Hello, my name is Gene Chamness, and I have the privilege of being the minister at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Let me share just a bit of my background in ministry to the Methodist church with you.

I became a member of the McCary’s Chapel Methodist Church when I was six years old. It was also from McCary’s Chapel that I was licensed to preach in October 1948 at the Longview District Conference in the Texas Conference of the Methodist Church. In 1951, I transferred to the Central Texas Conference and served in the Central Texas Conference until 1993.

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife Mary Joe Hanson Chamness who joined me in ministry on Sept. 4, 1949.

We are parents of four children. Our children came to be part of our family in 1951, 1955, 1957, and 1959. They each have families of their own and have blessed us in their faithfulness to Christ and his church, and they have blessed us with 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

We have had the opportunity to minister in all sizes of churches from small open country churches to large metropolitan churches, churches that range in membership from 25 and under to more than 4100 members.

It has been my privilege to serve as minister of Evangelism, minister of Missions, and minister to Singles during my career in the ministry. I also have had the honor of serving the military families at Ft. Hood when I was pastor at Grace UMC at Copperas Cove, Texas during the Vietnam War.

Now God blesses me by having the opportunity to serve during our years of retirement at Oak Grove UMC. This church is a great source of strength to Mary and to me, and I know you also will be blessed if you choose to become a part of Oak Grove UMC ministries.

Yours in His Name,

Gene A. Chamness

2002

(Gene's Letter to Visitors)

Let me give you several reasons why you will feel at home and welcomed at Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

Oak Grove is a small “open country church.” People know each other and call each other by their first names.

The members at Oak Grove love to sing (some very old hymns and some very modern hymns.)

The church is very mission-minded and loves to share with people in need. Whether it be a disaster in our country or some other place in the world, our church responds to UMCOR immediately and meets the needs of people worldwide.

Our church responds to needs in our own Wise County as well. We help people in need through WARM (Wise Area Relief Mission) and the Abundant Life Children’s Home, a foster home for handicapped children. Our church also helps individuals who are having a difficult time by providing them financial, physical, and emotional support.

In addition, our church is debt free. We built and moved into a new fellowship hall and education building in May 2002. It was dedicated and consecrated at the same time.

Let me assure you that the people at Oak Grove UMC will indeed welcome you. Attend and you will see that we have OPEN MINDS, OPEN HEARTS, AND OPEN DOORS.