Our History

In 1966, a group of families in South Bend was asked by leaders of the United Methodist Church to start a new church on the north side of town to reach more people with the love of Jesus Christ. With space to meet provided by Notre Dame, Clay Church began. As we continue to share Christ’s love today, we celebrate the faith and courage of our founders and their legacy.

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OUR GROWTH IN MISSION AND MINISTRY

• ​Our church has witnessed 926 baptisms.

• ​More than 2,700 people have professed Jesus Christ as their Savior through our worship and ministries.

• An average of 3,500 people connect through our ministry and community events every week.​​

• ​Thousands of youth have been mentored and introduced to the Biblical witness through FaithWorks! Children's Ministry, Firehouse Youth Ministry, summer camps, Early Childhood Program (ECP), and our school partnerships.

• Tens of thousands of people have been fed through the Clay Church Food Pantry.

• Thousands of people have access to clean water in remote villages of Burkina-Faso.

• Youth are graduating with opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have had in Tapachula, Mexico.

• Homeless people are no longer dying in South Bend because of Project Warm.​

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​We celebrate God's Spirit at work as we now look to where God is leading us into the NEXT 50 years!