Homecoming

There has been a Methodist ministry in Montgomery County since 1837, the year of our County’s founding.  The city of Montgomery was the county seat and Bishop Littleton Fowler oversaw the founding of a camp for circuit riders there.  In the 1850’s a structure was built and a building and cemetery are still in Montgomery today.  Porter’s, then called Porter’s Mill, and then Porter, would be founded as a railroad siding for the timber business in 1878 then become a proper town with a Post Office in 1892.  New Caney would progress also during these same years. 
 
There are no records of organized congregations until 1905.  Typically, circuit preachers would come from larger communities, like Houston and Montgomery, to minister to the laborers in work camps like Porter. Porter First Baptist claims 1915 as their founding date and it would be reasonable to think that the Methodist had an organized congregation in both Porter and New Caney by then. 
 
On August 20,1967, both of these congregations were on a two-point charge and would merge into one church in Porter.  The Reverend Weldon Porter, the DS in Huntsville would appoint Rev. Mason Neeley as pastor where they met in the “Porter Community House”. Neeley and his young family would begin ministry that day with a consecration service and the baptism of two infants. A short time later, the current “Admin Building” would become the church facility and sanctuary.  It would have numerous remodels and improvements.    In 1985, our existing sanctuary would be consecrated with our ministry growing and evolving into the work that we celebrate today.
 
Make no mistake!  The history of our Friendship congregation is not a history of our buildings, but the works of many dedicated and sacrificial members committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our last homecoming was in 2014 and this year, in the light of incredible change and passing through the scourge of the COVID pandemic, we will gather on November 7 and celebrate over 50 years of service to the Porter/New Caney Community!
 
This is an opportunity to connect, re-connect, worship and celebrate our church family.  Many have been isolated these past two years. There is no greater way to rejoice in our ministry together!
 
Please contact those that you haven’t seen in a while to join the festivities! We will celebrate communion and all of our Saints that have gone before us.   Let us gather and have fun, great food and Christ honoring worship.  Let’s have fun together.
 
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan