Our Story So Far

February 2007: John Hugh and Linda Tate were appointed to start a new church for the Metro Area of Jackson, MS. However, several years before that, God had put it on their hearts to start a new church for His Kingdom.

July 2007: 34 people showed up for this new church's first "come and see" at a local Jackson home. Soon after, the name Bellwether was chosen. What is a Bellwether?

August 2007: Bellwether had its first service and shared in the Lord's Supper together.

October 2007: We moved into our first office space and began weekly services on Wednesday nights. We would eat, sing, look into God's Word, take communion together, and make plans for our public launch.

January 2008: We had our public launch at the Lakeland Courthouse Athletic Club. 308 people came on a Sunday morning to worship and support this new church.

April 2008: Bishop Hope Morgan Ward of the United Methodist Mississippi Conference preaches at Bellwether to support this new church.

July 2008: Dr. Dolphus Weary of Mission Mississippi preaches at Bellwether to promote our vision of being a church that reaches across racial and denominational lines.

July 2008: Bellwether took its first overseas mission trip as 17 people went to Honduras to build houses, assist in medical clinics, and worship together.

December 2008: Bellwether celebrated its first Christmas Candlelight Service together at the Mississippi Agriculture Museum.

January 2009: Bellwether hires worship leader as its first full-time staff person and brings on two part-time leaders over Discipleship and Family Ministries. 

January 2009:  Bellwether has its first Worship Intern from Millsaps College.

January 2009:  Bellwether launches its new website.

January 2009:  Bellwether begins formalizing its Lay Leadership Team with leaders overseeing Trustees, Staff, and Finances.

February 2009: Bellwether launches it's Youth Program under Family Ministries.

March 2009:  Bellwether begins mission and ministry partnership at Stewpot in downtown Jackson.

April 2009:  250 people attend Bellwether's Easter service.  8 baptisms are celebrated that morning.

May 2009:  Scott and Meg Rambo are prayed over and sent off as full time missionaries to Uganda to teach and train local pastors there.

May 2009:  Bellwether needs more space for Family Ministry and Worship and makes the decision to move from the Lakeland Courthouse to find a more permanent space.

July 2009:  Bellwether moves from the Lakeland Courthouse to its temporary home at the Mississippi Agriculture Museum while looking for a more permanent facility.

October 2009:  Bellwether moves into a new office and community center in the Fondren area of Jackson, right beside Cups cafe.  This will be a place for community events, outreach, missions, music, and fellowship.

November 2009:  Bellwether prepares to move to Jackson Academy for Sunday morning worship.  The church begins worship there December 6, 2009 and moves into their new Performing Arts Center January 17, 2009.  

November 2009:  Bellwether brings on Jill Bowdon as full time Family Ministry Leader.  

November 2009:  Bellwether is awarded Stewpot ministries Congregation of the Year award for their missional service and relationship with Stewpot in downtown Jackson.

December 2009:  Bellwether begins worship at Jackson Academy in their Activities Center.

January 2010:  Bellwether brings on Jeff Nesbit as its first full time Youth Leader.

January 2010:  Bellwether begins worship in Jackson Academy's Performing Arts Center.  

And this is just the beginning...