace (which enables us to love as God loves, even our enemies).
Authority for the church rests on four sources: Scripture as the word of God and ultimate source of authority, tradition as the collective wisdom of the saints through the centuries, reason as our God-given capacity to think and evaluate matters of truth and faith, and experience: “What Scripture teaches, Tradition affirms, and Reason supports must be experienced in Christian community and life.”
What Christ United Believes
The beliefs page sets out a series of congregational values first: Christ-Centered Worship, Healthy Relationships, Real Compassion, Intentional Disciple-Making, Scriptural Foundation, and Thankful Generosity. Each is given a one-line definition. Worship is described as "pursuing and praising Jesus together." Disciple-making is "being formed by Christ and forming others." Generosity is "giving as we have received."
The theological distinctives section addresses four areas. On baptism, the church calls baptism the "rite of entry" into the people of God and one of two sacraments recognized at Christ United. Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. Because baptism is a one-time event, the church does not practice re-baptism. The church baptizes infants and children with the understanding that parents are the primary spiritual guides responsible for helping their children experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and also offers "believers' baptism" to those old enough to commit themselves to Christ on their own.
On Holy Communion, also known as the Lord's Supper and the Eucharist, the church teaches that bread and non-alcoholic grape juice are consecrated by a priest or minister and then shared with the people. "All are invited to join us in receiving the grace God offers to us through it."
On human sexuality, gender, and marriage, the church holds that "God created human beings in his own image … male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27), that marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, and that sexual intimacy is reserved exclusively for that covenant of marriage. The church also affirms that God's grace is available to all, and that the congregation strives to support all people in honoring and serving God. On women in ministry, the church teaches that in the Kingdom of God the Holy Spirit falls on young and old, men and women, and that women as well as men are called by God to use their gifts in ministry, including pastoral ministry. On singleness, the church treats singleness as a gift, citing 1 Corinthians 7, and on divorce, the church recognizes the painful reality of divorce while also naming the biblical exceptions of sexual infidelity (Matthew 5:32) and abandonment by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15).
The core beliefs section states the church's understanding of God as one God, Creator and Sustainer of all, eternally existing in three Persons, distinct but inseparable. God the Son is "fully God and fully human," Jesus Christ of Nazareth, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, who lived a sinless life, suffered and died, rose from the dead, ascended to the Father, and will return as sovereign King and Judge. God the Holy Spirit is the eternal living presence of God who convicts, reveals, transforms, and produces the fruit of holiness and love. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is described as the inspired word of God, without error, the final authority for beliefs and the guide for daily living. The Church is the redeemed people of God, the living Body of Christ, and the Community of God's Kingdom. Salvation is by grace, through faith: turning from a self-ruled life and trusting only in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
The Building and Where to Go on Sunday
The church campus has two main entrances, North and South, with signs throughout the parking lot directing visitors to specific entrances. The best entrance for adult LifeGroup members is the North Entrance, through the North Great Hall doors. The South Entrance and South parking lot are best for the Fellowship Hall, where the Bridge service meets. Handicapped parking is available close to the entrances for those who need accessible parking. Once inside, nametagged greeters will help direct visitors to where they need to go.
The Sanctuary is the home of the Traditions service and the Festival of Carols, Keyboards at Christmas, and the Christmas Eve candlelit services. The Fellowship Hall is where the Bridge service meets, where Wednesday Night dinners are served, and where the MountainTop Luncheons gather. The Youth Center hosts Celebrate Recovery on Thursday nights and serves as the gathering point for youth Sunday school and D-Group. The church's Memorial Garden and Columbarium is at the South Great Hall entrance and serves as a place of remembrance, contemplation, meditation, and prayer.
LifeGroups: Sunday School at Ten
Sunday LifeGroups meet at 10 a.m., between the two worship services, in rooms across the campus. They are designed for building relationships within the church family and for learning more about God by sharing thoughts, experiences, and questions. The church describes LifeGroups as "the place where community happens." Each group is named and led by lay leaders. Walker Group, led by Adam Walker, is for those 18 and up, single or married, meeting in Room 222. Life Along the Way, led by Nicolet Bell and Chance Strange, is for ages 18 to 40 in Room 179. Young Marrieds, led by Colleen and Stan Roberts with Mike Morgan, is for couples in their 20s and 30s in Room 225. Cheers, with various teachers, is for the 30s, 40s, and 50s in Room 224. Forever, led by Rebecca Benson and Sarah Cook, is for couples in their 30s and 40s in Room 237. The Breakfast Club, led by Kathleen Mitchell, Arthur Johnston, and Ginger Arledge, is for the 40s, 50s, and 60s in Room 236. Journey, led by Samson, Gibson, and Hinton, is for the 40s, 50s, and 60s in Room 229. Friendship, led by Jep Cole, is for the 40s, 60s, and up in Room 235. Christian Sharing, led by Gordon Smith, New Yorkers, led by York Craig Sr., and Open Doors, led by Denny and Ann Zimmerman with Gay Tompkins, all serve the 60-and-up crowd in Rooms 221, 212, and 223 respectively. Grace, led by Gene Simmons, is for the 70s and up in Room 220.
Several of those Sunday morning LifeGroups are also studying the current sermon series, Riddles of Faith: The Parables of Jesus, during the LifeAlong the Way, Journey, Open Doors, Forever, Walker Group, Young Marrieds, Friendship, and The Breakfast Club rooms. Visitors can try a group for the duration of a series.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
Wednesday nights have their own rhythm at Christ United. Dinner is served in the Fellowship Hall at 5 p.m., followed at 5:30 p.m. by check-in for NextGen programming. At 6 p.m., a new Bible study series for adults begins, and at the same time the Choir, Orchestra, and Bridge Band start rehearsal. The night is described by the church as a time when "almost everyone enters the church at the North Entrance. Just follow the herd." The Wednesday Night Bible Study takes place in the Fellowship Hall. Pastor-led studies run by the season and semester.
The most recent adult series, Stress Points, ran for four weeks in August and focused on four pressure points in life: Priorities (When Life Gets Out of Order), Worry and Stress (Finding Peace in the Pressure), Fear and Doubt (Trusting God Through Uncertainty), and Relationships (Healing What Matters Most). The following nine-week series, Riddles of Faith: The Parables of Jesus, walks through nine of Jesus's parables week by week, with weekly group and family guides for LifeGroups and families working through the same material together at home.
NextGen: Kids and Youth
The NextGen ministry at Christ United covers children from birth through high school. The Kids Ministry is offered for children from birth through fifth grade at the 9 a.m. Bridge service and from birth through kindergarten at the 11 a.m. Traditions service. At 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sunday School is offered for all ages, birth through fifth grade. Children are welcome to join their families in worship at either service, and Kids Worship Bags are available at the connection desk outside each service location.
Wednesday nights add another layer for kids. Children in birth through third grade arrive at 5:30 p.m. through the North entrance, get checked in, eat pizza if pre-ordered, and head to their rooms. At 6 p.m. they begin large-group games and teaching before breaking into small groups, with a 7 p.m. check-out from classrooms. Fourth and fifth graders meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m., checking in outside the Youth Center for a time in the gym, a meal if pre-ordered, and large- and small-group worship. A nursery is available for children two and under for parents who are serving or staying on campus for a small group or Wednesday night Bible study.
Drop-off and pick-up for birth through third grade happens in the Great Hall. The North entrance leads to the Kids Ministry doors for check-in. The church recommends parking in the North parking lot for the shortest walk to the Kids Ministry. Pick-up requires a security sticker; parents must show their pickup receipt sticker at the Kids Ministry entrance, walk to the hall to pick up their child, and then hand the sticker to their child's leader. The Kids Ministry is led by Kids Ministry Director Maryssa Bracey.
The Youth Ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in the Youth Center, with games and a scripture-based lesson. D-Group, the Wednesday night program, combines age-appropriate Biblical teaching with relational small groups. Middle school (grades 6 to 8) meets from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Youth Center. High school students (grades 9 to 12) meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m., entering through the Youth Center and meeting in Room 236. Students have the option to serve on Sunday mornings in Kids Ministry, Hospitality, or the Tech Team. The church maintains separate Instagram accounts for Kids (@christunitedjxnkids) and Youth (@christunitedjxnyouth), and parents can fill out a Youth Info Card so their student can check in on Wednesdays and stay informed.
Safety is treated as a high priority. First-time visitors complete a visitor card and fill out a security sticker; children are checked in and out by a sticker system. All leaders complete an application process that includes a background check and an interview, and a security guard is on campus every Sunday morning and Wednesday night. Once Wednesday night programming is in session, outside doors remain locked until pick-up.
Celebrate Recovery and the Care Network
Celebrate Recovery is the church's flagship recovery ministry, a 12-step program for men and women seeking freedom from hurts, habits, and hang-ups. The church makes a point of clarifying that Celebrate Recovery is not only for those struggling with chemical addictions: "Statistically, around 1/3 of the folks in Celebrate Recovery are here because of struggles with drugs or alcohol. The other 2/3 are here for one or more of the multitude of issues that keep us demoralized and defeated."
Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the Youth Center, with parking on the south side of the church and entry through the Youth patio entrance marked "Youth." The evening runs from dinner at 5:15 p.m. to large group at 6 p.m. to open share groups at 7 p.m. Childcare is available for children in fifth grade or younger. Due to the content of the programming and discussions, no one under 18 years of age attends large group or open share groups.
Two additional recovery and healing groups are offered through the Congregational Care ministry. DivorceCare is a 13-week curriculum with weekly classes at the church; participants may begin attending at any time, and childcare is available. GriefShare, a 13-week program for those grieving the death of a loved one, is offered both in-person and online; participants may begin attending at any time.
The Congregational Care ministry also runs a Care Team, a Prayer Ministry, and a Congregational Care team. The Care Team equips volunteers to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in the congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties. The Prayer Ministry includes Prayers and Squares Quilts (handmade quilts hung in the prayer room with knots tied in each thread to represent a prayer, then presented to the recipient), a Prayer Room Intercessors Ministry that commits one hour per week to pray for requests received during the week, Cancer Prayer Partners and Support, and a Hedge Prayer Team that prays for pastors, worship leaders, and the congregation during Sunday services.
MountainTop, Faith & Fitness, and Adults 60 and Older
Adults 60 and older have their own gathering place at Christ United. MountainTop Luncheons are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The luncheons feature good food, engaging speakers, and fellowship. The deadline to register is the Thursday before; reservations are taken by Gale at the reception desk. Faith & Fitness is an exercise class for senior adults that meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:45 a.m. in the Youth Worship Center, designed for adaptable movement according to each participant's level of comfort and aimed at increasing balance, strength, and flexibility.
For married couples, Re|Engage meets on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and is open to adults in their 20s through 60s and up. For men, the Bible Study Fellowship led by Warren Lenon meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Room 225, and the Tuesday Morning Bible Study led by Steven Ball meets Tuesdays at 6:45 a.m. in the Youth Activity Studio for men 60 and up. For women, the Bible Study Fellowship led by Karen Wagner meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Room 235; Women in the Word, led by Louise Hartlein with various teachers, meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. in Room 235; SpringHeart, led by Maribeth Gibson, meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Room 236; and two women's groups for the 60-and-up crowd meet on Mondays, the Carlson Group at 2 p.m. in Room 237 and the Markow Group at 1 p.m. in Room 224.
The Disciple group, a mixed group for the 50s and up, meets Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. in Room 223.
The Women's Circle Ministries add a missions focus. Circles are mission groups that focus on the local and global missions of Christ United, serving local nonprofits through food and clothing collections, fundraising, and volunteering, and supporting missionaries from Kenya to Costa Rica. All women are welcome. Circle 3, Circle 4, Circle 6, Circle 7, and Circle 9 each meet monthly in rooms around the church.
Local Outreach: The Food Pantry and Community Partners
The Christ United Food Pantry is the church's signature local outreach. The pantry collects and stores food to supply monthly food boxes to members of the community in need. Drive-thru hours are the second Thursday of each month from 6 to 7 p.m., with the line entering at the South Entrance and drivers receiving a food box. Food distributions are first-come, first-served while supplies last, and each household receives an assortment of shelf-stable foods. No identification or requirements are needed. Anyone in need of food assistance is welcome. The pantry lists its ongoing needs: tuna, canned pasta, canned vegetables, peanut butter, jelly, spaghetti, tomato or spaghetti sauce, ramen noodles, rice, and mac and cheese.
The church partners with a number of community organizations. McLeod Elementary is supported through treats for teachers once a month and through the Ready Reader Program, which sends trained volunteers to read with preschool and kindergarten children on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings at 8:30 or 9:30 a.m. StewPot Community Services receives volunteers on select Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for food service, and the church collects non-perishable food items year-round for StewPot. CarePortal ministries help meet the needs of vulnerable families in the community, often partnering with Mississippi CPS to provide and deliver beds and supplies to keep families together. Mustard Seed meets the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs of adults with developmental disabilities, with a monthly Birthday Bash on the first Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Susanna Stitchers meet Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. in the Youth Center to learn and use skills in sewing, ironing, and prayer to make personalized handmade items for ministry partners who serve the disadvantaged and homeless. Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers hot meals to the elderly in Jackson, with deliveries on the second Thursday, fourth Wednesday, and fourth Thursday of each month. Hope House provides a home away from home for seriously ill patients and their families who come to Jackson for outpatient treatment, with the church providing and serving meals on the fourth Tuesday of every month along with carpentry and landscaping help.
Around the World: Costa Rica, Kenya, Cambodia, Peru, Australia
The church's global missions work centers on Rice &Beans Ministries (RABMIN), a faith-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and practical help to children and families living in poverty in Costa Rica, Brazil, and the United States. Every July, mid-month, a team from Christ United travels to Alajuela, Costa Rica, to serve at the Rice &Beans camp. The camp has become a home base for the church's short-term mission trips, growing much of its own food on the property and distributing it to local schools and communities in need. The trip typically includes food bag deliveries, prayer, and Vacation Bible School-style lessons, games, songs, and crafts with local children.
Back home, the Go, Live, Love Bags ministry partners with Rice &Beans to assemble hundreds of backpacks filled with school supplies and Gospel materials. A packing party is held in the gym during the LifeGroup hour, with the team assembling hundreds of bags in a single morning.
The church also supports a network of missionaries around the world. Fred Curry serves with Rice &Beans Ministries in Costa Rica. Pastor Sergio serves with Living Missions in Peru. Allie Mellon serves with Hard Places Community in Cambodia. Sammy Mwai serves with The Bridge Street Kids in Kenya. Greg and Shirley Carlson serve with Pioneers of Australia. Anna Jordan Butts serves with Missions to the World in Peru. Supporters are encouraged to keep up with newsletters, write letters of encouragement, and pray for missionaries.
Preschool and Mother's Morning Out
Christ United runs a weekday preschool and Mother's Morning Out program out of the same campus. The Weekday Preschool is a nationally accredited program for children ages 2 1/2 to 5, with regular hours from 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. and an optional Stay and Play until 2 p.m. The preschool uses the Learning Without Tears curriculum along with specially written curriculum for each age group. Morning Kindergarten, a class for 5-year-olds, prepares them for participation at schools within the tri-county area and uses Everyday Math and Saxon Phonics. Extracurricular programs include Movin' On Up, Sing and Sing Together, and Cookin' with Kids, with optional afternoon programs such as Ballet and Tap, Bricks for Kidz, Doodle Art, Kiddy Keys, Soccer Shots, Stay and Play Tennis, and Tumble Bugs available at additional cost.
Mother's Morning Out (MMO) serves infants and toddlers from 6 months to 3 years old, with the program running Monday through Friday from 8:50 a.m. to 12 p.m. Early Room at 8 a.m. and Lunch Bunch from 12 to 2 p.m. are offered daily. The program includes supervised play, reading, music, and early childhood activities with low caretaker-to-child ratios.
Choir, Orchestra, and Bridge Band
Worship music at Christ United is built around three ensembles. The Choir and Orchestra anchor the 11 a.m. Traditions service in the Sanctuary, with a full orchestra accompanying the choir and congregation. The Bridge Band leads the 9 a.m. contemporary Bridge service in the Fellowship Hall. Each ensemble rehearses weekly on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m., and members are described by the church as "more than musicians" who commit time, talent, and heart to preparing for each service.
The Bridge Worship Team is led by Worship Pastors Adam Walker and Tim Walker. Kati McLellan serves as Ministry Assistant for Worship and is the contact for those interested in joining the Choir or Orchestra.
Sacraments, Baptisms, Weddings, and the Memorial Garden
Christ United baptizes individuals at any age. Infant and young child baptisms, youth and adult baptisms, and reaffirmation of baptism are all offered. Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. Parents bringing children for baptism commit to nurturing them in the way of Jesus so one day they will trust in Christ for themselves. For those who have not been baptized and are old enough to commit themselves to Christ on their own, believers' baptism is available.
The church hosts wedding ceremonies and has a Wedding Request Form and Wedding Policy attached for couples. The Memorial Garden and Columbarium on campus, located at the South Great Hall entrance, houses urns with cremated remains and serves as a place of remembrance, contemplation, meditation, and prayer for members of the church from baptism through death and eternal life.
Staff and Connection Points
Christ United is led by Interim Lead Pastor Scott Bullock. Worship is led by Worship Pastors Adam Walker and Tim Walker. Kids Ministry is led by Kids Ministry Director Maryssa Bracey. Leadership Development is led by Bernard Lemoine. Connections is led by Cathy Shofner. Day-to-day operations are overseen by Executive Director T.R. Cook and Assistant Executive Director Michelle Shaleen, with Finance led by Finance Director Jenifer Courtney, Communications led by Communications Director Beth Owen, and audio-visual production led by Audio Visual Production Director Edward Chapman. Facility Services is led by Facility Services Director Clarence Hasberry. The Weekday Preschool is led by Director Mandy Anderson, and Mother's Morning Out is led by Director Vickie Lynn Adams.
To get connected, the church asks visitors to email the Connections Director at connections@christunitedjxn.org, fill out a First Time Visitor Registration form online, or sign up for the weekly eNote newsletter for updates throughout the week. Care requests and prayer requests can also be submitted online. Giving is available online through the church's online giving platform, by text at 601-202-4122, in person during any worship service, or by mail to the church address. The RightNow Media library of Bible study and family video content is free to set up through the church, and the YouVersion Bible App is recommended for daily Scripture reading.
Christ United sits at 6000 Old Canton Road in Jackson, Mississippi. The main church number is (601) 956-6974, and the general inbox is info@christunitedjxn.org. Sunday worship is at 9 a.m. (Bridge) and 11 a.m. (Traditions), with Sunday LifeGroups at 10 a.m.