Two Centuries on Johnsville Road
Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church sits on Johnsville Road in Eldersburg, Maryland, in the southwestern corner of Carroll County. Across Liberty Road from the present-day campus stands Wesley Chapel, the modest stone worship building put up in 1822 that still gives this congregation its sense of place. The chapel can no longer be used for services, but it anchors a faith community that has been gathering, worshiping, and serving the Eldersburg area for more than two hundred years. Today the church is known for a wide-ranging ministry that includes three Sunday services, a year-long confirmation journey for eighth graders, a Stephen Ministry caregiving program that has trained lay visitors since 1999, a free weekday community meal, a partner food pantry, professional counseling, and a preschool that has been in operation since 1977.
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Dr. Jenny Smith, who serves as Senior Pastor. Rev. YuJung Hwang serves as Associate Pastor. Dan Eschliman directs worship, Ashley Halsey directs children and family ministries, Tim McKenzie directs youth ministries, and Shannon Reinhardt directs the Hope Rising Resource Center. The church belongs to the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Sunday Worship: Three Services, Three Styles
Worship is the heart of life at Wesley Freedom, and three Sunday services meet in the main sanctuary.
The 8:00 a.m. service is a traditional United Methodist gathering with scripture, prayers, and hymns. Holy Communion is celebrated at this service every week.
The 9:30 a.m. service is also traditional in style, with the addition of grade-level Sunday School for children from PreK through high school and adult Sunday School classes. During the school year, children are signed in with their teachers before the service begins and signed out when it ends. In the summer, children begin worship with their parents and are dismissed to Sunday School after a children's message. Nursery care is available for infants through preschoolers at both the 9:30 and 11:00 services.
The 11:00 a.m. service is led by the worship band and is music-driven. Children are welcome to worship with their families for the entire service or take part in a children's breakout. On second Sundays, kids join a hands-on mission project called Mission Minded Kids. On the third through fifth Sundays of the month, children in 4-year-old through second grade rehearse with the Praise Kids Choir.
Worship is also livestreamed online, and recorded services are posted so anyone can follow along from home.
Baptism and Holy Communion
Wesley Freedom practices the two sacraments recognized by the United Methodist Church: Baptism and Holy Communion.
Baptisms are celebrated on the third Sunday of each month. Parents may choose sprinkling, pouring, or immersion (with immersion held off-site when requested). A baptism class is required before scheduling a child for baptism, and families are encouraged to attend worship at Wesley Freedom for several weeks beforehand so they can be sure this is the community where they want to nurture their child in faith. Youth and adults who have not yet been baptized are welcomed into the waters as well, often in connection with the New Member class or confirmation.
Holy Communion is offered every week at the 8:00 a.m. service, on the first Sunday of each month at the 9:30 and 11:00 services, and on special occasions. The elements are bread and unfermented grape juice, with gluten-free options always available. Wesley Freedom practices an open table, and all Christians, regardless of denomination or age, are welcome to receive. Even infants and toddlers are welcome at the table.
Music Across Generations
Music is woven into nearly every part of church life at Wesley Freedom, with ensembles for every age.
The Chancel Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings and sings at services. The Wesley Freedom Brass rehearses on Thursday evenings under the direction of Mirrel Wothers. The Worship Band rehearses on Monday evenings and leads the 11:00 a.m. contemporary service. A Handbell Choir rehearses Sunday mornings under the direction of Sue Steiner.
Younger musicians have a place too. The Youth Choir for grades 6 through 8 rehearses on Sunday evenings with Nikki Spurgeon. The Youth Brass (grades 6 through 12) rehearses on Sunday afternoons under Samantha Stephey, with at least two years of experience required. The Youth Band (grades 6 through 12) rehearses on Mondays with Brett Johnson. Younger children sing with the Praise Kids Choir (4-year-olds through second grade) on Sunday evenings under Peter Winans, and the Junior Choir for grades 3 through 5 rehearses at the same hour. A Christmas Cantata Choir brings many of these groups together each December.
Children and Sunday School
Children are treated as the church today, not just its future. Grade-level Sunday School classes are held during the 9:30 a.m. service for students from PreK through high school, with parents signing children in before worship and signing them out when the service ends. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required.
The nursery is open during both the 9:30 and 11:00 services for infants through preschoolers, staffed by a long-serving team that provides a safe and loving environment for the youngest members of the congregation.
Middle School, High School, and Confirmation
Wesley Freedom runs two distinct youth ministries and a year-long confirmation journey.
Middle School Ministries (MSM) serves students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Youth Group meets Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Freedom Youth Center (FYC), the building that faces Liberty Road. Middle school Sunday School takes place during the 9:30 a.m. worship hour, and eighth graders are invited to participate in Confirmation in place of regular Sunday School. The ministry is intentionally inclusive, welcoming students regardless of background.
High School Ministries (HSM) serves students in grades 9 through 12. Youth Group meets Sunday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the FYC. Sunday School for high schoolers meets during the 9:30 a.m. service in the main building. The program encourages students to plug into the wider life of the church through serving and connecting.
Confirmation is a year-long journey for eighth graders that meets at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays in place of regular Sunday School, and a small-group track for high schoolers who have not yet been confirmed meets before HSM on Sunday evenings. The program includes fall and spring retreats at West River United Methodist Retreat Center and service immersion trips in the region. Confirmands who have not yet been baptized may be baptized during the year, at the annual Discovery weekend, or at the Confirmation Ceremony itself. The Confirmation year is described by the church as immersive, fun, unforgettable, spiritual, and life-changing.
Beyond confirmation, the youth ministry offers a year-round Discovery weekend each spring, Discovery Prep nights, immersion trips to Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, and YM Serves events like the Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday, the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Holy Thursday meal served with the Community Table. A long-running Youth Dungeons and Dragons group gathers on Sunday afternoons.
Adult Small Groups and Bible Studies
A wide selection of small groups meets throughout the week for Bible study, fellowship, and conversation.
On Sundays at 9:30 a.m., two adult Sunday School classes meet, one studying That the World May Know with systematic theology in Room 201, and another on the Parallel Gospels in the church office. A second 11:00 a.m. class meets for a 12-week Disciple Fast Track study of the Old Testament. Sunday evenings at 6:00 p.m. offer a Young Adults group for ages 18 to 30 led by Pastor Jenny, a Mom's Group studying Seamless, a Parents Group with childcare in the Hope Rising building, and a Men's Group.
Tuesdays bring a 9:45 a.m. Women's Bible Study and Breakfast and a 6:30 p.m. men's group called the Adam Men's Group. Wednesdays offer two mixed adult groups, one at 10:00 a.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. Fridays feature Friday Friends, a women's small group that meets at 9:30 a.m. with coffee.
Moms with young children can join Wesley Freedom MomCo, a monthly daytime fellowship with play dates and additional small group opportunities. Prime Timers, a group of mostly retired individuals and couples, gathers for dinners and get-togethers as events arise. A Men's Breakfast meets the first Saturday of each month at 7:30 a.m. in Room 500.
Caring Ministries and Stephen Ministry
Wesley Freedom has been part of Stephen Ministry since 1999. Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people going through a difficult season such as grief, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, or relocation. A Stephen Minister usually meets with one care receiver at a time, once a week for about an hour, for as long as the need persists. Men are matched with men and women with women.
A prayer chain forwards prayer requests by email and phone, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry creates hand-knit shawls, chemo caps, and lap blankets for congregation members and community organizations. Food Ministries include Emergency Meals for individuals and families in crisis, a Funeral Luncheon team that serves grieving families in the Community Life Center, and a Special Events Ministry that provides light refreshments for church-wide gatherings.
Pastoral care is available through several paths. Pastors and trained visitors offer pastoral visits in homes, hospitals, and hospices with listening, prayer, Scripture, communion, and anointing. The pastoral team offers monthly visits for homebound members and those with ongoing concerns. Up to three sessions of pastoral counseling are available free of charge with Pastor Jenny Smith, whose doctorate is in pastoral care. A confidential Pastoral Care Line is staffed for needs after 3:00 p.m. and on weekends.
Hope Rising Resource Center
Hope Rising is a counseling and resource center that is itself a ministry of Wesley Freedom. Located in the building the church calls Hope Rising on Liberty Road, it offers professional therapy, grief support groups, group therapy, recovery services, and mental health workshops for both the congregation and the wider Eldersburg community. It also functions as a referral hub for care resources that go beyond what the church staff can provide.
Community Table and South Carroll Food Pantry
Hunger ministry is a large part of Wesley Freedom's outreach. Community Table (formerly Feed My Sheep) is a partnership between Wesley Freedom and other Eldersburg-area faith communities that serves a free lunch three times a week in the Community Life Center. Meals are served at noon on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The meal is open to anyone who wants to show up. Students in sixth grade and above can volunteer to earn community service hours each summer.
South Carroll Food Pantry, a Distribution Partner of the Maryland Food Bank, operates out of the church and provides non-perishable groceries to anyone in need. On distribution days, clients check in and then choose groceries from supermarket-style tables, with volunteers available to help load boxes into cars. Distribution happens one Saturday each month throughout the year. Two lay leaders, Barb Szaro and Lori Conroy, coordinate volunteers.
United Women of Faith
Wesley Freedom hosts an active unit of United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women), the women's mission organization of the United Methodist Church. The unit seeks to connect and nurture women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so they can inspire, influence, and impact local and global communities. The leadership team includes Lynda Wilhelm, Michele Rogers, Amy Landry, Pam Dercola, and Wendy Novak. The group is affiliated with both the global United Women in Faith organization and the Baltimore-Washington Conference chapter.
Eldersburg Young Learner's Center
The Eldersburg Young Learner's Center (EYLC) began operating in 1977 as an outreach of Wesley Freedom. The preschool offers a partial-day education for two-, three-, and four-year-olds, and an Extended Day program that provides all-day care from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for three- and four-year-olds.
The EYLC is licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education. All staff are trained in Early Childhood Education and certified in First Aid and CPR, and turnover is low, with some teachers on staff for more than fifteen years. Classrooms are intentionally kept small, with ratios of twelve children to three teachers in the two-year-old rooms and similar low ratios in the older classrooms. Mary Poston serves as Director, Kim Woodward as Assistant Director, and Lois Graham as Office Manager. The preschool publishes its own school calendar each year.
Becoming a Member
Membership at Wesley Freedom is open to anyone who wants to walk with this congregation as they mature in faith. The path runs through an eight-week Next Steps New Member Class, offered in the fall and spring, which covers basic Christian beliefs and what it means to live as a Methodist. The class meets at 9:30 a.m. in the Senior Pastor's Office. Those who have not been baptized are typically baptized during the same service in which they become professing members. Members of other churches who wish to transfer their membership begin by contacting Pastor Jenny, then take the New Member Class alongside everyone else.
The Wesley Freedom Campus
The church campus centers on three buildings. The Main Building faces Johnsville Road and houses the sanctuary and most Sunday School classrooms. The Freedom Youth Center (FYC) faces Liberty Road and is home to High School Ministry, Middle School Ministry, and the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. The Community Life Center (CLC) hosts Community Table meals and many fellowship events. Across Liberty Road stands Wesley Chapel, built in 1822 and now preserved as a landmark of the congregation's long history.
The main office is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A Pastoral Care Emergency Line is available at other times.
Giving and the Burn the Mortgage Campaign
Wesley Freedom supports its ministry through online giving, electronic funds transfer, stock and bond transfers, IRA qualified charitable contributions, and planned gifts through the Wesley Freedom Endowment in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation. The church has also launched a Burn the Mortgage, Fuel the Ministry campaign intended to retire the mortgage and shift the church to a debt-free posture as it looks toward the next generation of ministry. Detailed information about giving options is available through the Generosity Table and the church office.
Missions giving flows in part through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which provides humanitarian relief and disaster response in the United States and internationally, including aid for families affected by floods, hurricanes, and other catastrophic events.