A New Beginning on Highway 150
Just south of Lexington, North Carolina, along South NC Highway 150, Tyro Methodist Church has set its course by a single idea. The word Tyro literally means "new beginning," and the congregation has shaped its life around that phrase. Their four-fold vision sums it up: To Be Disciples, Make Disciples, and Make a Difference. Everything the church offers - from Sunday morning worship to a Thursday night contemporary service, from a packed Sunday School schedule to a traveling puppet ministry - flows from the desire to help people start fresh in Christ and walk that road together.
Tyro Methodist is a congregation of the Global Methodist Church, a body that exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe. The Tyro family puts it in plainer terms: "We strive to lead people to Christ and through the journey of being a Christian by offering meaningful preaching, teaching and a blended atmosphere of worship and music."
Sundays at Tyro: 9 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. Worship
Sunday morning follows a familiar rhythm with two back-to-back gatherings. Sunday School classes for every age begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Education Building, and at 10:00 a.m. the whole church gathers in the sanctuary for worship. The Sunday service is described as blended, drawing on both traditional and contemporary music with preaching meant to help listeners grow as disciples.
Child care is provided during worship, and visitors will find designated parking spots across from the main entrance. Visitors are welcome to come dressed casually or in Sunday best. The Sunday service pairs the best of new and old music with energizing, relevant sermons.
Ignited: Thursdays in the Chapel
For those who want a midweek touchpoint, the Ignited service fills the chapel at 7:00 p.m. every Thursday. It is a contemporary service with uplifting praise, prayer, and fellowship in a more intimate setting than the Sunday sanctuary. Child care is not available for Ignited, so families with little ones are pointed to Sunday morning instead. The Thursday gathering is meant for staying connected to God, recharging spiritually, and building community with others during the week.
Sunday School for Every Age
The 9:00 a.m. Sunday School hour is one of the busiest parts of the week at Tyro. Classes cover the full range of ages and stages.
Children's classes use a DVD-based curriculum tailored to everyday life. There are classes for preschoolers (ages 2-4), kindergarten through second grade, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5, all aimed at making Scripture come alive for kids.
Middle schoolers in grades 6-8 meet in the Bethel Wesley Hall to explore how Bible lessons apply to life as a young teen. The High School-College class, taught by Billy Milstead, builds on the same idea for older students and young adults, drawing on studies by authors such as Francis Chan and Tim Tebow.
Adults have several options. The Celebration Class, on the second floor of the Education Building, mixes couples and singles of all ages around scripture-based discussion. The Adult Co-Ed Class, led by Gary Ends, works through the Cokesbury Bible Studies quarterly and welcomes visitors of any age. The Vine Dwellers Class, taught by Casey Milstead, tackles daily-life issues from a Christian angle. Web of Dreams offers studies aimed at today's adults, the Mary Wilson Class gathers women around adult Bible study, and the Men's Bible Class focuses on men. Faith, Hope, and Love, led by Willie Meacham, takes up standard Bible study and special topics through the year.
Music Across Generations
Music is woven through both the blended Sunday service and the contemporary Ignited gathering. John Hinson serves as Director of Music, with Tammie Brown as Assistant Director of Music. The church invites anyone who would like to sing or play to join a musical group, and the congregation is encouraged to join in congregational singing from the pews as well.
Women of Hope, Methodist Men, and the Prayer Ministry
Three long-standing groups keep the life of the church humming beyond Sunday morning. Women of Hope welcomes all women of the church to its 10:00 a.m. meetings on the first Tuesday of each month in the Web of Dreams Classroom. The group raises money to support an extensive list of mission efforts, including the Davidson County Cancer Program, Medical Ministries, Family Services, Crisis Ministry, the West Davidson Food Pantry, Dragonfly House, Pastor's Pantry, the Salvation Army Angel Tree, the Backpack Program, ongoing support for seniors, and dress-making for missions.
The Methodist Men's commission is to help men grow in Christ so others may know Christ. The men meet for breakfast at 7:00 a.m. on the fourth Sunday of each month at Tyro Methodist, and their main goal is to help people in the community in times of need. The group is open to any man who would like to come to a meeting.
The Prayer Ministry gathers at 7:00 p.m. each Tuesday to pray over the church, its ministries, and the church family.
Children, Youth, and the Puppet Ministry
Wendy Hinson serves as Children's Ministry Director, and Melissa Smith is Director of Childcare. Children enjoy activities and programs throughout the year designed to walk alongside the youngest members of the Tyro family. Phil Hartley, the Youth Director, leads the youth program, which meets on Sundays at 4:00 p.m. in the Bethel-Wesley Building and welcomes all students from middle school through high school. Casey Milstead serves as Assistant Minister for Worship and Evangelism.
Beyond the church's own walls, the Puppet Ministry takes the message of God to other area churches with a fun, entertaining program for children. It is one of the most visible ways the Tyro congregation reaches into the wider community.
A Heart for Outreach
Outreach runs through nearly everything the church does. Small groups, Sunday School classes, and mission teams are all part of the way Tyro Methodist puts its vision into practice. The congregation supports food assistance through the West Davidson Food Pantry and Pastor's Pantry, and partners with programs serving cancer patients, survivors of crisis, and children through Angel Tree and the Backpack Program.
Plan a Visit
Tyro Methodist Church is located at 4484 South NC Highway 150, Lexington, NC 27295. Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by worship in the sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. The Ignited contemporary service meets in the chapel at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and the church can be reached at 336-853-7459 or tyro@tyro.church. Online giving is available, and weekly services can be watched any time on Vimeo.