Learn More About Us

Our faith is rooted in the transforming love and grace of God. Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, wrestling with questions, or deepening a lifelong walk with Christ, you are invited to discover God's active presence alongside us.

Our theological foundation

We worship the one true God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We profess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, God made flesh, who through His life, death, and resurrection defeated sin and death to offer true life and redemption. Grounded in the primacy of Scripture, we look to the inspired Word of God as our authoritative guide for faith and Christian living.

Experiencing God’s Active Grace

Following the Wesleyan tradition, we believe God's grace meets each of us at every point in our journey. Through prevenient grace, God pursues us with love before we even seek Him. In justifying grace, we receive reconciliation and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. Through sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit continually refines our hearts, shaping us into Christ’s likeness as we grow in love for God and neighbor.

Faith in action and loving community

Faith is more than words; it is love in action. We are called to love God with our whole hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In Jamestown, we embody this commitment through our community dinners, support for local outreach organizations, and our food pantry partnership with Our Daily Bread. We welcome questions, provide pathways for discipleship, and support every seeker at any stage of faith.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

MATTHEW 28:19-20

Our Beliefs

As a United Methodist congregation, our belief structure is rooted in scripture and historical Christian doctrine, aligned with the Apostles' Creed and the historic UMC Articles of Religion. Learn more about what we believe below:

God

We worship the one true God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is living, active, and cares for all of His creation - including you. We believe God has called us to a life of holiness and purpose and that He has revealed what that life looks like through Jesus the Christ.

Jesus

Jesus is God made flesh, fully human and fully divine. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He defeated sin and death, offering true life and salvation to all who follow Him.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus as the leader of our lives and the forgiver of our sins, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He provides us with power for living, enables us to understand spiritual truth and guides us in doing what pleases God. As Christians we seek to live under His control daily.

Holy Scripture

We believe the Bible is God's inspired, authoritative Word. It contains everything necessary for salvation and serves as the ultimate guide for faith, life, and practice.

God’s Active Grace

We believe God’s grace meets us everywhere in our journey:

  • Prevenient Grace: God loves and pursues us before we are even aware of Him.

  • Justifying Grace: We are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own works.

  • Sanctifying Grace: The Holy Spirit works continuously in us to refine our hearts, grow our love, and conform us to the image of Christ.

Worship & Discipleship

Following Jesus is not a solo effort. We grow in faith through genuine worship, sacrament, study, prayer, and accountable community—living out our faith through love and active service to our neighbors.

Holy Baptism

Baptism is our initiation into the church and our identification as children of God. God initiates this relationship and chooses us as daughters and sons, beginning our lifelong journey of faith. God’s choice happens regardless of our age or our response. Because God chooses us once and for all, this is an act that should not be repeated. Those who are baptized as children must make the choice to confirm their belief in Christ to continue as members of the church. If you were baptized as a child, there is no need to be baptized again. If your child was baptized as a baby, he/she can later make the choice to profess his/her own faith in Christ in our confirmation program for sixth graders. Baptism for children and adults is offered several times per year. There is a mandatory training for families prior to each date.

Holy Communion

Communion is an opportunity for us to renew our relationship with Jesus Christ. On His last night before His death, Jesus ate a special meal with His disciples. He charged His church with repeating this meal to remember His sacrifice and celebrate our new life through His death and resurrection. God offers this relationship to everyone, so all who desire to receive are welcome to participate.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We take this call seriously because we believe that when people encounter Jesus, everything changes. We love Jamestown, and we long to see our city transformed as its residents come to know the hope, peace, and grace of Christ. St. Paul’s is eager to play our part in that story. One life, one family, and one neighbor at a time.

Next Steps

Beliefs come to life when we gather together. If you're exploring faith, looking for a church home, or simply have questions about what we believe, we'd love to connect with you.

  1. Worship with Us: Come as you are this Sunday at 10:15 AM for traditional, biblically grounded worship.

  2. Start a Conversation: Reach out directly to Rev. Thanael to ask questions, learn more about St. Paul’s, or find ways to plug in.

Rooted Locally, Connected Globally

St. Paul’s UMC is a local family of faith anchored in the Dakotas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Through our UMC connection, our worship, prayers, and resources extend well beyond Jamestown—fueling mission work, community relief, and Christian discipleship across the region and around the globe.

The United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is a global, grace-centered Christian denomination rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, dedicated to making disciples of Jesus Christ through active faith, genuine worship, and hands-on service to the world.

The Dakotas Annual Conference

The Dakotas Annual Conference is the regional network connecting United Methodist congregations across North and South Dakota, equipping local churches like St. Paul’s to collaborate on shared missions, leadership development, and community impact.

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