A Church at the Heart of Bedford
First United Methodist Church of Bedford sits on Bedford Road in the Mid-Cities area between Dallas and Fort Worth, just minutes from the city’s other civic anchors. The congregation is known for something distinctive in the area: a Sunday worship schedule that runs in both English and Arabic, alongside a licensed Early Childhood Academy and a drive-up food pantry called Project H.E.L.P. that opens its doors twice a month to neighbors who need a hand.
The church’s guiding line, drawn from the prophet Micah, is set at the top of the front door: Act Justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. It is the kind of motto that explains why a Sunday morning here can feel like part sanctuary, part neighborhood hub.
Sunday Mornings in English and Arabic
Worship on Sunday is offered in person and online. The English-language service begins at 10:00 AM in the main Sanctuary, with the service also streamed on Facebook for those worshiping from home. A second service in Arabic follows at 1:00 PM, giving Arabic-speaking families in the Mid-Cities a place to gather, pray, and hear the Scriptures in their own language. Sunday school classes for all ages meet on campus at 9:00 AM, an hour before the English service begins.
Visitors who arrive early can stop by Java Junction in the Narthex, where free coffee and conversation have been part of the morning since 8:30 AM. Just outside the Sanctuary doors, the Information Center is staffed by volunteers ready to answer questions, point guests to a class, or hand out church publications.
Children in the Service
Children are welcome in worship. A professionally staffed nursery is available for the youngest guests from birth through pre-K, and a cry room sits conveniently near the Sanctuary for parents who prefer to keep little ones close. Worship Packs, stocked with quiet activities, can be picked up at the Information Center so older children can engage with the service in their own way.
Project H.E.L.P.: A Drive-Up Food Pantry
On the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, the church opens Project H.E.L.P. from 9:00 AM until noon at 2012 Shady Brook Drive. It operates as a drive-up food pantry, meaning families in need can pull up, receive a box of groceries, and drive on without leaving their cars. The pantry is part of the church’s long-running effort to extend mercy beyond the building on Bedford Road, serving neighbors across the Mid-Cities.
The Early Childhood Academy
The Early Childhood Academy at FUMC Bedford is a ministry of the church and a licensed facility through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. It provides full-time and part-time care for children from six weeks old through Pre-Kindergarten, and during summer breaks and most HEB-ISD extended school holidays the Academy also opens its doors to school-age children in Kindergarten through sixth grade.
Operating Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the Academy weaves a Christian perspective into a typical preschool day, with attention to social-emotional growth, fine and gross motor skills, language, and sensory development. Families can pay tuition through an online payment portal, and the Academy’s director, Sarah Harris, leads a staff described as nurturing and experienced. The Academy’s verse, from Proverbs 22:6, hangs over the program: Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not depart from it.
Small Groups, Bible Study, and Prayer
Discipleship beyond Sunday is a major piece of life at FUMC Bedford. The church offers a mix of on-campus and in-home small groups for all ages, with online options for those who prefer to connect virtually.
On Wednesday mornings, a Ladies Bible Study gathers from 10:00 AM to noon in Room A107 of the Worship Center, led by Gail Courser. The group works through books on topics that encourage and expand faith, building friendships alongside Bible knowledge. On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM, the Prayer Team meets on Zoom for a time of intercession for the church family and the wider community, with everyone invited to join through the link that Associate Pastor Lee Biggs-Scribner can provide.
Throughout the year, special studies, guest speakers, and short-term mission projects round out the group life of the church.
Pastoral Leadership
The church is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Mel Bishara, who joined FUMC Bedford after retiring from St. Luke United Methodist Church in Haltom City, where he had served since 2012. A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Pastor Mel has served United Methodist congregations across Tarrant County for decades, including ten years as senior pastor of Saginaw United Methodist Church and earlier appointments in Hurst, Arlington Heights, and Fort Worth. He has been active in the Central Texas Annual Conference, has helped found local missions such as Mission Central and Community Link Mission, and has worked alongside Muslims, Christians, and Jews on dialogue and joint service projects. His personal motto: Let’s do whatever it takes to make our world a better place.
Pastor Mel and his wife Susan live in Benbrook and have two adult children, Nate and Max. Associate Pastor Lee Biggs-Scribner oversees administration and education, Sarah Harris directs the Early Childhood Academy, and Michelle Schechner coordinates ministry administration and communications.
Sermons and Teaching
Sermon series rotate through books of the Bible and topical studies, and past series have walked through Philippians, the Beatitudes, the letter of James, the parables of Jesus, and the Advent season. Recent series include Matters of the Heart, Great Questions, and studies in Jonah that frame the Old Testament prophet as a portrait of God’s relentless mercy. Video of recent and past messages is posted online, and on-demand access is available for anyone who wants to follow along during the week.
Getting Connected and Giving
Newcomers are invited to fill out a Connect Card online, share a prayer request with the prayer team, or stop by the Information Center on Sunday morning to meet a pastor. The church also publishes a weekly e-news and maintains an online church directory for members.
Giving is described at FUMC Bedford as an act of worship. Donations support local ministry in the Mid-Cities and missionaries serving around the world, and gifts can be made online through the church’s giving page. Tuition for the Early Childhood Academy is paid through a separate online payment portal.
A Neighborhood Church with a Wide Reach
From a Sunday school class on Bedford Road to a Tuesday morning box of groceries on Shady Brook Drive, from an Arabic-language service in the afternoon to a Zoom prayer meeting on a Wednesday night, First United Methodist Church of Bedford keeps a steady rhythm of word and service running through the week. It is a congregation that has chosen to be many things to many people at once, and the doors stay open for anyone ready to walk through them.