New pastor joins Cassville United Methodist Church
Cassville United Methodist Church welcomed a new pastor to the congregation. Pictured are Dr. Jeff Fuggit and his wife, Jamie.
August 7, 2019
Vinnie Roberts
According to their website, www.umccassville.org, United Methodist Church of Cassville was originally constructed in 1877 after the Civil War had left many scars on the area. Shortly thereafter, in 1883, the church became known as the Union Church of Cassville, housing not only Methodist congregations, but Presbetaryian, Baptist, and Christian as well.
Over time, the other congregations left the church to form their own churches in the area, leaving only the Methodists in the building, creating the basis for the church that still stands on the corner of 7th Street and Gravel to this very day.
United Methodist Church of Cassville has undergone a change in leadership, following the departure of pastor Andy Lambell, who had served the church since 2011. Replacing him as pastor is Dr. Jeff Fugitt, formerly of Taney County.
After the departure of Lambell, Fugitt was appointed by Missouri area Methodist Bishop Robert Farr to replace him. According to Fugitt, with his children out of the house and his many years of experience within the church, the bishop’s office thought that he would be a good fit to move to the area and assume the duty.
“They felt like we might be a good fit here in Cassville and they sent us this way,” said Fugitt. “The town is great. The people have been really super in the way that they welcomed us here.”
Fugitt explained that there were some challenges facing him, both in becoming a pastor and in moving to a smaller town.
“The biggest difference for me, personally, is that I’m preaching every week, which I had not been doing before and that’s an adjustment for me,” explained Fugitt. “It’s a different sized congregation with a different sized staff. I came from a place where everyone had a very specific job and here, we all do a little of everything.”
Fugitt was originally a native of Oklahoma before his calling led him to begin his schooling outside the state.
Fugitt received his seminary from Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City before attending College of the Ozarks. At this point, Fugitt met his wife, Jamie, before transferring to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.
Fugitt then went on to get his PhD in religious studies at the University of Missouri.
For the last 26 years, Fugitt lived with his wife in Taney County, where his wife taught at College of the Ozarks. During this time, Fuggit held several church positions, with the most recent being a five-year stint at the director of adult discipleship at Schweitzer United Methodist in Springfield.
Though he faces some challenges moving forward, Fugitt explained that he still believes that this is his calling and that he was brought to the area for a reason.
“I’m excited. I’m very happy to be able to pastor here,” said Fuggit. “I enjoyed where I was at previously, but I had a leaning that this might be the next step. I felt like this was something that God was leading me into.”
Vinnie Roberts
According to their website, www.umccassville.org, United Methodist Church of Cassville was originally constructed in 1877 after the Civil War had left many scars on the area. Shortly thereafter, in 1883, the church became known as the Union Church of Cassville, housing not only Methodist congregations, but Presbetaryian, Baptist, and Christian as well.
Over time, the other congregations left the church to form their own churches in the area, leaving only the Methodists in the building, creating the basis for the church that still stands on the corner of 7th Street and Gravel to this very day.
United Methodist Church of Cassville has undergone a change in leadership, following the departure of pastor Andy Lambell, who had served the church since 2011. Replacing him as pastor is Dr. Jeff Fugitt, formerly of Taney County.
After the departure of Lambell, Fugitt was appointed by Missouri area Methodist Bishop Robert Farr to replace him. According to Fugitt, with his children out of the house and his many years of experience within the church, the bishop’s office thought that he would be a good fit to move to the area and assume the duty.
“They felt like we might be a good fit here in Cassville and they sent us this way,” said Fugitt. “The town is great. The people have been really super in the way that they welcomed us here.”
Fugitt explained that there were some challenges facing him, both in becoming a pastor and in moving to a smaller town.
“The biggest difference for me, personally, is that I’m preaching every week, which I had not been doing before and that’s an adjustment for me,” explained Fugitt. “It’s a different sized congregation with a different sized staff. I came from a place where everyone had a very specific job and here, we all do a little of everything.”
Fugitt was originally a native of Oklahoma before his calling led him to begin his schooling outside the state.
Fugitt received his seminary from Midwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City before attending College of the Ozarks. At this point, Fugitt met his wife, Jamie, before transferring to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.
Fugitt then went on to get his PhD in religious studies at the University of Missouri.
For the last 26 years, Fugitt lived with his wife in Taney County, where his wife taught at College of the Ozarks. During this time, Fuggit held several church positions, with the most recent being a five-year stint at the director of adult discipleship at Schweitzer United Methodist in Springfield.
Though he faces some challenges moving forward, Fugitt explained that he still believes that this is his calling and that he was brought to the area for a reason.
“I’m excited. I’m very happy to be able to pastor here,” said Fuggit. “I enjoyed where I was at previously, but I had a leaning that this might be the next step. I felt like this was something that God was leading me into.”