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JUBILEE's VISION: Jubilee will be the church known for its Love: contagious hospitality, extravagant generosity, and a gracious commitment to justice. Jubilee will witness for Christ in the North End, in the city of Waterloo, in the Cedar Valley, and beyond (based on Acts 1:8)
~ ALL ARE WELCOME HERE ~
Here you will find information concerning our church and its ministries. We hope you find your time spent here a blessing. Our church is a warm and loving church, and we want you to feel comfortable and at liberty to call on us for anything you need. Feel free to browse through the various areas of our website and learn about our fellowship.
If you are considering a new place of worship or a relocation to our area, we would love to have you be our guest.
When you visit our church, you will find:
- A caring congregation that gladly welcomes you
- Preaching/teaching that is centered on the Word of God
- Loving leadership that creates "safe space" where you can be yourself
- A craving for genuine freedom and compassion for our family members
I don't believe you came to this website by accident. You are continuing a spiritual journey that could impact hundreds, possibly thousands of lives, whether you plan to or not. So let's start that journey afresh right here! In the books of Psalm and Isaiah, we find passages of revival and renewal (Psalm 139: 23-24; Isaiah 58:6-10). We pray that revival start in your heart and mind today--and remember, the Bible says that "wisdom is the principal thing, therefore, get wisdom" (Proverbs 4:7).
I am so glad the Lord sent you our way! May his peace and grace be with you today.
Yours in God's Love,
Pastor Funchess
". . . but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. . ." (Isaiah 40: 31, NIV)
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JUBILEE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FREEDOM CENTER, 1621 East 4th Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703
The members of Calvary Evangelical Church built this church early in the twentieth century. In 2005 Calvary United Methodist Church "abandoned" the building (per The Book of Discipline) and Jubilee United Methodist (aka Jubilee UMC Freedom Center) then moved from W. 4th and Allen to this facility at 1621 East 4th Street. Many improvements have been made including the refurbishing of the now Hazel Dorothy Scott Hall, which was named for the first Black woman musical jazz artist to have her own television show. The Hall serves to help illustrate and model the importance of racial, ethnic and gender inclusion via various symposiums, TV and movie screenings, book reads, etc.
In 2011 the sanctuary was renovated as well as the foyer - aka Solomon's Porch - through which parishioners pass to reach it. In the sanctuary, the balcony’s deterioration was redressed and re-opened. All of the red carpet was removed and some of it was not replaced in order to expose the oak floor. The attractive wood in the nave surrounds a Hammond organ. During the last year (2021) television screens, cameras, and speakers were put it to facilitate live streaming. Twelve pairs of symmetrical golden-beige and turquoise-blue stained-glass windows surround the sanctuary casting a golden glow.
Like many churches, Jubilee serves many purposes. Strongly supporting education, Jubilee was one of the recent sponsors bringing Ayanna Gregory (Sept 2022) and her one-woman show “Daughter of the Struggle” to East High, and Jubilee also provides full scholarships to qualified students interested in Rust College, an HBCU located in Holly Springs, MS. Additionally, Jubilee birthed the MLK Freedom Bus Tourâ„ , which has now transported hundreds to iconic human and civil rights spaces in Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma. And for the last ten years (since 2011), Jubilee has emerged as a favorite place to visit in the Cedar Valley as it houses its original creation called LeChristopher’s Southern Cuisine. LeChristopher's is a restaurant-styled ministry with a jazz-marinated and relaxed ambiance famous for serving - with Love - some of the best soul food west of the Mississippi.
